HONORING THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR ALL FOR US
We start this Memorial Day remembering those who died to keep us safe and protect our democracy. To those in the military, police, fire or other emergency personnel, we owe each of you and your colleagues a debt of gratitude.
The City of San Mateo unveiled its Fallen Heroes Memorial in Central Park on Thursday. The Memorial, located near the Rose Garden in the Redwood Grove, was inspired by the Flanders Poppy, the universal symbol of remembrance. Each of the seven "petals" represents a branch of the Military, Police or Fire. The names of San Mateans who gave their lives in the line of duty is engraved here as a way to remember and thank them. For more information, please visit https://www.cityofsanmateo.org/4515/Fallen-Heroes-Memorial.
City and County elected officials, as well as members of the honored services, joined with the community to unveil this special memorial. It was a moving ceremony, a beautiful place to reflect and an appropriate way to begin Memorial Day ceremonies.
The Fallen Heroes Memorial will be closed for a few more weeks to put the finishing touches on its construction. Please put it on your list to visit after that...this is a special addition to San Mateo we all should be proud of.
JUNE 1 BAYWOOD YARD SALE CANCELLED. SIGN UP FOR CITYWIDE YARD SALE JUNE 7-9!
Given that the Citywide Yard Sale has been moved up to June 7, 8 and 9 this year (it used to be later in the month), we have decided to cancel the Baywood Yard Sale and encourage everyone to participate in the Citywide Yard Sale.
Register today at www.cityofsanmateo.org/YardSale. This is an even bigger opportunity to clean out your closets and find new homes for everything from power tools to children's toys. You might even find that "special something" you've been looking for on someone else's Yard Sale table.
Many thanks to BNA Board Member Mark Grieco, who has championed our Baywood Yard Sale for so many years. Here's to carrying on that energy with the Citywide Yard Sale!
SAN MATEO CITY UPDATES
MUSIC IN THE PARK RETURNS JUNE 20TH!
San Mateo's beloved "Music In The Park" series kicks off Thursday, June 20, 6pm-8pm, in Central Park. The series will run every Thursday evening through August 8, 6pm-8pm. Food vendors and community partners will be there to add to the fun.
There will be a special 4th of July celebration 11am-2pm, with a short program kicking off the event and music beginning at noon.
Specific "themes" nights will be announced shortly. For now, mark your calendars, get your picnic baskets ready and your dancing shoes polished...Thursday Night Summer Fun is coming to San Mateo!
HOUSING ELEMENT APPROVED BY CITY COUNCIL; BALLOT INITIATIVE BEING DISCUSSED FOR NOVEMBER
On Monday, May 20th, City Council approved the City's Housing Element, the guidelines for how the City will support growth while maintaining services through 2031. The Housing Element is a chapter of the recently approved San Mateo General Plan 2040 and took many years of research, analysis and community discussion.
The City is required by the State to demonstrate it can zone for 7,015 new housing units at different levels of affordability between now and 2031. The City does not build housing. It enables/zones for new housing by identifying areas in San Mateo for growth, as well as the heights and densities of that growth. The decision was made by the previous City Council to concentrate future growth along study areas including transit-oriented El Camino Real and Caltrain corridors, and various shopping centers.
Important motivators behind the Housing Element are to help young people and seniors stay in San Mateo, enable more of our workers to live in San Mateo, and reduce environmental damage since stores, restaurants and shops would be nearby these new homes.
The current City Council endorsed this decision and approved making 8 stories the residential height limit only for these specific transit-oriented study areas (versus the current 5 story limit approved by voters in 2022 as part of Measure Y). Residential Measure Y limits would not be changed outside of these transit-oriented study areas. The alternative would be to eliminate single family home zoning throughout much of San Mateo (e.g. Baywood) and zone for apartment complexes in these residential neighborhoods to create the additional housing units required by the State.
City Council is discussing putting an initiative on this November's ballot asking voters to approve the exceptions to Measure Y heights and densities along the transit-oriented study areas only. Your Baywood Neighborhood Association hopes to organize a neighborhood meeting this summer where residents can speak with City staff and elected officials and have their questions on this important topic answered. If possible, we will share this date as soon as we know it. So keep reading your Baywood Bulletin, as well as BNA postings on Facebook.
Further information about the Housing Element and General Plan 2040 can be found on the City's website.
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