Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use Initiative topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
San Bruno council hires PlaceWorks for citywide land‑use, housing and economic development initiative; budgeted at $2.8M
Summary
Council approved a consultant agreement with PlaceWorks to lead a citywide land‑use, housing and economic development initiative — covering zoning/code amendments, a joint EIR, funding-mechanism analysis and extensive community engagement — with a reported budget of $2.8 million largely paid from the general plan maintenance fee.
The City of San Bruno authorized the city manager to execute a standard agreement with PlaceWorks to prepare a land‑use, housing and economic development initiative intended to boost project feasibility, streamline review and identify funding mechanisms.
Peter (Community Development staff) and planning manager Roscoe Mata outlined an EPS assessment of the Transit Corridors Plan that staff said showed developers’ project pro formas were constrained by soft costs and regulatory requirements. Staff proposed a citywide initiative to update the land-use and municipal code, perform environmental review (one EIR covering multiple areas), and pursue funding mechanisms — potentially including districts and a ballot measure — to pay for infrastructure and long‑term maintenance.
PlaceWorks managing principal Joanna Janssen introduced the consultant team and said the firm and subconsultants will provide zoning-code updates, fiscal analysis and public-engagement services. The project budget shown on the presentation was $2,800,000; staff said most consultant work (excluding the ballot measure costs) is covered by the city’s general plan maintenance fee, not the general fund.
Commissioners and council members debated scope, timing and community outreach. Councilmember Salazar and others warned about previous experience with the Transit Corridors Plan and emphasized that community education and equity analysis would be critical. The planning commission voted to recommend the contract; the council moved to adopt the resolution authorizing the city manager to enter the agreement and the motion passed unanimously 5-0.
Staff said the scope includes code amendments, internal process improvement, fiscal analysis by EPS, potential use of community facilities or service CFDs, community engagement and ballot polling, with an overall timeline that anticipates some ballot work by 2028. The agreement starts a multi-year effort; any specific zoning or funding changes would return to the council for approval.
