A piece in the Daily Post on Wednesday titled "City Council is getting tougher on developers" described the sea change that has happened just over the county border to our south. The term "Residentialist" is in common use in to describe local political platforms in Paly and Menlo Park. It's convenient in a way that many labels are shorthand for a more complex idea. The Post piece noted
That council members on Monday took an unusually literal stance in enforcing the city's building laws when they denied developer John Tarlton's request to go 13 feet above the high limit.
Tarlton proposed to tear down the existing two-story building at 2555 Park Blvd. and build a new 24,466-square foot building that would have exceeded the property's height limit by at least 13 feet.
But hey, what is a 35% overage among friends, right? This qualifies as "unusually literal" in today's environment. Well good for them. If you happen to run into this effort in B'game this weekend, perhaps using the term "Residentialist" will accelerate the conversation:
The City is excited to announce the launch of "Envision Burlingame," a comprehensive update to the City's General Plan and Zoning Ordinance. This program presents a long-anticipated opportunity for the community to come together and discuss development, preservation, mobility, health, sustainability and quality of life issues.
Envision Burlingame is hitting the streets this Friday and Saturday (June 5th and 6th)! Come visit our project consultant team from MIG while you are out and about this weekend on Broadway and Burlingame Avenues.
I often run into people who are moving to the Peninsula from either the City or out of state who indicate their top two choices are Palo Alto and B'game. Perhaps there is a lesson to be learned here.
I'm hopeful that we will elect some new blood that is not beholden to any of the old blood this year. I think there will be some good choices of people who care about our town and our Resident homeowners.
Posted by: Hopeful | June 10, 2015 at 08:12 PM