Sunday, September 28, 2014

Smart cities are moving up their commercial height limits and building green


Pacifica:  population density is waiting
in line for barbeque, or driving our only
highway through Vallemar/Rockaway.

San Francisco Chronicle/John King, Staff, 9/27/14.  "These development measures are really anti-growth."

It’s election time in the Bay Area, which means ballot initiatives designed to undercut development plans are already in the works. But there’s another way to look at this year’s crop: as confirmation of an ongoing cultural shift in favor of tall buildings and mixed-use neighborhoods with access to transit outside the region’s largest cities.

Vote to improve Pacifica
economic development.
Status quo or less = poor,
  a proven substandard city.
 ....  “We’re starting to see a separation between the traditional anti-growth crowd — 'We want to keep our small-town nature. We want to drive our cars’ — and the other crowd that says, 'We want to have transit-oriented growth and an active downtown, but we want it to be perfect,’” said Madsen, whose organization opposes Berkeley's Measure R as “misguided.”  Where Berkeley’s measure allows taller buildings as long as they’re a utopian shade of green, Menlo Park voters are being asked to change the rules to allow a procession of buildings resembling nothing so much as a row of gap teeth — by intent.

....  The vision emerging is more complex — and, in the long run, more compelling. There’s a hint of this evolution in San Bruno, a city of 44,000 between Millbrae and South San Francisco where a 1977 ordinance capped heights at three stories or 50 feet without voter approval.  November’s Measure N would allow 90-foot buildings around the city’s Caltrain station and increase heights by 20 feet along El Camino Real and 15 feet along San Bruno Avenue. These aren’t towers by any stretch, but they acknowledge a need for housing beyond single-family homes..... “Whether people love the idea of density or not, they’re starting to grasp the benefits that can come from transit-friendly neighborhoods,” Madsen said. “The more we can get away from the fear factor, the better.”  Read article.

Related - Berkeley, CA - Measure R initiative ordinance amending downtown zoning provisions and creating civic center historic district overlay zone,  Ballot Question, revised 2014.  Prior Measure R, 2012.  Berkeleside yes, no opinion.

San Bruno  Measure N, economic enhancement initiative, increase height limits. Greenbelt Alliance, urges a "yes" vote.  "As with other Peninsula cities, San Bruno continues to recover economically. While things look brighter, the city must plan for the future. For several years, the City has engaged in a collaborative, inclusive, and transparent process focused on growing the local economy, generating new city revenue without taxing our citizens, while improving downtown and major transit corridors. The City has adopted a visionary plan for new homes, jobs, and shops in its downtown that will make the community a great place for decades to come." 

Note graphic button from Cafe press.  Photograph from Barbeque1 blog.

Posted by Kathy Meeh

29 comments:

Anonymous said...

City hall should figure a way to get a couple pot shops in town.

Anonymous said...

Real fast way to bring traffic to Palmetto and bring in revenue for this dying town, but it's just not upscale and we wanna be upscale.

big banker said...

San Bruno did it. Then they said wait we need a hook n ladder fire truck for these taller buildings. Presto a brand new hook n ladder fire truck showed up at their fire station paid for in full by the developers and the GAP.

See Pacifica gang of no, that is how you work with a major developer, you invite them in, tell them your needs and wants, tell them this is what we want on your site, and you compromise!!

You don't run him out of town like you did to Trammell Crow and Don Peebles.

Anonymous said...

San Bruno has a plan! It is inclusive ! Why can't we do this here in Pacifica?

Anonymous said...

big banker, way to re-write history. Nobody ran Trammell Crow or Don Peebles out of town. They did it to themselves.

Hutch said...

924 Measure L was a very close vote. I believe if it took place today it would pass. People are wise to the deception and lies from the gang of no. And yes Peebles was run out of town. Hell they even tried to file false charges against the man for assault. He was demonized as an out of town carpet bagger looking to take what he could and leave. We won't forget.

Anonymous said...

Both Trammell Crow and Don Peebles wanted to build hundreds of homes in the quarry. The voters said no. If either of them had proposed a much smaller number of homes, they probably would have won. They blew it.

todd bray said...

Hutch, the Measure L loss was all the more sweeter because it was so close. And if it was held today it would, unfortunately not be so close. It would lose by a much wider margin today and so not be as entertaining.

Boys and girls, you may want to find new ointment to heal those wounds... or are you just constantly picking at them so they don't heal.

E and L lost. They both lost. E by 2 to 1 and L by 10% or so, but they both lost. Hehehehe

Hutch said...

We will see Todd how your anti widening candidate does. That will be a mandate for what Pacificans want.

BTW mesure L only passed by 6.35% not 10%.

todd bray said...

Hutch laments, " BTW mesure L only passed by 6.35% not 10%."

Ha, all the more sweeter. 2 years and 3 million dollars and it only lost by 6%. Sweetness.

Anonymous said...

If and when Harmony is built out, how do you think the rich and entitled will feel about the beautiful views they paid millions for? The rich and entitled always make the best eco-warriors. Don't mess with their views of that rustic quarry! And from the rich and entitled at Harmony, Pacifica will reap about $75K yearly for our share of their property tax. That's $75,000 for the whole development. They're here for the views, baby. Doubt they drop another dime in this town or mingle with the 'townies'. If and when.

Anonymous said...

That widened freeway would be a blight on their view, too. Not to mention bringing all the grubby little people way too close to their rich and entitled aeries. I see Harmony and its 10 homes as a hell of a way to protect a lot of open space for almost no money return to Pacifica. We're not going to become Carmel-by-the-Sea or Pebble Beach. This isn't the start of a transformation. Great money for the developers, minimal development on that parcel and minimal return for Pacifica. Now, a hotel up there would have been transformative for this town. We just never get it right.

Kathy Meeh said...

According to the No on L, 2006 website the housing component defeat was 3.40%. Four city council NIMBIES worked against the Measure L redevelopment, economic development plan (Jim Vreeland, Julie Lancelle, Pete DeJarnatt, and Sue Digre). Sue Digre even put her name on the No on L 2006 campaign, the others hid. City councilmember Cal Hinton (a "voice of reason", his theme) was clearly for the project, and sent-out a letter to the people of this city. The No on L campaign NIMBIES brought into this city regional eco-buddies to reinforce whatever they could think of to primitively scare the people of this city, namely promote twisted visions related to "traffic", "outsider" and "big box", "355" houses.

But remember for one year following (2007-2008), Peebles Corporation tried to work with the city council sub-committee (Jim Vreeland and Julie Lancelle) to develop the retail/commercial component of the project. But Vreeland advocated for some wild, unrelated public-private partnership alternative. The talks went no where, the developer gave up, moved on, and again this city lost. (Thus ending the 25 year potential of free/subsidized redevelopment money to benefit growth improvement in this city).

Still buying into the NIMBY brainwashing BS? Broken down roads (some city roads not even maintained by the city), city conflict, beautification rather than economic development, prior inadequate financial oversight (from 2003), and semi-functioning city hall facility (not ADA compliant, copy machine downstairs, etc.), no money to help fund a library, extreme volunteerism, no economic development director, no real push to improve this city, etc. If you're fed-up enough (which you should be), vote for city council candidates who will act to structurally improve and fix Pacifica. As previously stated 2x, my best educated guess to do that include: Victor Spano, Therese Dyer, and Mike O'Neill. (Definitely not anyone the PH1A anti-highway crowd endorses, Sue Digre, John Keener, Matt Dougherty.) Eric Ruchames may support some development, he seems to be a favorite city insider (pro library and tax), but that does not address the structural economic inadequacy in this city. And fixing the long standing, lagging city economy is paramount to all other issues in this city.

Hutch said...

Thank's for catching that Kathy, so 3.4% is pretty far from the 10% in Todd's mind. But that's what those people do, lie and deceive.

Grasping at more straw 1:59 & 2:33? Yes a brand new manicured freeway is going to be such a blight on this city. All that ugly landscaping, brand new smooth pavement, modern, safe lengthened approaches and exit lanes, less traffic so they can get home.

Yep that sounds horrible.

todd bray said...

3%, 6%, 10% what's the difference? Peebles Co. spent 2 years in town and over 3 million bucks on it's Measure L and lost. Lost,lost,lost. 3-6-10 it doesn't matter. But a 3.4% loss after that much time and money shows the population doesn't want the quarry full of housing.

Anonymous said...

Hutch, thanks for capturing in one post the difference between you and the rich
who pay for the views, no crowds, some degree of natural surroundings, the illusion of seclusion and maybe a smidge of exclusivity, etc. Living within earshot and view of your "brand new manicured freeway" is not on their 5 million dollar list of amenities.

Anonymous said...

They lost and nobody has tried it again. Developers in that league know Peebles went all out, spent millions, and still got shown the door. Between using other people's money and an army of CPAs and tax attorneys, he made money, but still it's a waste of time when there are so many other, easier, low-hanging fruit.

Anonymous said...

Still arguing Measure L? If that was 2006, that's 8 years ago. Time to move on.

Hutch said...

Another expert 4:12? Evidently the developers believe you are wrong. The ocean views are fantastic from that hilltop. Again, I'll believe the experts over you anonymi.

Anonymous said...

Oh, Hutch, honestly. If you've got nothing to say, go to your play list?The fact that the developers believe the views are fantastic is not the issue. The issue is the negative feelings of the rich and entitled towards freeways within their sight and hearing. Ditto for developments in the quarry catering to the masses. The rich are here for the views and quiet. They make fantastic enviros when it's their enviro being threatened. Ironic isn't it?

Kathy Meeh said...

608 NIMBY, I see you went to your play list.

The views are one of the important advantages for those who are buying the 10 hilltop properties. But the quarry, highway 1 (the only highway through Pacifica), and a city that can afford services is also important. Works the same way for the rest of us, who you refer to as "the masses". Right Libertarian?

Hutch said...

Yeah sure6:08, 3 acre estates with sweeping ocean views are a dime a dozen within 20-50 minute drive of SF or Silicone Valley. Uh huh sure they are. Those homes will easily sell, highway and all. They can just position their infinity pool to hide it.

Anonymous said...

Hutch

I would feel stupid paying 4 million to live in Pacifica. You can buy a house on the point for 1 mil dump 1 mil into it and have an awesome house.

I would rather spend 4-5 million and be in Atherton.

Pacifica you have to drive up a highway that is functionally obsenentant and drive through crappy parts of town to get home.

Anonymous said...

Bray

Show us the cease and desist that Peebles attorney sent you.

Please show it.

Anonymous said...

Wow! Double-teamed by Kathy and Hutch. What must it mean? I do know the rich make better nimbys than the poor or middle class. More invested, more to lose, higher standard of living. And good nimbys will choose personal entitlement over public good more times than not. Seriously, you should know that on here. Fought for the development and then the damn nimbys moved into it! Got to love the irony of the thing. Of course this is all conjecture, yours and mine, since no one lives there yet and the highway and quarry are at best distant possibilities not under Pacifica's control.

Anonymous said...

I'm all for property rights and it is hilarious that a Canadian company called Sonora Shores is in charge. All in favor of realtor's making commission and all the other short term money. Still, the revenue for Pacifica is a pittance--$75K/yearly in prop tax for the complete project. Compare that to what a hotel might have brought in--a million a year plus jobs. You see why we need an Economic Development Director? To develop an economy. And there's our Mayor shoveling the first shovelful of dirt for the camera. Thrilled I'm sure. The caption s/b Nihart Buries Pacifica. Nothing personal. It could be anyone. The faces change, Pacifica does not.

Anonymous said...

Anon @ 7:49 PM begs, "Bray, show us the cease and desist that Peebles attorney sent you. Please show it."

What letter? What cease and desist? What is a cease and desist anyway?

BTW, you are welcome for cleaning up your punctuation.

Anonymous said...

Damn, Peebles made $500 million in 5 years without buying or selling any property. Nice return on investment: infinity.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/05/AR2010010503814.html

Anonymous said...

Too bad a man so adept at making money was shooed away by the genius NOBY crowd.
Lancelle, Vreeland, deJarnutt, Digre, Loeb Verby, Hall, Bray, et al. all need to a take victory lap.
Pay close attention to these mentors Keenerr and Dierdre, one day you too will be too for destroying Pacifica.