Measure E

	City of Belmont; Measure E

This information is provided by the County Registrar

ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT OF OR IN OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED LAWS ARE THE OPINIONS
OF THE AUTHORS

CITY OF BELMONT

MEASURE E
"Shall the City Council develop a financial plan to purchase, with
public/private funds, property in the San Juan Canyon for open space and public
park use?"

IMPARTIAL ANALYSIS OF MEASURE E

Measure E is an advisory measure asking whether a financial plan should be
developed to purchase the San Juan Canyon, with either private or public funds,
for open space and park purposes.  The area is between Sugarloaf Mountain and
Ralston Avenue, and Cipriani Boulevard and Highway 92.  It is zoned Hillside,
Residential and Open Space (HRO) per Belmont Municipal Code S4.7. Section
S4.7.1 provides:

"PURPOSE - The City Council finds and declares that certain areas of the City
provide unique terrain features and add substantially to the character of the
area, that the location and visibility of development therein will affect the
visual quality of the environment, and that hillside development should
preserve the natural terrain while providing a density of residential
development compatible with the limitations of slope on the development site. 
The Council further finds that there are geologic and soils hazards in the
area, steep slopes, and inadequate roadways making it necessary to reduce
density in portions of the San Juan Hills Area to protect the public safety and
to reduce significant and cumulative traffic impacts to the Ralston Avenue
corridor.  The objectives of this chapter's regulations are to encourage
minimal grading and to reduce citizens' exposure to hazardous slopes by
decreasing residential density as slope increases, to encourage clustering of
homes and density transfer to reduce roadway and driveway grading, to regulate
home size, and to encourage the voluntary merger of lots."

Permitted uses in the HRO Zones are single-family residences and private
stables (Belmont Municipal Code S4.7.2).  Conditional uses are parks, schools,
churches, philanthropic institutions, nursing-rest homes, libraries, museums,
public buildings, and clustered dwelling units (Belmont Municipal Code
S34.7.3).

If approved, the City would develop a financial plan for acquisition. The
process would involve staff participation from Planning, Public Works, Finance
Departments, the City Attorney, City Manager and outside consultants.

To develop a financial plan for acquisition of the property, staff members from
the above referenced City departments and outside consultants, including
appraisers and financial experts would:

1.	Identify all parcels to be included within the definition of the San Juan
Canyon
2.	Identify all owners of those parcels
3.	Obtain appraisals for all parcels
4.	Identify and analyze potential public and private funding sources for
acquisition.  These might include bonds, grants, assessment districts or the
imposition of a special tax.
5.	Identify and analyze potential methods of acquisition including donation of
properties, voluntary sales and eminent domain

As a result of the above referenced financial plan, the cost and time frame
associated with acquisition for open space and park purposes would be
determined.  At this time the financial impact of developing a plan cannot be
accurately calculated.  Costs associated with development of a financial plan
would arise from a commitment of staff time, appraisal fees and financial
consultants' time.  Once developed, the plan would be presented to the City
Council for further direction and action.

This measure will have no effect on existing law.

JEAN B. SAVAREE, City Attorney
Aaronson, Dickerson, Cohn & Lanzone
939 Laurel Street-Suite D, San Carlos, CA 94070  Telephone: 650/593-3117

ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF MEASURE E

This is an advisory measure only. It is not a tax, and it is not a request for
funding. It is a recommendation that the Belmont City Council study the
feasibility of saving one of Belmont's last remaining open space areas from
development.

San Juan Canyon is 171 acres west of Sugarloaf Mountain, running approximately
from the bottom of San Juan Blvd. to the vista point on Ralston near Hwy 92.
This lovely, rugged landscape contributes greatly to Belmont's unique charm.

As beautiful as the area is for open space, it is poorly suited to development.
Almost every slope in it is beset by severe geological hazards. However, with
today's technology, even land like this is "buildable". Developing this steep,
hazardous terrain would require massive grading that would destroy the area's
natural beauty.

Some developers want to send in the bulldozers anyway. If they do, San Juan
Canyon could fill up with as many as 377 houses. This population boom could add
as many as 3,770 more car trips per day to our already overburdened streets,
including Ralston Avenue. While we appreciate the need for housing, we believe
development in San Juan Canyon will irreparably damage the appeal of Belmont
for everyone.

Measure E advises the City Council to consider using private and public funds
to purchase privately owned land in the San Juan Canyon for open space and
recreation uses. Potential funding sources might include (a) Mello-Roos
Community Facility District, (b) special tax, (c) bond purchase, and (d)
private ownership donation. Any costs to the public would be placed on a future
ballot for 2/3 voter approval. 

Join us in this effort to preserve and enhance one of our last open space areas
for future generations. Vote yes on Measure E.
John Boykin on behalf of Cipriani Neighborhood Association
Jess Jones on behalf of Skymont-Plateau Neighborhood Association
Pam Rianda, Council Member
Coralin Feierbach, Council Member
Eric Dentler

NO ARGUMENT AGAINST MEASURE E SUBMITTED
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City of Belmont; Measure E

This information is provided by the County Registrar
