This story was originally published on Nov. 19 in the Daily Post. Pick up the print edition of the Daily Post in the mornings for the latest local news.
BY EMILY MIBACH
Daily Post Staff Writer
Residents of the North Fair Oaks community have spoken out against a proposed seven-story apartment complex proposed at Edison Way and Second Avenue near the train tracks.
The North Fair Oaks Community Council, an advisory body to the county government which will have the final say, voted 3-2 on Nov. 17 to support a grading permit for the project, which will have 169 apartments, 34 of which will be offered at below-market rate. Council members Beatriz Cerrillo and Kathleen Daly voted no. Brooks Esser, Blair Whitney and Juan Carlos Prado voted yes.
Cerrillo criticized the fact that a meeting called by the developer, Beals Martin, in September, was only attended by 10 people.
“That doesn’t sit well with me,” she said, adding that she knows of far more than 10 North Fair Oaks residents who want to comment on the project.
During the council’s public comment portion of the meeting held via Zoom, five people called in to voice their concerns with the project. At least two residents also sent emails to the commission before the meeting.
Parking, traffic
In an email to the council, Cecilia Marquez wrote that she opposes the project, saying it will increase traffic. She said residents would be more likely to support the development if it had more parking, perhaps a parking structure, which could be used by neighbors and nearby businesses.
“If we are thinking of housing, let’s help the people that already live in our neighborhood afford where they live, instead of trying to attract out of the area residents. It is a shame most of the units will be market rate; yet our own neighbors, and/or grown children can’t afford to move out because of high rents,” Marquez wrote.
One resident who only identified himself as Hugo, said he is 100% against the building. He pointed out that auto shops in the area use the lot to park cars. With this lot gone, the car shops will have to compete with residents on the crowded streets.
Another resident, who only identified herself as Lorena, said she did not recall hearing that the project will be seven stories at the September meeting. She believed they were talking about a building that would only be three or four stories tall.
Lorena also said she expects a development of this size to go along Middlefield Road, but not along Second. Lorena and others who spoke at the meeting said the project will tower over the primarily one- or two- story homes and businesses in the area.
Council members instructed county transportation officials to work on a way to slow down drivers who speed down Second Avenue at all hours of the day.
Council Chair Esser said he was concerned residents didn’t know about the proposal and therefore weren’t providing any input about it. He said he wants to see messages go out to residents about planning commission meetings when they occur.
Councilman Whitney pointed out that this type of development is part of a long-term plan by the county for North Fair Oaks. He said if people are upset about the project, to call county Supervisor Warren Slocum or apply to sit on the community council. The project itself was not up for a vote because it fits in with the county’s zoning regulations, so planners can approve the project without hearings.
A neighborhood outside of a city
North Fair Oaks is the neighborhood between Atherton and Redwood City. It is not part of a city, so the county runs the community. The county’s Board of Supervisors appoints the North Fair Oaks Community Council, which meets twice a month and advises county officials on matters relating to North Fair Oaks.
Wow, the residents have not been informed of this proposal and yet, it’s advanced anyway? That’s an abject failure of representative democracy. Is the Council operating in some sort of vacuum? Esser’s comments should have been taken seriously. This is nuts.
Where can we get information on these meetings? This is very worrisome for our community. Is anybody from the council from NFO or even familiar with NFO as a community? It’s already expensive as it is, help the current residents before trying to overpopulate and push out. We would like to know what the thought process is behind all of the new construction of these empty and very expensive apartment buildings in the area?
They run the agendas of the NFO’s council in Saturday’s Daily Post, and sometimes they have stories about the bigger issues on the council’s agenda. Today the Post had a story about surveillance cameras in NFO.
Glad to hear that something is going to be built in that area. The parcel is an eyesore currently and is just wasted land and opportunity. North Fair Oaks needs to move forward to improve itself, and not just get stuck in the past. We need to both serve current residents but also welcome newcomers to shoulder the responsibility of providing market rate housing in the Bay area, and form a diverse community of people with different perspectives, which will also bring consumers to both existing and new local businesses. It is usually people who have concerns that show up in council meetings though. I hope there is an easy way for supporters of the project to get their voice heard as well.