Plan Millbrae - We Need Your Attendance

My friends, residents of Millbrae, interested developers, and I attended the first of two "Plan Millbrae" sessions that will be held at City Council Chambers. The next session should be held sometime in June, and city council will be voting on an "amended" plan for the BART sites in July if they follow their proposed schedule.

This is probably going to be the most important meetings for anyone to attend and voice their opinion at in the next few decades. The developments that could go up could have ramifications that leave a lasting impression our community.

I was a little disappointed to see only one city council member in attendance. While I understand the finalized presentation will be proposed and shown to city council at a regular council meeting - I felt this was an appropriate event for our young councilman Reuben Holober to possibly voice his opinion on how he intends to bring technology business to Millbrae or perhaps for Annie Oliva to articulately convince the crowd why she has maintained since the election that the hotel is the best use of the land. It's not enough in my book to simply hold an opinion and not to have data to support that opinion. Coming from my accountant background, a simply analysis of the TOT (Transient Occupancy Tax) vs. available hotel units could demonstrate we are nowhere near capacity for any of our hotels. Furthermore, individual hotel owners I've spoken to are not pleased with either the SFO hotel project or the idea of building another competing hotel to theirs. These are small business owners, residents, and friends that we are subjecting to unfair conditions.

The tourism board and numerous studies have shown a hotel is NOT the best use of the land. Many residents even older agreed that chasing FlightCar out of our community did us no favors in future attracting potential technology business to our city. There was a general consensus in my book that office space with a new form of retail will take over. Many advocated adapting to the 'new ways' of internet retail by not committing the space to a huge anchor store. In my opinion, an anchor store would bring the greatest amount of revenue to the city - but I was very open to the new ideas I have not previously considered  that residents brought up. A mixed office/retail fitting this new paradigm could be the best solution for all of Millbrae's woes.

I think there was general consensus as well that new condominiums would not be ideal either unless in the context of including retail/office space. The future of Millbrae lies in finding a happy medium. The BART location makes the best sense to provide a place for people to live, work, as well as play. Entertainment and variety in dining is desperately needed in Millbrae.

I proposed to the city planner that we are thinking of this as a "Chicken and Egg" scenario. Let's zone and build what we believe is best for the future with an emphasis on office space. When those slots have filled, the workers will naturally bring demands for services and places to spend their money that we can upgrade Millbrae with.

I highly encourage everyone to attend these meetings. This is the most important series of decisions Millbrae will make in this decade. I have always been an advocate for the people, and I will continue to monitor the situation and let the community know what's going on. Thank you!