There was a time not long ago when young tech entrepreneurs made so much money they were buying up modest homes in downtown Palo Alto, tearing them down and building mini-mansions. The City Council eventually put a stop to this. Are mini-mansions becoming a trend in San Mateo when some members of the Planning Commission think the bigger the better?
Before writing this column, I wanted to be as objective as possible (Disclaimer: I live in a historic home built in 1921). I revisited the home at 415 Fairfax Ave. also built in 1921 which was the subject of a heated San Mateo Planning Commission meeting. The application to demolish and build a much bigger house was under scrutiny and discussion because of neighborhood resistance against its demolition, citing ADU size, building height, design concerns and California Environmental Quality Act violations. The Planning Commission, at its July 12 meeting, found no reason to deny the project. It noted the neighborhood was not a historic district and met all design standards, with the city obligated to follow state guidelines. The commission thought approving the development was an easy decision given the factors involved. I was especially appalled that it was an “easy” decision.
And the news gets worse. Since there was no appeal filed within 10 days of Planning Commission approval, it won’t go before the City Council. The City Arborist, Matthew Fried, still has to approve the plan which takes out one heritage tree and probably dooms a second one. There have been many letters asking to save the trees (Disclaimer: I introduced the ordinance to protect heritage trees when I was on the council).
There is another original 1920s house in Baywood, 564 Edinburgh St., that is petitioning to be torn down. It’s 1,600 square feet to be replaced by a 3, 240-square-foot home. Deadline for public comment is 5 p.m. today.
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I recognize there is a need for more housing but the need is for more affordable housing. And these mini-mansions won’t be affordable. In our desire for more affordable housing, we have allowed if not the encouraged the building of too much market-rate housing. We have more than enough expensive apartments and condos. And in my opinion, many will soon be vacant. I supported Measure R and still believe increased densities should be allowed near public transportation. I am not a fan of 10-story buildings. I don’t want San Mateo to look like some of our neighbor cities. I am very much for rent control for a limit of five years to keep our existing and new rentals affordable. A much better solution than building more and more.
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Election news: Robert Newsom, running for San Mateo City Council in District 3 has been endorsed by Eric Rodriguez, Maureen Freschet, several board members from the District 3 neighborhood associations, and cousin Gov. Gavin Newsom. Ray Mueller, Menlo Park councilmember, running for Don Horsley’s seat on the Board of Supervisors, also has the governor’s endorsement. Also running for the District 3 council seat is Parks and Recreation Commissioner Sarah Fields. Her endorsers include San Mateo councilmembers Rick Bonilla, Joe Goethals and Amourence Lee; Nicole Fernandez, former head of the San Mateo County Democratic Party; Julia Mates and Charles Stone, Belmont City Council; Richa Awasthi, mayor of Foster City; Mark Nagales, mayor of South San Francisco; Eddie Flores, South San Francisco councilmember.
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Campaign kick-off for Noelia Corzo, running for Board of Supervisors, Carole Groom’s seat, is Tuesday Aug. 16 from 6-8. Her campaign was probably given a boost by the Supreme Court’s decision on abortion and the resulting rush to get more women elected to public office. She is running against Charles Stone, who is the father of two teenage girls. Adam Loraine is definitely running in District 5 against Rod Linhares; and newcomer Nick Atkeson is challenging Lisa Nash in District 1.
Sue Lempert is the former mayor of San Mateo. Her column runs every Monday. She can be reached at sue@smdailyjournal.com.
I don't get it. Is Sue suggesting the planning commission base decisions on what she and a small minority of residents are appalled by and their opinions on what is historic instead of adhering to city code and state laws? Is she suggesting young tech entrepreneurs are about to ruin San Mateo? Is she suggesting 3 million+ dollar homes are modest? There was not neighborhood resistance; it was a small group of people living in "mini-mansions" nearby that complained. I do appreciate her previous contributions to protect heritage trees in the neighborhood but this column seems scattered and not objective at all.
i have not seen dilapidated 50s housing in baywood I believe this neighborhood is the closest to historic in san mateo beside san Mateo Park you could more likely d=find more historic homes than any place in san mateo besided san Mateo pARK JUST NBECAUSE i WAN TO WALK IN AND BUILD A CERTAIN MINI MANSION DOESN'T MAKE WHAT i WAN TO BUILD MORE FEASIBOE THAN ANY OTHER SAN mATEO RESIDENT. NOR DOES IT DIMINISH WHT TYPES OF HOUSING ALREADY EXIST IN THISNEIGHBORHOOD ONE WANT IOVER A WHOLE TOWN IS WHY WE HAVE PLANNING COMMISSIONS.. GO AND BUILD WHER THER IS NEW HOUSING AND YOU WON'T DISTRACT WHAT IS ALREADY THERE BECAUSE IT IS WHAT YOU WANT. .
Disappointing to hear. If someone doesn’t want someone else to build a house on a property, then they should buy the property—not use short-sighted anti-housing regulations to get their way.
This is a great way to suppress our community’s property values, and for what? So dilapidated ‘50s era architecture can be preserved forever? Me personally: no thank you, please don’t waste city resources on blocking residents from doing what they want to do.
I cannot be more supportive of Sue L'emperts comments about baywood;s planning commission approval of mini mansions in san Mateo What san mateo baywood is not san Mateo Park . it is baywood perhaps san Mateo needs to revote their appointments to this easy decision as they say of planning commissioners i grew up in Baywood on Cryrstal springs road leave fairfax alone you are setting a tear down and rebuild thinking I was the first class at Aragon we voted the dons as the mascot. Baywood is the baywood tree leave these touches of architecture of the area alone and let them be history of different times like art deco of one home I remember with glass like the fifties . you destroy the history of the area by eliminating the historic meaning of the baywood tree. and homes built then, stop this thinking hillsborough went through this fc had one home torn down which brought one of our best cimmissioners to run after the house was across the street from him stop this now.
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(4) comments
I don't get it. Is Sue suggesting the planning commission base decisions on what she and a small minority of residents are appalled by and their opinions on what is historic instead of adhering to city code and state laws? Is she suggesting young tech entrepreneurs are about to ruin San Mateo? Is she suggesting 3 million+ dollar homes are modest? There was not neighborhood resistance; it was a small group of people living in "mini-mansions" nearby that complained. I do appreciate her previous contributions to protect heritage trees in the neighborhood but this column seems scattered and not objective at all.
i have not seen dilapidated 50s housing in baywood I believe this neighborhood is the closest to historic in san mateo beside san Mateo Park you could more likely d=find more historic homes than any place in san mateo besided san Mateo pARK JUST NBECAUSE i WAN TO WALK IN AND BUILD A CERTAIN MINI MANSION DOESN'T MAKE WHAT i WAN TO BUILD MORE FEASIBOE THAN ANY OTHER SAN mATEO RESIDENT. NOR DOES IT DIMINISH WHT TYPES OF HOUSING ALREADY EXIST IN THISNEIGHBORHOOD ONE WANT IOVER A WHOLE TOWN IS WHY WE HAVE PLANNING COMMISSIONS.. GO AND BUILD WHER THER IS NEW HOUSING AND YOU WON'T DISTRACT WHAT IS ALREADY THERE BECAUSE IT IS WHAT YOU WANT. .
Disappointing to hear. If someone doesn’t want someone else to build a house on a property, then they should buy the property—not use short-sighted anti-housing regulations to get their way.
This is a great way to suppress our community’s property values, and for what? So dilapidated ‘50s era architecture can be preserved forever? Me personally: no thank you, please don’t waste city resources on blocking residents from doing what they want to do.
I cannot be more supportive of Sue L'emperts comments about baywood;s planning commission approval of mini mansions in san Mateo What san mateo baywood is not san Mateo Park . it is baywood perhaps san Mateo needs to revote their appointments to this easy decision as they say of planning commissioners i grew up in Baywood on Cryrstal springs road leave fairfax alone you are setting a tear down and rebuild thinking I was the first class at Aragon we voted the dons as the mascot. Baywood is the baywood tree leave these touches of architecture of the area alone and let them be history of different times like art deco of one home I remember with glass like the fifties . you destroy the history of the area by eliminating the historic meaning of the baywood tree. and homes built then, stop this thinking hillsborough went through this fc had one home torn down which brought one of our best cimmissioners to run after the house was across the street from him stop this now.
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Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.