Chapter 12.26 — VOTER APPROVAL FOR HIGH-RISE, HIGH DENSITY, SCENIC CORRIDOR, AND…

Editor's Note: Pursuant to section 4 of Ordinance 1284, the "Notice of Intent to Circulate Petition" for the initiative entitled "Initiative Measure to Require an Affirmative Vote of the Voters of the City of San Bruno Prior to the Issuance of any Permits or Other Approvals for High-Rise or High-Density Developments and Projects Encroaching Upon Scenic Corridors and Open Spaces" is reproduced below. The petition was certified by the city clerk on May 23, 1977, and adopted by the city council on June 1st, 1977, pursuant to Sections 4010 and 4011 of the 1977 California Elections Code [2005 Government Code Sections 9200 et seq.]

Notice is hereby given of the intention of the persons whose names appear hereon to circulate the petition within the city of San Bruno for the purpose of assuring referral to the qualified electors of San Bruno certain planning and zoning enactments proposed by the City Council which may establish new precedents in planning and zoning policies: substantially affect air and noise pollution; substantially encroach upon scenic corridors; and any other enactments which may threaten the community, its quality of life or its interaction with neighboring communities.

A statement of the reasons of the proposed action as contemplated in said petition is as follows:

Air pollution, noise pollution, traffic congestion, energy shortages, depletion of open space and flora and fauna, and aggravation of attendant storm drainage and waste disposal problems—all associated with planning and zoning policies which promote high densities, breaking of existing height limits and dilution of increasingly scarce community resources—are rapidly approaching emergency proportions in a community further deluged by major highway and freeway systems and airport operations. The peace, comfort and enjoyment of suburban living of the very recent past is rapidly being displaced by pollution, clamor and depletion of community environmental resources. Unless these accelerated trends are halted quickly, San Brunans will be irreversibly plunged into the problems of central-city despair which heretofore have been avoided or kept at controlled minimal levels.

It is essential to adopt this initiative proposal so that San Bruno citizens may have the opportunity to make for themselves the final decisions on these types of crucial, turning-point planning and zoning enactments proposed by the City Council. We citizens of San Bruno, and we alone, should decide the ultimate direction and character of this community which we who live here love and wish to preserve.

/s/ Terri Rasmussen

/s/ Dr. Louis Maraviglia

/s/ Rose Urbach

/s/ Lawrence Lucero

/s/ Gary Mondfrans (Ord. 1284, § 4, 1977)

Unless and until approved by a majority of the voters of the city, voting at a general or special election, no building permits, grading permits or other approvals shall be issued to allow or authorize the initiation or construction of buildings, other structures, land development projects or land uses described below:

• A. Buildings or other structures exceeding fifty feet in height;

• B. Buildings or other structures exceeding three stories in height;

• C. Buildings or other structures, modifications or redevelopment thereof in residential districts which increase the number of dwelling units per acre or occupancy, within each acre or portion thereof, in excess of limits permitted on October 10, 1974, under the then existing zoning chapter of the city of San Bruno;

• D. Multistory parking structures or buildings;

• E. Buildings or other structures, modifications or redevelopment thereof which encroach upon, modify, widen or realign the following streets designated as scenic corridors: Crystal Springs Road between Oak Avenue and Junipero Serra Freeway; and Sneath Lane from El Camino Real to existing westerly City limits.

• (Ord. 1284 § 1, 1977)

• A. In voting upon this initiative ordinance and subsequent referrals thereunder, the People hereby find and declare that this ordinance and subsequent referrals are crucial legislative policy-

making decisions by the voters of San Bruno necessary to adequately protect the health, safety and welfare of its citizens under present and future conditions.

• B. To provide a knowledgeable basis for voter decisions and adequate opportunity to property owners who may be adversely affected to present their viewpoints to the planning commission, city council and voters, it is essential that the city council should provide for the following prior to election on this initiative ordinance and subsequent referrals thereunder:

  1. Compliance with Section 4017 of the Elections Code providing for proponent and opponent arguments in the Voters Pamphlet and Sections 65854 et seq., of the Government Code providing for public hearings before the planning commission and city council.

  2. Town-hall type of hearing whereby experts, proponents and opponents may be heard and questioned by voters in attendance; and availability to voters for loan or review at city hall of summaries of hearings and EIR proceedings before the planning commission and city council and all other relevant materials.

• (Ord. 1284 § 2, 1977)

Any owner-applicant may appeal denial of his application to the voters by accompanying such request with a sufficient deposit to cover entire expense of such election. (Ord. 1284 § 3, 1977)