Potential
Ballot Measure
Christina Horrisberger
Assistant City Manager
July 15, 2024
1 Council Action
• Should the City proceed with placing the land use
measure on the November 2024 ballot with the
proposed ballot language?
2 Ballot Question
Shall the measure to allow for additional affordable
housing for low- and middle-income residents and
meet State housing requirements (without raising
taxes) while enhancing parks and open space, allowing
existing residential neighborhoods to stay low density, and reducing traffic impacts, while planning for future housing to be concentrated primarily downtown along
the El Camino corridor and near Caltrain stations where it is close to transit, jobs, infrastructure, and services be adopted?
3 Background
• March 18, 2024: General Plan 2040 Adoption
• Land Use Map
• May 20, 2024: Housing Element Adoption (2nd)
• Plan A and Plan B
• May 20, 2024: City Council Direction to conduct outreach and education on potential land use ballot measure
• May 20-July 12, 2024: Impartial stakeholder education and outreach by City representatives
4 5
6 • Balanced approach focusing
growth in study areas:
• Primarily around Downtown
and near transit.
• Majority of city would stay
compliant with Measure Y
limits (approx. 75% excluding
non-developable land).
• Parcels that exceed Measure
Y limits would allow 6-8
stories in height and up to 99
or 130 dwelling units per acre.
• No increase in height, density,
or intensity (FAR) beyond GP
2040 without voter approval.
7 • Amendments and land use
changes allowed:
• Can create new land use
designations or amend a
parcel’s designation at or
below density/height/intensity
limits.
• But amendments cannot
exceed General Plan 2040
limits without voter approval.
• Repealing text of Measure Y
needed to ensure internal
consistency of General Plan.
• But overall limits of Measure Y
would remain as shown on the
map.
8 • Measure would
authorize a traditional
general plan
amendment process for
eight parcels, but only
up to specified limits.
• Includes former
Marriott site and office
sites along Borel Ave.
• Restrictions would
stay in place through
2030, consistent with
Measure Y .
Amendment Eligible Parcels
9 Location/Address Current Land Use Potential New Land Use 50 Mounds Road
(Align with density of existing multi-family use)
Residential Low II
(2 to 4 stories, 20 to 35 du/ac)
Residential Medium I
(3 to 5 stories, 36 to 50 du/ac)
20 and 40 W. 3rd Ave.
(Align with existing 12-story building)
Residential Medium II
(4 to 6 stories, 51 to 99 du/ac)
Residential High
(5 to 8 stories, 100 to 130 du/ac)
55 W. 5th Ave.
(Align with existing 16-story building)
Residential Medium I
(3 to 5 stories, 36 to 50 du/ac)
Residential High (5 to 8 stories, 100
to 130 du/ac)
Office Buildings at 66 and 160 Bovet Rd.
(City Council direction to consider this change)
Office Medium (2 to 4 stories, up to
50 du/ac, 2.0 FAR)
Mixed-Use High (5 to 8 stories, 100
to 130 du/ac, 4.5 FAR)
831 Monte Diablo Ave.
(Align with existing church use)
Residential Very Low
(1 to 3 stories, up to 9 du/ac)
Quasi-Public
(1 to 3 stories, up to 20 du/ac)
1770 S. Amphlett Blvd. (Marriott site)
(City Council direction to consider this change)
Regional Commercial (1 to 3 stories,
up to 50 du/ac, 1.5 FAR)
Mixed-Use High (5 to 8 stories, 100
to 130 du/ac, 4.5 FAR)
3130 La Selva St.
(Better align with existing use and adjacent to
Regional Commercial land uses)
Neighborhood Commercial (1-3
stories, up to 19 du/ac, 1.0 FAR)
Regional Commercial (1-3 stories, up
to 50 du/ac, 1.5 FAR)
1495 S. El Camino Real
(Align with adjacent Mixed-Use Med II land uses
to north and south along ECR )
Mixed-Use Medium I
(3 to 5 stories, 15 to 50 du/ac)
Mixed-Use Medium II
(4 to 6 stories, 51 to 90 du/ac)
Outreach and Education
• Webpage: Executive Summary, FAQs, Fact Sheet –
translation available
• Mailers: Three Citywide mailers with comment cards –
two in June; one in July
• Digital Ads; Social Media; eNews
• Stakeholder Meetings: approximately 50/74 live and
virtual meetings
• Feedback Received: 133 comment cards, 134 social media comments, robust Q&A/comment sessions
10 Budget Impact
• Between approximately $194K-$233K
• $225K is currently budgeted for 2024/25
elections
• Adjustment may be needed
11 Council Action
• Should the City proceed with placing the land use
measure on the November 2024 ballot with the
proposed ballot language?
12 Ballot Question
Shall the measure to allow for additional affordable
housing for low- and middle-income residents and
meet State housing requirements (without raising
taxes) while enhancing parks and open space, allowing
existing residential neighborhoods to stay low density, and reducing traffic impacts, while planning for future housing to be concentrated primarily downtown along
the El Camino corridor and near Caltrain stations where it is close to transit, jobs, infrastructure, and services be adopted?
13 Next Steps
• Aug. 9: Measure submission to County deadline.
• Aug. 13: Primary arguments in favor of and against
measure due.
• Aug. 14: Measure amendment/withdrawal deadline.
• Aug. 20: Rebuttal arguments and impartial analysis
due.
• Nov. 5: Election day
14