Millbrae Madness

Our neighbors to the north are not acting very neighborly.  The massive project guidelines--that would cover several projects--gained slim passage per this DJ article, but even the dissenters were not focused on the best reasons to scale this back 

Following years of thorough planning and months of extensive deliberation, officials approved the policy guidelines laying the groundwork for future development in the 116-acre site near the Millbrae rail station.

Yet despite the substantial amount of the consideration that has gone into shaping the document aiming to regulate construction in the area surrounding the city’s Bay Area Rapid Transit and Caltrain station, the Millbrae City Council narrowly passed the station area plan Tuesday, Feb. 9, by a slender margin of 3-2.

This part is really rich

One of the lingering sticking points during a previous discussion by council was how the new homes and jobs slated to be built in the 116-acre site could cause enrollment growth in the Millbrae Elementary School District.

To address those concerns, city officials amended the plan to require developers proposing projects in the boundary of the station area to discuss with school officials offsetting costs the district could incur through a growing student population.

Good luck with that milque toasty language.  With 116 acres to work with and 800 residential units noted just in the first pass of plans, one would think they would require a school be built right on the parcel.  And I have seen no evidence that there is any design aesthetic alive in Millbrae.  It's also commonly felt that the BART station is out of parking space already.  Of course, there does not appear to be one drop of discussion about where the water will come from.  We still have 2 day per week restrictions on watering, right?  About the best you can say is Millbrae just keeps making B'game look better and better.

Comments

[Joe]

I think someone should buy Gina Papan a dictionary--one that has "sustainable" included.

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Millbrae officials concerned about the potential harmful side effects of substantial future growth are set to lay the groundwork for hiking the fees charged to developers interested in building projects near the city’s rail station.

The Millbrae City Council will discuss during a meeting Tuesday, March 22, a report making a case for increasing rates builders must pay to the city when proposing a project in the boundaries of the Millbrae Station Area Plan.

Development fees are commonly charged by cities in an attempt to offset the cost incurred through increased demand on local infrastructure generated by an influx of new residents and workers.

Councilwoman Gina Papan said considering the fee hikes are a smart way to ensure the lasting economic viability of the city, as large mixed-use and transit-oriented developments are expected to be proposed in the coming years near the intersection of El Camino Real and Millbrae Avenue.

“This is a prime example of how we are trying to make Millbrae sustainable,” she said. “We have to ensure any new development will be sustainable to the city of Millbrae, and not negatively impact the Millbrae residents.”

http://www.smdailyjournal.com/articles/lnews/2016-03-22/city-may-hike-developer-fees-millbrae-council-set-to-discuss-offsetting-costs-incurred-by-new-projects/1776425160450.html

[Joe]

More of the same from our northern neighbor:

Millbrae residents staunchly opposed a development proposal near the city’s train station, claiming the sweeping commercial and residential project is incongruent with the community’s character.

The Millbrae City Council initially reviewed Tuesday, Jan. 23, plans to redevelop property adjacent to the Millbrae Caltrain and BART station into 444 housing units, more than 290,000 square feet of offices and approximately 13,200 square feet of retail spaces in one nine-story and two 10-story towers.

While officials have shown a general receptiveness to the Serra Station proposal, the dozens of residents who packed City Hall held a different opinion — claiming the development would wreck their quality of life.

https://www.smdailyjournal.com/news/local/millbrae-station-project-draws-community-ire/article_f00f6358-0190-11e8-a734-6f2b5bdb2c6b.html

[Joe]

Well looky here. Four years have passed and the Millbrae City Council is waking up to the threat of High-cost rail to their development plans! That council have been much more cheerleaders than the rest of the Peninsula councils, so now they get to ponder the impacts:

The authority’s vision for Millbrae shows a parking lot consuming the area where councilmembers approved building more than 400 homes plus commercial space in the Serra Station transit-oriented development.

Additionally concerning to officials are plans for passing track right-of-ways to cut through the backyards of several homes lining Hemlock Avenue and surrounding streets near the station.

https://www.smdailyjournal.com/news/local/high-speed-rail-upsets-millbrae/article_38627aa6-98b0-11ea-ba27-a30497ebd919.html

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Speaking of Millbrae Madness,
Is Millbrae going to have their Labor Day Celebration?
How about "Our Fair City?"
Street Fair, Art in the Park, The Car Show, and the WHITE ELEPHANT- RECREATION CENTER?
Come on Joe. Let us know.

[Joe]

holly, why is it so difficult for you to stay on topic per post? I think you are wasting your breath complaining about a Rec Center that is already approved and in progress, but if you wish to do so, pick a Rec Center post--there's a whole category full of them.

If you want to know about Community Events, there's a category for those too. I'll answer one of your questions there.

Focus, old boy, focus