I have been mulling over this post for a couple of months. That is because it is so distressing. But some things just need to be said. When Paloma Ave. made a comment on the natural gas ban post today, it was the match that lit the fire. Here is his/her/their comment:
I just read in the SF Comicle that Berkeley is now discussing banning single family neighborhoods. Didn't Berkeley start the trend to ban natural gas, which our City Council decided they should also ban? Question to the City Council: Will you also try to ban Single Family Homes in Burlingame? After all, wouldn't that be the woke thing to do?
I'm struck by the follow-the-lemming aspect of it all. Jon Mays at the Daily Journal had an editorial about the follower mindset among city councils here. Jon let these councils off easy by noting "To be clear, the following is not a judgment, but rather an observation." Another observation, mine, would be that city councils need to stand up for their communities even if it means slinging a stone at Goliath. Nowhere is that more important than in the protection of the neighborhoods. Let's face it. The housing thugs in Sacramento are Goliath and they have it in for single family housing. It has been in the works for awhile as I noted here. Personally, I think it is an unhealthy sign of envy, but that is a topic for another day.
What they have already done is today's topic--Accessory Dwelling Units, or ADUs are coming to a lot near you. The first one in my neighborhood just got into the planning queue. But it's not a restrictive queue. I have it from multiple informed sources that the city has minimal control over ADUs. Sure they can dither over whether 16' or 20" height limits should be imposed, but the bottom line is Sacramento has turned the whole state into R2 zoning with no input from the public.
Some predictions have a very high probability. Here's one. If your residential street has a parking problem now, expect it to get worse in five years. City councils will have to get very smart quickly. Maybe the ADU "granny unit", as they used to be called, really is for granny. Maybe it's a perfect Work From Home office. But maybe it's the AirBnB ticket that helps pay the mortgage and has no effect on local affordability. Maybe your kid will live in it. Maybe all of the above. Anyway you look at it, it's more density and that has ramifications that will reveal themselves as we go.
Ugh. Sierra Lopez could use a high school English grammar course.
Posted by: Everything's Jake | February 19, 2021 at 02:09 PM
And right on schedule, here is Scott Weiner again:
SACRAMENTO — State Sen. Scott Wiener will seek to loosen restrictions on how much Californians can build on lots zoned for multifamily housing, hoping to clear the way for more small apartment buildings as the state tries to increase its housing supply.
A bill introduced Thursday by the San Francisco Democrat takes aim at local regulations that limit the square footage of a project based on its lot size, which Wiener calls a “poison pill” to block anything but single-family housing.
For properties zoned for multifamily housing of two to 10 units, Wiener’s measure, SB478, would prohibit cities and counties from setting a floor area ratio of less than 1.5 — meaning the total square footage of the building could be 1½ times the size of the lot.
This would be far more what is now allowed in some Bay Area communities. In unincorporated areas of Marin County, for example, duplexes have a maximum floor area ratio of 0.3, or a fifth of what Wiener would require, and can be built only on a lot that is at least 7,500 square feet.
https://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/California-bill-would-lean-on-cities-to-build-15960922.php
Posted by: Joe | February 19, 2021 at 05:35 PM
Scott Wiener is cotrolled by real estate developers that have bought him.
He receives more funding from them than anyone in the State.
https://sftu.org/2020/01/16/scott-wiener-takes-more-real-estate-money-than-any-other-politician-in-the-california-legislature/
Posted by: Libertarian | February 19, 2021 at 09:39 PM
Pleas. Does the DJ use autocorrect???
Posted by: ugh | February 20, 2021 at 06:09 PM
I doubt it's autocorrect. Lotta tings are changing and your language is one of dem.
Speaking of dem.... we live in a republic. If you don't like the way things are going then you better not vote for ANY (zero, nada, zippo) democrat or bolshevic or whatever they go by dees days.
You may like Jackie Sp (a very pretty gal, I must admit) but she is one of them and she votes the left's party line so she is a huge problem.
This is a republic. We need to vote her and EVERY and ALL dems and socialist/communist out. Don't listen to what they say. Look at how they vote in Congress. She is a nightmare. No dems, ever again. (and no RINO replacements either)
Posted by: MBGA | February 21, 2021 at 07:46 AM
Speier's recent tweet was egregious. I won't repeat it but there was a letter in the DJ about it if you care.
Posted by: resident | February 21, 2021 at 12:22 PM
Read yesterday's Daily Journal article "City may Upzone Single-Family Neighborhoods" in SSF.
Posted by: Joanne | February 27, 2021 at 09:11 AM
Thanks, Joanne. Here's the link:
With an unprecedented decision, South San Francisco is the first city in San Mateo County to explore ending single-family zoning.
The South San Francisco City Council narrowly agreed with a 3-2 vote to look into allowing construction of duplexes, triplexes and other moderately dense development in neighborhoods traditionally reserved solely for single-family homes.
smdailyjournal.com/news/local/south-san-francisco-may-upzone-single-family-neighborhoods/article_76edb7b8-77ee-11eb-a0df-c3c68fafbb20.html#utm_source=smdailyjournal.com&utm_campaign=%2Fnewsletters%2Fheadlines%2F%3F-dc%3D1614351616&utm_medium=email&utm_content=headline
Posted by: Joe | February 27, 2021 at 12:22 PM
I may have to consider a run for city council, in order to keep a bunch for Gen Z 'social justice warriors' from trying ruin what we have.
Posted by: Paloma Ave | February 27, 2021 at 01:39 PM
With 3 Communist/Marxist/Socialist's on the council in SSF what else would you expect. SSF also exploring a UBI program.
Posted by: Barking Dog | February 28, 2021 at 09:17 AM
More reading and viewing pleasure for y'all on this subject:
Today's San Francisco Chronicle:
Bay Area Cities Want to End Single Family Home Zoning, But Will it Create More Housing?"
Also watch on Youtube Professor Patrick Condon's discussion on Density and Solutions.
Posted by: Joanne | February 28, 2021 at 09:08 PM
SSF real estate values probably dropped 5% last week.
Posted by: Phinancier | March 01, 2021 at 01:55 PM
Speier’s Hillsborough will always be safe from over development.
God forbid that our elected officials would ever have to live within their rules for the rest of us.
Posted by: Libertarian | March 02, 2021 at 08:55 PM
It might be time to start buying the houses next to our elected officials so that we can put 4-plexes and 8-plexes on them. I hear Cambridge is a nice street and close to Caltrain for easy commuting. Columbus Ave. not so much.
Posted by: Phinancier | March 04, 2021 at 08:38 PM
Gen Z, social justice warriors, want to ruin everything in order to fix every problem from the last 200+ years.
Do NOT let it happen people. We have every right to live in single family areas, regardless of what whiney activists and advocates say.
Posted by: Paloma Ave | March 06, 2021 at 08:20 AM
Has the city council made any comments or stated their position on SB9 & SB10?
Posted by: Barking Dog | May 05, 2021 at 05:14 PM
How about Assemblyman Mullin and Senator Becker? They are the ones who will be voting on it.
Are they willing disappoint the vast majority of voters in their districts?
Posted by: Paloma Ave | May 06, 2021 at 02:40 AM
I'm wondering if Jackie Speier could tell us how many refugees she is planning to resettle here in Burlingame. There must be an official number somewhere.
Posted by: MBGA | May 06, 2021 at 09:22 AM