Candidates back Bayfront growth but stress planning, resiliency and transit

Burlingame candidates expressed support for Bayfront development while urging strong planning, transit connections and built‑in resiliency.

Hadia Koury called the Bayfront “a treasure” that could bring hotels, restaurants and nightlife and said activating the waterfront would boost Broadway and local tax revenue. Rachel Nee and Andrea Papajan both argued for planned, mixed‑use development that prioritizes walkability and transit access. “I am a strong believer of planned development and mixed use,” Rachel Nee said, noting the long‑term benefits of integrated commercial and residential planning.

Mayor Donna Colson described Bayfront zoning the city has pursued as among the most innovative in the nation for incorporating sea‑level rise adaptation paid for by developers during project construction. “Resiliency is also built in around, transit,” she said, adding that upzoning value creation helps fund parks, the Bay Trail and adaptation measures.

Desiree Thayer stressed that developers should be required to include transit‑demand management plans; Tony Paul emphasized vertical development with robust mass‑transit and park‑and‑ride capacity to reduce horizontal sprawl and traffic impacts.

Candidates generally agreed that development should be coordinated with transit improvements and flood resilience; specific project approvals and mitigation remain the purview of the council and staff review processes.