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LWV League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Smart Voter
San Mateo County, CA November 7, 2006 Election
Measure B
Land Use Measure
City of Brisbane

Majority Approval Required

Fail: 400 / 26.8% Yes votes ...... 1,095 / 73.2% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Results as of Jan 4 9:41am, 100.0% of Precincts Reporting (3/3)
Information shown below: Impartial Analysis | Arguments |

Should the City Council grant permits and approvals that would change the existing use of the Guadalupe Valley Quarry to allow a proposed residential development consisting of 102 Single Family Units, 16 Live-In Work Units, 32 Artists' Lofts, and 23 "Granny" Units? This measure shall be binding upon the property owner and the City.

Impartial Analysis from The City Attorney of Brisbane
Measure B seeks voter approval of a proposed residential development of the Guadalupe Valley Quarry ("the Quarry"). The Quarry is located in the unincorporated area of the County of San Mateo and is presently operating as a quarry under a surface mining permit issued by the County. The 1994 Brisbane General Plan provides for the Quarry to be annexed by the City and redeveloped for commercial use similar to Crocker Industrial Park. The property owner has instead applied to the City for approval of residential development consisting of 102 single-family homes, 16 live-work units (combined residence and small business space), 32 artists lofts (combined residence and studio space), and 23 carriage (or "Granny")units (attached to 23 of the single-family homes). The project will also include a community facility, public park, open space areas dedicated for endangered species habitat, financial contributions to the School District and the City for public facilities and affordable housing, and future homeowner payments for the Habitat Conservation Plan.

Because the project involves residential use of the Quarry property instead of the commercial uses anticipated in the General Plan, the Brisbane City Council determined that this policy question should be submitted to the voters and no permits or approvals would be granted unless the voters have approved the project. The permits and approvals will consist of: (1) General Plan amendment to change the land use designation of the development area from commercial to residential; 2) changing the zoning classification of the property; (3) approval of specific plan for the project area; (4) granting subdivision map approval to divide the property; (5) granting a use permit and design permit for the proposed structures; and (6) approval of a Development Agreement between the City and the developer.

Applications for each of the permits and approvals listed above have been submitted to the City. Copies of the applications together with plans and drawings for the proposed project, the conditions of approval, the tentative subdivision map, and the proposed Development Agreement are on file at City Hall and available for review by any interested person. These documents are also available on the City's website http://www.ci.brisbane.ca.us. No action has been taken on these applications by the City Council.

Measure B is intended to be binding upon the developer and the City.

If Measure B passes by a majority vote, the applications will be submitted to the City Council for approval. The Quarry will thereafter be annexed to the City of Brisbane and all of the permits and approvals will become effective.

If Measure B does not pass by majority vote, the applications will be submitted to the City Council for denial if they are not voluntarily withdrawn by the developer. The Quarry will not be annexed to the City and will be entitled to continue its existing operations under any surface mining permit that may be issued by the County of San Mateo.

  Official Information

Official Information : http://www.ci.brisbane.ca.us.
Partisan Information

In Favor of Measure B: http://www.closethequarry.com

Against Measure B: http://www.noquarryhousing.com
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Arguments For Measure B Arguments Against Measure B
The question is whether the Quarry should be closed, annexed to the City and construction permitted for 102 single family units (with 23 attached "granny" units), 16 live-work units, and 32 artist's lofts.

I argue in favor:

The Quarry has operated on County land next to Brisbane since 1896; today all it contributes to Brisbane is noise, trucks and dust. Regulated only by the County, it pays neither City taxes nor School contributions. It excavates and transports through town 250,000 tons of rock annually. Unless the Quarry is annexed, the City has no regulatory say and, under current or future County regulation, the Quarry may continue to operate another 20 to 50 years.

If voters approve Quarry closure and development, there will be City conditions of construction, including:

  • $6,000,000 to the City for capital improvements (gymnasium, storm drain, water system and recreation improvements);

  • $ 500,000 to the School District to improve Lipmann and BES.

Annual property tax and other City revenues from the Quarry development will approximate $300,000, with offsetting costs for public safety, public works and recreation demand of perhaps $200,000. Each Quarry residence will contribute $800 annually toward the Habitat Conservation Fund for butterfly protection.

While development will bring substantial financial benefits to Brisbane, in my view the end of quarrying and of Quarry traffic through town is a major plus. Walk up Quarry Road today; you'll see mud, rock, sheds, conveyors, crushers and machinery. Imagine instead a soccer field, community center, homes, and artist's lofts spreading over the Quarry floor; imagine slopes gradually softening with vegetation; visualize the rock that will no longer be stripped from the Mountain.

I recommend that we welcome Quarry closure with a Yes vote.

/s/ Steven W. Waldo August 16, 2006

Member, Brisbane City Council, 1989-2001, 2005

Rebuttal to Arguments For
NO, the question is whether the people of Brisbane buy this ill-conceived and dangerous quarry housing development and accept the expense and long-term liability that comes with it.

Do not be misled. Housing is NOT the only way to stop quarry operations. Per Quarry Depletion Reports filed with Brisbane, by January 1, 2005 only 1,277,388 tons were left to extract, including 500,000 tons recycling. At current extraction rates this is less than 5 years--not 20 to 50 years!

Financial benefits? Brisbane's current annual budget of $11,068,799 equals a per person cost of $3,000. How much will 500 new Quarry residents really cost with the liability and remote services demanded? Do not be misled! This will cost YOU far more than the $7 million one-time payoff offered to Brisbane--and thereby relieve the quarry owners of their legal and financial responsibility to restore the land and habitat.

Hate the dust? Then enforce the agreed upon strict conditions of the Surface Mining Permit until there is nothing left to quarry or grind.

Worried about pollution? Think about an additional 1,646 car trips per day for starters.

Do not be misled! This development plan is as flawed and fractured as the Quarry slopes. Housing in the Quarry is a violation of both nature and basic common sense. Instead, imagine a restored natural habitat, conservation of water resources, and healing the heart of San Bruno Mountain.

Close the Quarry? Absolutely! But not at this cost--and not with housing.

Vote NO on B!!

/s/ Michele Salmon August 28, 2006 Co-Chair, Campaign Against Quarry Housing and Third-Generation Brisbane Resident

/s/ David Schooley August 28, 2006 Founder, San Bruno Mountain Watch

/s/ Lee Panza August 28, 2006 Former Brisbane Mayor and Councilman

/s/ W. Clarke Conway August 28, 2006 Current Brisbane City Council Member and twice former Mayor of Brisbane

173 housing units in the Quarry is the wrong use of space in the heart of San Bruno Mountain. We should not allow developers to create unaffordable, sprawl housing that fractures Brisbane's tight-knit community and exposes residents to seismic hazards and air pollution. A no vote on the project allows Brisbane to consider other uses for the space that don't violate common sense and are better suited for our community.

The facts are clear:

  • The project calls for market-rate housing, which is unaffordable to the vast majority of Brisbane residents. Brisbane needs affordable housing, not the scheme put forth by the developer.

  • This development would be nearly a mile from town and off the public transportation grid. Residents would have to rely on cars to go anywhere + to shop, to work, and to socialize with anyone outside the Quarry. The project would dilute Brisbane's community and add traffic and pollution.

  • Housing in the Quarry would be a net financial loss to the City. Despite the money from the developer, the bottom line is that this project will cost the City money, for maintenance of infrastructure and for City services.

  • How safe is it? Only time will tell how safe houses in the Quarry will be in a fire, flood or extreme seismic event. And only time will tell whether the fence the developer plans to build will keep kids off the quarry benches.

  • Some will tell you that voting for housing is the only way to shut down the Quarry operations. Don't believe it. Other alternatives exist that will allow Brisbane to create something special for the City.

Envision a San Bruno Mountain interpretative center, a wildlife sanctuary, or a dedication of open space.

Vote NO on Quarry housing!

Check the facts at http://www.noquarryhousing.com.

/s/ Karen Latham August 17, 2006 Officer, Campaign Against Quarry Housing Brisbane Resident

/s/ Jess C. Salmon August 17, 2006 Former Mayor of Brisbane Lifetime Member of Brisbane Lion's Club

/s/ Dolores Gomez August 17, 2006 Lifetime Brisbane Resident, Former Head of the Brisbane Library

/s/ Raymond Liu, M.D. August 17, 2006 Physician, University of California San Francisco Brisbane Resident

/s/ Terry O'Connell August 17, 2006 Senior Insurance Appraiser Brisbane Resident

Rebuttal to Arguments Against
I favor the measure on the ballot for these reasons:

  • The Quarry is now located on County land, outside Brisbane's City limits. A yes vote allows the City to annex the Quarry, end County jurisdiction and directly regulate all future Quarry development.

  • There will be direct financial benefits to the City and schools: $6 million for City capital improvements (including a City gymnasium) and $500,000 to Brisbane schools.

  • Annual Quarry tax revenues to the City will top annual City costs by $100,000.

  • Each proposed Quarry home will contribute $800 annually for butterfly habitat preservation.

While the opposing argument favors other hypothetical Quarry uses, it does not explain how such uses may come to pass. Who will provide millions to acquire the Quarry property + and why will they do so? And if such funds are not identifiable or available, then if this measure fails why should the Quarry owners not simply continue operations, as they have for over 100 years, with continuing adverse impacts on Brisbane?

The proposed development will end Quarry operations and provide a modest amount of new housing, 173 units including 23 "granny" apartments, 16 live-work units and 32 artist's lofts.

I recommend your Yes vote in November.

If you have questions, feel free to call me: Steve Waldo 650-691-9199 (w) or 415-467-4078 (h).

/s/ Steven W. Waldo August 28, 2006

Member, Brisbane City Council, 1989-2001, 2005 to present Three time former Mayor


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Created: January 4, 2007 09:42 PST
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