[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6574261,"mediaKeyId","3093140-7e57e15ea6e7988a215fa34dbd11f795","parentId",3093140,"title","Council hears staff plan for two-tier Regional Commercial zoning, biosafety rules and a programmatic EIR","audioSeconds",3644,"startMs",3326000,"endMs",6970000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3093140-7e57e15ea6e7988a215fa34dbd11f795&start=3326&end=6970","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3093140-7e57e15ea6e7988a215fa34dbd11f795/thumbnail_3326000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6574261/Belmont-City/San-Mateo-County/California/Council-hears-staff-plan-for-two-tier-Regional-Commercial-zoning-biosafety-rules-and-a-programmatic-EIR","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6574261-fc7a832b5c551a27bd9cb31d9040eb27/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203858&Signature=Dtn2S7H52E3xgMfRG300~v4baw06Zbj~3LkJ0kWJRH-JeYXRNDiIKGAF4GCSVx9DU7GMHygjp1x4cP1kQFR7PiGfUjiVQPfdRoMVuyJpbWxVEo1yKWp9gQLie6FHKgQ541hIhQq~YlvgBMKteYsHsZhaNElREZLce1fEVKN~9-jZwjPpAscXmdqyuNnn3sMdq53AFRZRI67HRmrqfgQ8iBqz30eDlYrvm-w7fLb9pljDHWsROYVYNcHcvXuWw9F0LePxritz69jp~Z8rs71RNaFctlt3DOX5zDBGCQ~ULpHJOC7o6yC1fGsmbdkVSaEm7fek1Eb3v27FbBCizgkN~Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Belmont City","date","2025-04-22T00:00:00Z","article","Deputy Community Development Director Laura Russell briefed the City Council on proposed amendments to the Regional Commercial (RC) zoning district on April 22, recommending a two-tier approach, clearer use rules for research-and-development (R&D) and life-science facilities, and a city-initiated programmatic environmental impact report (EIR) to streamline future reviews.

Russell said the 2017 General Plan created a Regional Commercial land-use classification east of U.S. 101 intended for community-serving commercial uses and, more recently, had seen market interest from R&D and life-science developers. To balance growth and community objectives, staff proposes: (1) an RC‑1 tier that preserves the district’s existing standards (floor-area ratio 1.8 and a 55-foot height baseline for most of the area), and (2) an RC‑2 tier with higher floor area and height limits available only by rezoning to RC‑2 through a legislative action and an individually negotiated community-benefits package.

On height, Russell recommended a maximum of about 225 feet for the RC‑2 tier on parts of the east-of-101 area within airport height constraints, and presented local comparables (projects in Burlingame and Foster City and the 1301 Shoreway proposal) to show market precedent for mid‑200‑foot buildings in some peninsula locations.

On biosafety levels, staff proposed permitting BSL‑1 and BSL‑2 activities in both RC‑1 and RC‑2 without a special permit, subject to performance standards to be developed. Russell recommended allowing BSL‑3 operations only in RC‑2 and only with a special administrative permit that would provide notification to police and fire and allow city oversight on safety and emergency-response coordination. BSL‑4 work would be expressly prohibited.

For CEQA, staff recommended preparing a city-initiated programmatic EIR rather than only a minimal zoning CEQA review. Russell said the programmatic EIR is estimated at about $200,000; staff proposed funding the EIR from the general plan maintenance fund and recouping costs from future applicants through a fair‑share mechanism if council approves. The EIR would take an estimated 12–18 months to prepare and would allow future applicants to tier project-level CEQA documents off the programmatic analysis, reducing duplication and time in the long run.

Councilmembers asked about flexibility for future non‑biotech commercial uses and the risk that a programmatic EIR could grow stale if projects do not come forward for many years. Russell said staff aims to draft flexible standards applicable to a range of R&D, office and lab uses and noted that project‑level review would still be required; staff and consultants will monitor the EIR’s scope and keep it updated as needed. Councilmember McKeown confirmed the RC amendments and Harbor Industrial Area (HIA) work are being coordinated by the same team.

Councilmembers generally signaled support for proceeding to solicit CEQA consultant proposals and returning with formal code amendments, a public outreach plan and a timeline for planning‑commission and council hearings. No final legislative action or rezoning occurred at the April 22 meeting; staff said it will return with a consultant contract for the EIR, draft code language and a public-outreach schedule.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Belmont City - City Council - Apr 22, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Deputy Community Development Director Laura Russell briefed the City Council on proposed amendments to the Regional Commercial zoning district on April 22, recommending a two-tier approach, clearer rules for research-and-development uses and a city-initiated programmatic EIR to streamline future reviews.","taxTitle","Belmont City, San Mateo County, California","taxId",68612,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6574266,"Belmont outlines multimodal goals, traffic-safety process; council notes need for more cycling infrastructure",0,3365000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3093140-7e57e15ea6e7988a215fa34dbd11f795&start=3365&end=3365","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3093140-7e57e15ea6e7988a215fa34dbd11f795/thumbnail_3365000.jpg","/articles/6574266/Belmont-City/San-Mateo-County/California/Belmont-outlines-multimodal-goals-traffic-safety-process-council-notes-need-for-more-cycling-infrastructure","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6574266-dd42954473b462191cbe32c54457fa11/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203858&Signature=iiLIs1QOgVp0rBEVyyTDa01OSNSuY1oWon9pm6hWY2E1HkK3RxxrXwQZTgLTKpP5RQj90maMzD2EAgXkV5GhTmdxINF4DMlpWAvZTHtHTUMyfbiTAYytkG6QZppCubEa9DWQsnmcfpKYHMfWPkCD0Gps7-EhE00q5znEL5dLfO1z~Zi6XptcSB0M8vXWJ94kjsAKsXvQQiqStGt2ZK879~HA5LiIjtjTRc~3cvO~~iBjKAxcUSXtKVXKuYpoc4X1zBWgQnjKl~MyU3ZzAA6QKU9ysOsvxj29uBewtiuqGUk-~P0xN9l4Jz4LS5mT8SwH5mftU1-zbNU8zlyToDL6Aw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Public Works staff presented Belmont’s annual transportation and mobility update to the City Council on April 22, outlining engineering, education and enforcement strategies and describing how traffic-safety requests are processed through the Parking & Traffic Safety Committee (PTSC).

Daniel Matthews, who manages Belmont’s pavement program and serves on PTSC, told council the committee receives public requests through a formal form (belmont.gov/ptsc), evaluates traffic history and collision data, performs speed or traffic counts when needed, and then issues recommendations at quarterly PTSC meetings. In 2024, PTSC received 32 formal requests — an 18% increase over the prior year — and staff recommended improvements on 11 of those requests. Matthews said two recommended improvements have been implemented, one is pending installation (a bike box at Ralston Avenue and South Road), three items await City Council approval and five were resolved via enforcement or maintenance actions.

Maintenance accomplishments highlighted by staff included repainting nearly 4,000 linear feet of red curb, crack-sealing nearly three miles of pavement, installing about 200 tons of asphalt, constructing three ADA ramps in-house, repairing roughly 60 potholes and addressing more than 65 pavement marking and signage issues. The city also flagged planned 2025 projects, including pavement rehabilitation and design work on Belmont Village bike and pedestrian improvements and a Hawk crossing on El Camino Real.

Matthews stressed the city’s three-part approach to safety: (1) engineering (infrastructure and capital projects), (2) education (public outreach, updates on new traffic laws and events such as Bike to Work Day), and (3) enforcement (directed traffic details and parking hotline follow-up). Belmont Police Department’s Clyde Hussey reported enforcement figures for 2024: about 2,000 traffic stops, 330 directed traffic enforcement details, 600 moving citations and more than 1,000 verbal warnings; the department emphasized education-first enforcement for new rules such as AB 413 (the daylighting law) and said it has not issued citations under AB 413 as of the meeting.

San Mateo Consolidated Fire’s Melinda Martin said emergency access and parked-car obstruction remain top concerns for fire apparatus; the department has been working with PTSC on targeted red-curb installations to improve access and cited a recent effort on Irene Court.

Public commenters pressed the council for faster action on bike infrastructure and stronger mode-shift policies. Community member Giuliano Carlini urged Belmont to invest more in cycling infrastructure and mode-shift programs rather than focusing mainly on signal timing and car-flow optimization. Carlini criticized delays to a proposed bike-lane extension and called paint-only measures (bike boxes) inadequate. Resident Tiffany Obayashi presented a petition with 904 signatures asking the city to formally place a proposal to install a pedestrian railing along the Ralston Avenue sidewalk near Ralston Middle School on a future agenda; she asked for a full council discussion rather than a three-minute public-comment slot. Matthews and staff said PTSC is the formal route to evaluate such requests and encouraged residents to submit the PTSC form so staff can study the location and provide a recommendation.

Matthews also said the city is seeking funding for a transportation master plan to guide longer-term mode-shift and mobility investments. He described potential tools including adaptive signal technology, safe routes to school work, transit coordination, and transportation-demand-management measures tied to development.

Councilmembers asked staff to continue outreach on safe routes to school and to route resident safety concerns through PTSC or the myBelmont app for formal tracking. No formal council action was taken on any new capital appropriations at the meeting; consent calendar business earlier in the evening did include authorization of a regional linkage/nexus study grant (see Votes at a glance).","Public works presented an annual transportation and mobility update detailing the Parking & Traffic Safety Committee process, maintenance accomplishments and education/enforcement priorities; public commenters urged faster action on biking infrastructure and a resident petition requested pedestrian railing on Ralston Avenue.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6574270,"Belmont staff outlines plan and funding tiers for 2026 centennial celebration",612,160000,772000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3093140-7e57e15ea6e7988a215fa34dbd11f795&start=160&end=772","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3093140-7e57e15ea6e7988a215fa34dbd11f795/thumbnail_160000.jpg","/articles/6574270/Belmont-City/San-Mateo-County/California/Belmont-staff-outlines-plan-and-funding-tiers-for-2026-centennial-celebration","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6574270-37c4bd339ad729c2ee88f585ff35daa2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203858&Signature=R8TWXT~7j02fI9MvIZLik5yTfJJoSymUCO-6MsIhb1d0KhmYZhpApJ0NTOttOz-yHQ~BF~zRCU4GD5pqHHBypuwWc6dLt68Aqs1awAktUdhyQBPv-NTpfmWZiHFayYgYYUM1LzaydP6klmHTaMkHxBp3zlVk-Av8Gowr4g0jjGWyUwSWGH0T416kmdE0Mrw4M7sxYaKB~lhFqy5DI7SAnoJKUeTCm8~uKYQ4qcT6l3bZ-8YWqFja8CWy0w7hpn~AzoWqKZD5dYp2Uv3EwZecDEHMLv6hXcD60BabRmxm8p~yBN1X-ewkowfFtL34riDncw4bIIrhS6~G58HsSQkAoQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Belmont Parks and Recreation Director Britt Shearer told the City Council on April 22 that the city is actively planning Belmont’s 100th birthday celebration in 2026 and has finalized a centennial brand that will appear on banners, pins and other materials across town.

Shearer said a steering committee made up of herself, a member identified only as Josie and Communications Director Elizabeth Sakres meets regularly to plan the celebration and coordinate outreach. The centennial date is Oct. 20, 2026; staff said a signature event is planned for fall 2026 but the format — indoor or outdoor — has not been determined and will depend in part on the status of the City Hall campus detention basin project.

The centennial plan centers on three goals: a visible citywide brand, a single signature fall event around the Oct. 20 anniversary, and community-led activities. Shearer said the team has launched a public survey and held one-on-one interviews with longtime residents to collect historical materials and ideas. Staff also plans to curate historical articles, videos and oral histories on a dedicated web page (belmont.gov/100years) and to capture resident storytelling for a digital archive.

Staff outlined a range of proposed activities that would carry the centennial brand: tabling at existing city events (Celebrate the Music, the Water Dog Run, the trunk-or-treat), a possible community art project, storytelling recordings, a time capsule, selective repainting of decorative fire hydrants after coordination with Midpeninsula Water, and a land-acknowledgment project connected to Twin Pines Park. Shearer said a college intern will work on some of the research and outreach over the summer.

On funding, Shearer said the city will use a two-track approach: (1) a small community-led event grant program for residents and groups to request “nominal funding support,” and (2) a sponsorship and donation campaign. Staff reported a budget placeholder of approximately $10,000 in the next fiscal year to buy initial branding materials and begin outreach, and noted the city’s public art funds could be used for community art or indigenous-arts projects. Draft sponsorship tiers presented to the council are $1,000 (Emmett level), $2,500 (Cipriani), $5,000 (Ralston) and $10,000 (Centennial), with increasing recognition at each level.

Council members offered suggestions at the meeting. One council member encouraged staff to begin outreach to the school district now to engage schools in centennial activities; Shearer said the district has been notified but that detailed coordination is premature. Another councilmember urged creating a printed legacy book to supplement digital archives, noting concerns about long-term readability of digital formats; staff said the History Room already holds published materials and that multiple formats are under consideration. Council and staff also discussed volunteer recruitment and potential partnerships with local colleges and history organizations to document interviews with longtime residents.

Shearer asked residents to check belmont.gov/100years for updates and to use the online contact information to propose events or volunteer. The council did not take any formal action or vote on funding at the meeting; staff said the $10,000 marker is part of current budget planning and that future appropriation would come through the regular budget process.

Looking ahead, Shearer said staff will launch the sponsorship effort, open a simple online grant application for community-led events, finalize the format for the fall 2026 signature event by the end of the year (contingent on the detention basin project), and continue community outreach through city events and neighborhood festivals.","Parks and Recreation Director Britt Shearer told the City Council a steering committee has finalized centennial branding, is developing community grants and sponsorship tiers, and has penciled a signature event for Oct. 20, 2026; staff seeks community partners and set aside a $10,000 budget marker for the next fiscal year.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6574256,"Celebrate the Music festival set for April 27; resident urges more visits to Belmont History Room",902,1798000,2700000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3093140-7e57e15ea6e7988a215fa34dbd11f795&start=1798&end=2700","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3093140-7e57e15ea6e7988a215fa34dbd11f795/thumbnail_1798000.jpg","/articles/6574256/Belmont-City/San-Mateo-County/California/Celebrate-the-Music-festival-set-for-April-27-resident-urges-more-visits-to-Belmont-History-Room","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6574256-d9fb73f0032cf90f70f1b37279950f98/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203858&Signature=P3awQvaTC61usz8czCN3Zc4Xlo1fyZyX89FIxzH5u61aMB-aOC-9ZsQZF4GpZHqzgyQExJCZQzkRHjZ4M4TpJ4p0t1wLSRjCJBd2IjjgTDdttEDMmjc-v77arU4r5jlumg06HEtdePCgHCkpic~lfgToucPexZ89m4aBR4S9xTx2-dTzI1dbqd6W-QquvSaueyWemPMgESDPYggUtroZb6oEXUSKmqwVP8GJwXgKeuV1FXpMoad0jITvLp-RTF05NrPvlDG6FCxHNz6OyOT7TcAQzYfH6nm6XuZc2si0Ii1xw2dP-qpbXtiS5qs6jQfHu~VPzaF3V9C7rS9jApTZ3w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Alan Sarver, representing SchoolForce (the Belmont-Redwood Shores School District education foundation), briefed the City Council on Belmont’s Celebrate the Music festival, scheduled for Sunday, April 27 at Twin Pines Park and City Hall. Sarver described the festival as the district’s signature annual event, featuring elementary, middle- and high-school performances, a marching-band “battle of the bands,” instrument clinics for younger students and a volunteer-run beer garden and food vendors.

Sarver said the festival runs from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., is entirely volunteer-run, and typically depends on more than 200 volunteers to staff stages, activities and logistics. He encouraged residents to volunteer and pointed to schoolforce.org for maps, schedules, volunteer signups and event information. Sarver highlighted appearances by local ensembles including the Peninsula Youth Orchestra, the West Bay Community Band and Carlmont High School student groups.

During public comment, Belmont resident Eric Dentler encouraged the council to promote the Belmont History Room and increase foot traffic to the museum, noting local music-history connections related to the 1960s counterculture and urging the History Room and Celebrate the Music attendees to partner during the festival. Staff confirmed the History Room would be open during the festival, giving residents an opportunity to visit.

The council did not take formal action; staff and SchoolForce representatives encouraged the public to attend and volunteer.","Alan Sarver of SchoolForce previewed the Celebrate the Music festival scheduled April 27 at Twin Pines Park and City Hall, a volunteer-run event featuring school performances and community activities; a public commenter urged the council to promote the Belmont History Room and tie music-history visits to the festival.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council hears staff plan for two-tier Regional Commercial zoning, biosafety rules and a programmatic EIR

Belmont outlines multimodal goals, traffic-safety process; council notes need for more cycling infrastructure

Belmont staff outlines plan and funding tiers for 2026 centennial celebration

Celebrate the Music festival set for April 27; resident urges more visits to Belmont History Room