Friday, March 30, 2007

Final Presentation of the Baylands Speaker Series Taking Place this Monday


In the ongoing effort to provide an insightful, qualitative, and informative university-type education to your doorstop, the Community Development department will be welcoming its final speaker in its Baylands Speaker Series. Join us at the Mission Blue Center (475 Mission Blue Dr.) as we welcome Alan Hoffman of Mission Group, a San Diego-based planning firm specializing in strategies for transportation and urban development. Mr. Hoffman will draw upon his expertise in studying transit around the world to identify fundamental principles to establish and sustain successful transit systems. He will further discuss the interrelationship between land use and transit, and strategies to optimize this relationship. As with all the previous presentations, admission is FREE and refreshments will surely follow.

The first phase of Baylands Project Alternatives is just around the corner, so mark your calendars for the following two dates:

Monday, April 9th, 7:30 pm – Joint City Council and Planning Commission Kick-Off Meeting

Saturday, May 12th, 10:00 am – Public Visioning Workshop
Both events will be held at the Community Center (below Brisbane Library). See you there!

Friday, March 23, 2007

Crocker Trail Awaits You!

For those desiring that perfect morning, afternoon, or evening stroll, remember that the 2.5 mile Crocker Park Recreational Trail was recently unveiled to help all achieve that endeavor. And with the spring weather now upon us, there’s no better time or way to stay on track with exercise, than by going for that stroll. We’re certain that the Crocker Trail is able to offer you the peaceful, level, scenic, and serene atmosphere to do just that.

**As with all of the City’s facilities, we ask that you, as community stewards, please assist in keeping the litter at bay. In regards to the Crocker Trail, we encourage all to make use of the trash receptacles as well as the mutt mitt dispensers located along the trail. We all stand to benefit from working together on keeping the trail free from litter and debris. So as a friendly reminder: If you carry it in, please carry it out!**

Enjoy the trail and feel free to contact us at either 508-2140 or parksandrec@ci.brisbane.ca.us to express any concerns or suggestions.

Friday, March 16, 2007

The University of Brisbane Continues with a Thursday Session

A panel discussion is set for this Thursday, March 22nd. Join the Planning Department in welcoming the following:

Tom Murphy – a Senior Resident Fellow for Urban Development at the Urban Land Institute and three-term mayor of Pittsburgh (1994-2006)

Michael CohenDirector of the City of San Francisco’s Base Reuse and Real Estate Development

Chris Meany – Partner, with Wilson, Meany, Sullivan, a San Francisco Development company focused on urban infill locations in the Bay Area

We look forward to hearing the insights from panelists Murphy, Cohen, and Meany, as they all have been involved in the clean-up and redevelopment of former industrial sites (brownfields). Tom Murphy, an economic revitalization visionary, oversaw the development of more than 25 miles of new riverfront trails and urban green space and led efforts to secure $1 billion in funding for the development of two professional sports facilities and a new convention center (which happens to be the largest certified green building in the United States). Michael Cohen and Chris Meany were involved in the public/private finance of Treasure Island, which could potentially become a model environmentally sustainable community after having been a former naval station.


We are very fortunate that they are all able to come and draw upon their experiences as they relate to Brisbane. We look forward to seeing you on Thursday, 7:30 p.m. sharp!

Friday, March 09, 2007

University of Brisbane Now in Session

If you would like to join in on a fast-paced education on sustainable development, we recommend attending this Monday’s panel discussion on alternative energy systems (Community Center, 7:30 PM). The Community Development/Planning Department at City Hall has conceptualized a series of speaking engagements, which are highly relevant to the Baylands EIR alternatives analysis as well as the to the general plan update. We hope to see many from the community take advantage of this and upcoming opportunities to become knowledgeable on the highly relevant issues that fall under the framework of the “3 E’s of Sustainability: Economics, Environment, and Social Equity”. Interested in hearing more? Then see you Monday night!

Friday, March 02, 2007

Construction Update on Tunnel Ave. Project

Photo of nighttime concrete pour, courtesy of Lee Panza.

Construction on Tunnel Ave. is making considerable progress, as contractor RGW Construction has recently completed concrete pours on both frames. Next up will be the placement of the precast girders over the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board/Caltrain (PCJPB) railroad facilities. Occasional nighttime work will continue to be required in the vicinity of the tracks, but will not generate significant noise. Additionally, work continues on the substructure with the completion of Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) walls on the west side of the embankments and with installation of facing panels. The new bridge is scheduled to be put in service in late summer, at which time demolition will commence on the existing structure.

This project will replace the seismically and geometrically deficient structure and provide a safe bridge that will accommodate bikes and pedestrians with bike lanes and sidewalks in both directions.

If you have any further inquiries, you may contact the Project Manager, Karen Kinser, by phone at (415) 508-2130 or by email: kkinser@ci.brisbane.ca.us. Project updates are also made available on the Public Works Construction Updates page.

In the meantime, please use caution when driving on Tunnel Ave. through the construction detour. The posted speed limit is 15 mph through the construction area.