Do height limits matter anymore?

For some perspective, Redwood City is one of the Peninsula’s leaders in making a concerted push to go up. Its downtown has been urbanized to a considerable degree over the last quarter-century. Longtime residents barely recognize it. So the architectural horse, as it were, is out of the barn.

But 21 floors is a leap too far, according to some critics. It’s a matter of opinion, though. In fact, one could argue that 21 could, at least in theory, be increased to 25 or even more. Why not? Can a height cap even be enforced now in the state’s relentless drive to impose increased density on the suburbs?

Over the last several years, the California development ballgame has changed rather dramatically, courtesy of intrusive politicians in Sacramento who want to bring a San Francisco-like ambience here.

Local control of height limits, if any, are in serious question today. The debate is heating up. It almost certainly won’t be the last in these parts.   

THEY’RE QUIET BUT EFFECTIVE: They don’t protest in the streets. They don’t crave media attention. They lack a TikTok presence. They quietly remain off the radar as a general rule. They are the members of the low-key Burlingame-Hillsborough Neighborhood Club. The group, founded in 1950 by the late Martha Chick, will observe its 75th anniversary in November. Its aims are simple: To serve as a women’s social club to foster goodwill, a sense of community and well-being and an opportunity to form friendships for new residents and long-standing ones alike. Members do so via small-group activities, dinners and other get-togethers. Membership is $60 annually. More membership information is available via mybhnc@gmail.com.

JOAN BAEZ IS DUE TO VISIT: It isn’t often that Joan Baez makes a well-publicized appearance these days. Her yen for privacy is well documented. But the venerated anti-war, antiestablishment folk singer, whose stunning voice and plaintive lyrics captivated a generation, is scheduled to visit Kepler’s Books & Magazines Oct. 29 as part of a fundraiser. The bookstore on El Camino Real in Menlo Park, which has a strong counter-culture history, is observing its 70th birthday this year. Baez, 84, a longtime resident of the Peninsula, reportedly has been a big fan and supporter of the local literary enterprise for decades. Kepler’s has been a destination for customers of a liberal bent — and lots of other folks — since it opened back in 1955.

THE FERRY DATA DON’T LIE: The documented financial travails of Bay ferry service to and from the Oyster Point terminal in South San Francisco due to markedly low ridership should give pause to backers of a similar proposed ferry link to the south at the Port of Redwood City. Overall, Peninsula ridership numbers for ferry transit in a challenging post-COVID world simply don’t pass muster. In a very real way, the ridership problems experienced in the Industrial City are a wakeup call for those Redwood City proponents. The damning data don’t lie.

DON’T CELEBRATE TOO SOON: Never count your prep football chickens before they, well, play their next ballgame. Consider Bellarmine Prep of San Jose as Exhibit A. The Bells crushed outmanned Los Altos, 61-6, Sept. 12. Two weeks later, after a bye, they got steamrolled by Sacred Heart Cathedral of San Francisco, 71-14. The point differential in just 14 days: 112 digits. The karma-linked lesson: It’s always prudent to temper the urge for celebratory chest-bumps and Instagram posts.

SOMEONE, PLEASE CALL THE FBI: Redwood City police recently reported that a seemingly befuddled man wandering along Broadway and sporting a ski mask being used as a kind of an odd hat was claiming to be a federal agent. The published item did not indicate if the FBI or ICE had been alerted to an AWOL employee with a strange sense of style.

BRISBANE RACES SET ON WEEKEND: A bit of small-town Americana is back. The village of Brisbane will host its annual derby race for kids at 8 a.m. Saturday. That event will be followed by an adult Big Wheels race. A valid driver’s license is not required.