BY ADRIANA HERNANDEZ
Daily Post Staff Writer
North Fair Oaks Community Council approved four townhouses despite residents’ concerns that it would add more cars to an already congested street.
The council voted 5-3 on March 26 to recommend that the county government move forward with a request to demolish the house at 521 3rd Ave. and build four two-story townhouses. Councilwomen Kathleen Daly, Kelly Parisi, and Beatriz Orozco voted against Dani Lai’s proposal to bring more homes to a neighborhood that struggles with traffic and parking.
Making things worse
“We have issues, and the more people we bring in without addressing a huge problem that exists is ruining the quality of life for many North Fair Oaks residents,” Daly said.
Daly said she is not against housing but wants the county to address the backed-up parking in North Fair Oaks first. The neighborhood where the townhouses are being proposed is a tight space with no room, she said.
The members of the council are appointed by the county Board of Supervisors. The council acts as an advisory body for issues in the area between Redwood City and Atherton.
Feeling trapped
“Unless you live there day to day, you don’t understand what this is for me. I feel trapped in my home. I have to plan for how I’m gonna leave for the day. Figure out how I’m gonna get back,” resident Lorena Cuevas said.
The project is close to Synapse School, a private K-8 school that is also planning to expand its second campus within SportsHouse, a recreation center. The school is planning to add 9,260 square feet of existing space.
Project Planner Kanoa Kelly said the project will include two parking spaces per unit and one guest parking space for all future tenants.
“I just don’t know that we can trust that there won’t be another 20 cars in that block,” Daly said.
Residents argued that Lai’s proposal adds to the school’s planning and will affect parking spillover in the neighborhood.
“Unless you live there day to day, you don’t understand what this is for me. I feel trapped in my home. I have to plan for how I’m gonna leave for the day. Figure out how I’m gonna get back,” Lorena Cuevas said.
Traffic and parking are both nightmares for her because of the nearby school and the SportsHouse, which adds to the traffic when she leaves or comes home, she said.
“We can rarely park in front of our homes as a result of all the vehicles, commercial and residential. Some neighbors put out cones or garbage cans in front of their homes so that they can park when they return from an appointment or errand,” Magda Gonzalez wrote to the council on March 26.
“As much as I don’t want to see this built down the street from me, especially since it changes the character, the style of the neighborhood. The end result is that they do meet all the qualifications,” Vice Chair George Saman said.
Councilman Blair Whitney said he supported the project. Lai bought the land to develop it, and their proposal meets all the requirements.
“I think to deny people the chance to do stuff with it is like taking their land or their rights from them,” Whitney said.
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