Burlingame Planning

11/27/23

December 05, 2023

burg_PC_231127_Intro

Welcome to Ultraground. We pull subjects from staff reports.

November 27, 2023

  • Housing Element: Affordability Incentives | Approved

November 13, 2023

You saved: 2h 49m
General Code png
burg_PC_231127_Image

2023-2031 Housing Element

Various Sites Pictured Above | Approved

The Housing Element identifies the need to plan for 3,257 new housing units in Burlingame from 2023-2031, with specific goals for various income levels – 863 very low income units, 497 low income units, 529 moderate income units, and 1,368 above moderate income units.

The Housing Element has pre-identified several sites as suitable for redevelopment into multifamily housing based on zoning, infrastructure, environmental factors, and other criteria. Details on each site are provided in Appendix D, presenting a shortlist of properties that Burlingame has deemed ripe for development.

Importantly, the Element provides incentives tied to affordability. Key programs include:

  • Allowing increased heights/densities.

  • Reduced parking, permit streamlining.

  • Waived/reduced fees.

  • subsidies for projects with 10+ percent affordable units.

For 100% affordable projects, the City will provide priority access to purchase city-owned sites through discounted land leases/sales.

The Housing Element also facilitates permitting, with ministerial “by-right” processing in 1-2 months for projects meeting objective criteria, without discretionary review or public hearings. This significantly reduces uncertainty, timing, and process costs. Sites located near major transit stops will also have no minimum parking requirements.

Together, the pipeline of identified sites, incentives linked to affordability, favorable permitting processes, and potential for city-land make Burlingame a strong opportunity for multifamily developers. The Housing Element demonstrates the City’s commitment to facilitating housing production across income levels through 2031.

Multifamily png
West of El Camino | 1.14 Acres | 169 Units | Approved

Prime Pacific's 1870-1876 El Camino Real project amendment, featuring family-friendly 3BR units, a central tower element, and coordinated plans with an adjacent affordable housing project, received positive feedback from the Planning Commission.

Here are some of the unique aspects of the 1870-1876 El Camino Real project:

  1. Integrates family-oriented 3-bedroom units, whereas the original approval only included 1- and 2-bedroom units. The developer noted this was in response to lifestyle changes with more remote work options.

  2. Includes a central tower element that the Planning Commission previously called out as an interesting architectural feature, especially for a gateway site welcoming people into Burlingame.

  3. Incorporates a public plaza space on the corner of El Camino Real and Murchison Drive to activate the streetscape. The Planning Commission praised this in their prior review.

  4. Integrates project bridges over the parking podium to connect the courtyard, and links interior circulation through open corridors across the site.

  5. Coordinated plans with an affordable housing project proposed on the adjacent site, so that together the two projects can create an enclosed courtyard.

  6. Modern architectural elements like metal canopies, glass railings, and metal panel accents with more natural materials.

The Planning Commission praised the project, with Commissioner Pfaff stating this project is really ‘nice looking’ and that she’s glad that the middle element is still in the scope.

Commissioner Tse added that she’s been ‘waiting’ since 2020 for this project to break ground.

Here are the specific changes the developer made since the original entitlements were approved in October of 2020:

  • Added 7 three-bedroom units. Previously there were none.

  • Changed the unit mix percentages: Previously there were 52 one-bedroom units (31%) and 117 two-bedroom units (69%). The new proposal is 59 one-bedroom units (34.9%), 103 two-bedroom units (60.9%), and the 7 three-bedroom units (4.1%).

  • Minor 164 square foot (0.07%) increase in total building square footage. 24 SF increase in building footprint.

  • Minor changes to interior courtyard (north) elevation facing Murchison Drive.

The exterior elevation, total unit count, parking, and TDM plan remain unchanged. Only minor tweaks are proposed to the courtyard elevations and a slight 164 SF increase in total building square footage.

As for the timeline, the project was originally approved by the Planning Commission on October 26, 2020. The developer came back in October 2021 requesting a 1-year extension, which was approved. They then received another extension from the Community Development Director to November 2022. Now in November 2023, about 3 years after original approval, the developer has come back with this amendment request before their entitlements expire.

Developer: Prime Pacific Global Management Corporation, Ryan Chang, Email: [email protected] Phone: 650-692-2880
Thank you png

Thank you for being a part of Ultraground.

How was this report?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.