Completed Policies

DRAFT

Click on the plus (+) symbol to expand each policy and its completion status. Priority goals or policies are indicated by a diamond symbol (♦) .

Land Use

    • Policy 1A: Allow and promote appropriately scaled mixed-use development along Middlefield Road, El Camino Real, and along segments of Edison Way and 5th Avenue, to encourage a range of commercial, residential, institutional, and industrial (by conditional use permit) development and community facilities. Status: Complete

    • Policy 1B: Promote mixed-use development in existing industrial areas along Edison Way to provide flexible space for a range of industrial, commercial, institutional and live-work residential (by conditional use permit) land uses and community facilities to revitalize underutilized and vacant land. Status: Complete

    • Policy 1C: Encourage continued and expanded industrial uses in the Spring Street area, with the potential for live-work residential (by conditional use permit) land uses and community facilities. Also allow limited commercial uses in this area, fronting on Bay Street only, to support adjacent industrial and institutional uses. Status: Complete

    • Policy 2A: Identify areas that should be preserved for current and future industrial and job generating uses, particularly in existing industrial areas identified as appropriate for additional development. Designate and preserve these areas for activities that are consistent with industrial and job generating uses, such as warehousing, office, research and development, and light manufacturing and assembly. Status: Complete

    • Policy 2B: Take advantage of potential demand generated by new job rich development, such as the Stanford Redwood City campus, to catalyze redevelopment and job creation in the industrial areas in the northern end of North Fair Oaks in the Spring Street area along Bay Street. Allow a range of uses in this area, including warehouse and other industrial, institutional, live-work (by conditional use permit only), and retail (along Bay Street only). Status: Complete

    • Policy 2C: Allow residential infill development on vacant and underutilized residential parcels and within areas identified as appropriate for additional mixed use residential, commercial, and other development. Encourage multifamily residential and mixed-use residential development in these areas, and revise subdivision regulations to remove barriers to the development of multifamily attached for-sale housing in all appropriate areas in North Fair Oaks. Status: Complete

    • Policy 2D: Consider the use of centrally located vacant or underutilized parcels in residential neighborhoods for parks, play lots, community gardens and/or residential parking lots. Status: Complete

    • Policy 3A: Simplify and combine land use categories for residential uses to reduce redundancies and provide clear guidance on the type and density of development that is desired within residential areas. Status: Complete

    • Policy 3B: Implement new mixed-use land use categories to promote mixed-use development in appropriate areas. Mixed-use development guidelines should recognize the needs of any retail, so the space meets the requirements of businesses, especially brand tenants. Status: Complete

    • Policy 3C: Update the County’s General Plan map and zoning ordinance to be consistent with the new Community Plan land use map and land use designations for North Fair Oaks. Status: Complete

    • Policy 4A: Establish a higher density mixed-use district within a ¼ mile radius of the potential future multi-modal-transit hub at the intersection of the Southern Pacific Railroad tracks and Middlefield Road. Higher densities in this area will support transit, reduce automobile use, and maximize development of vacant and underutilized lots while providing needed housing and other uses. Status: Complete

    • Policy 4C: Encourage transit-oriented uses through incentives such as unbundled parking and reduced parking standards, and through measures such as amendments to land use regulations to allow higher densities that will support future multi-modal transit improvements, including a potential multi-modal transit hub. Status: Complete

    • Policy 1A.1: Work with housing developers to identify sites with the potential to accommodate affordable housing. Status: Complete

    • Policy 1A.2: Identify and map all sites that are potentially appropriate for housing development and make parcel-specific information publicly available to developers and other members of the public on request. Status: Complete

    • Policy 1D.3: Modify minimum lot size requirements for multifamily attached ownership housing projects, and/or adopt waivers or exceptions to minimum lot size requirements for these projects separate from the Planned Unit Development (PUD) process. Status: Complete

    • Policy 1D.4: Establish allowed or required densities of housing in designated areas that ensure that housing is built to sufficient densities to significantly increase overall housing supply, provide for a variety of housing options, and provide inclusionary affordable housing. Status: Complete

    • Policy 1D.5: Encourage legal accessory dwelling units (“second units” or “in-law units”) by streamlining approvals, adopting appropriate parking requirements, creating and making available pre-approved, neighborhood-specific architectural designs for accessory units, by promoting accessory dwelling units as an encouraged and facilitated form of residential development in North Fair Oaks, and by promoting the fact that the County will assist, facilitate, and streamline approval of accessory units to the maximum possible extent. Status: Complete

    • Policy 1F: In the case of conflicting or unclear regulations or policies, and in the course of discretionary approvals, interpret zoning, land use, and other policies and regulations in a manner that prioritizes creation of new residential uses, particularly affordable and special needs housing, and that discourages reduction of affordable housing stock, including demolition or conversion of residential uses. Status: Complete

    • Policy 2A.1: Implement the land use and zoning regulations incorporated in Chapter 2, Land Use Designations, increasing permitted residential densities in appropriate areas, encouraging and facilitating mixed-use development, and expanding areas in which residential uses are allowed. Status: Complete

    • Policy 2A.5: Modify minimum lot size requirements for multifamily attached ownership housing projects, and/or adopt waivers or exceptions to minimum lot size requirements for these projects separate from the Planned Unit Development (PUD) process. Status: Complete

    • Policy 2B.1: Encourage legal accessory dwelling units (“second units” or “in-law units”) by streamlining approvals, adopting appropriate parking requirements, creating and making available pre-approved, neighborhood-specific architectural designs for accessory units, by promoting accessory dwelling units as an encouraged and facilitated form of residential development in North Fair Oaks, and by promoting the fact that the County will assist, facilitate, and streamline approval of accessory units to the maximum possible extent. Status: Complete

    • Policy 3A.2: Publicize the Department of Housing’s rehabilitation loan programs for multifamily units serving low-income tenants and single-family homes occupied by low-income owners and provide targeted publicity and outreach in English and Spanish to North Fair Oaks. Status: Complete

    • Policy 3A.2: Publicize the Department of Housing’s rehabilitation loan programs for multifamily units serving low-income tenants and single-family homes occupied by low-income owners and provide targeted publicity and outreach in English and Spanish to North Fair Oaks. Status: Complete

    • Policy 3B.1: Adopt a program to undertake periodic external and internal residential building code inspections for multifamily rental properties. Status: Complete

    • Policy 4D.2: Disallow stand-alone parking lots and structures in high-density and multifamily residential neighborhoods. Prohibit conversion of residential uses to parking and make stand-alone parking a conditional use in higher density and multifamily residential neighborhoods. Status: Complete

    • Policy 4D.4: Prohibit conversion of single-family residential districts to non-residential zoning, except in limited cases where such conversion provides overriding community benefit such as projects to develop parks, recreational uses, community centers, job training centers, childcare, and other entirely nonprofit, wholly community benefiting uses, to be determined and approved only on a discretionary, project-by-project basis. Status: Complete

    • Policy 4D.5: Discourage rezoning of residential districts to non-residential uses, except in cases of mixed-use projects or mixed-use zoning that will provide sufficient replacement of existing residential use; projects that will provide one-for-one replacement of residential uses in other appropriate areas of the community; or, in limited cases, projects that exclusively provide public and community benefit, such as community centers, job training centers, health clinics, childcare, and similar nonprofit uses. Status: Complete

    • Policy 4D.6: Prohibit and/or discourage residential demolitions, particularly multifamily residential demolitions, except in cases where the applicant/developer has committed to full replacement of residential uses on-site or in other parts of the community or the applicant/developer has committed to provision of another acceptable community benefit, as described above. Status: Complete

    • Policy 4D.7: Disallow rezoning of residential properties that formerly contained active residential uses that have been demolished or that are unoccupied. In reviewing applications for rezoning, consider these properties as though they contain active residential uses, and only allow rezoning consistent with ongoing residential uses, or in cases of overriding community benefit, as described above. Status: Complete

    • Policy 5A.1: Encourage developers to include large family units in multifamily rental and ownership housing projects. Status: Complete

    • Policy 5A.3: Prioritize County assistance to proposed affordable housing projects that include large units and special needs units. Status: Complete

    • Policy 5B.1: Encourage construction of new accessory dwelling units by streamlining approvals, adopting parking requirements appropriate for second units, preparing and providing pre-approved architectural designs and design guidelines, and by publicizing accessory dwelling units as a type of housing that is encouraged and facilitated in North Fair Oaks. Status: Complete

    • Policy 5B.2: Provide rehabilitation assistance for accessory dwelling units in need of repair and upgrade. Status: Complete

    • Policy 5B.3: Explore a code compliance amnesty program for illegally constructed and non-coded-compliant accessory dwelling units, coupled with provision of rehabilitation assistance, to legalize illegal and non-compliant accessory dwelling units. Status: Complete

    • Policy 7A.1: Modify permitted development densities appropriately to facilitate additional housing near transit in designated areas, as described in Chapter 2, Land Use Designations. Status: Complete

    • Policy 7A.2: Reduce parking requirements for all types of development that demonstrate sufficient access to public transit. Status: Complete

Economic Development

    • Policy 1B.1: Enact land use and zoning policies that provide a sufficient supply of land for production, distribution, and repair uses along Spring Street in the core industrial area. Status: Complete

    • Policy 1C.1: Identify vacant or underutilized sites for community gardens in commercial, mixed-use and residential areas of North Fair Oaks. Seek neighborhood, community, and nonprofit partners for the ongoing operation and maintenance of one or more community gardens and community gathering spaces in North Fair Oaks. Status: Complete

    • Policy 1C.2: Investigate the feasibility of urban farming in North Fair Oaks. Explore the initiation of a small-scale urban agriculture program by formulating a solicitation for a partner organization, which can, in turn, identify ideal sites, organize volunteers, and help to obtain grant funding. Status: Complete

    • Policy 2A.1: Designate a dedicated small business liaison for North Fair Oaks responsible for ongoing communication with existing businesses. This could be through the County or nonprofit partners. Status: Complete

    • Policy 2B.1: Partner with appropriate agencies and organizations to create a focused entrepreneurship program for North Fair Oaks. Status: Complete

    • Policy 2B.2: Partner with the Small Business Administration and local financial institutions to publicize the availability of federal, State and private resources for microenterprise seed funding. Status: Complete

    • Policy 2B.3: Create a technical advisory service for small entrepreneurs in North Fair Oaks to provide information and training on resources available to new and emerging microenterprises. Status: Complete

      ♦ Policy 2B.4: Provide interested parties with comprehensive information in a single, easily digestible format on requirements and opportunities for starting businesses in North Fair Oaks, including information on regulatory requirements, procedures and fees, local sources of support, available resources, potential business locations, and other information. Status: Complete

    • Policy 3A.3: Support creation of new childcare locations in North Fair Oaks, including childcare space as part of new large-scale developments, and smaller-scale childcare in appropriate locations throughout North Fair Oaks, in order to support local workers in need of easily accessible childcare. Status: Complete

    • Policy 4A: Plan for and appropriately modify regulations to support the expansion of industrial, flex and research and development (R&D) uses in the Industrial Mixed-Use areas of North Fair Oaks. Status: Complete

    • Policy 4B.1: Allow live-work and related mixed-use product types in the Industrial Mixed-Use areas with a conditional use permit. Status: Complete

    • Policy 4B.2: Permit recreational and community facilities uses in the Industrial Mixed-Use areas with a conditional use permit provided that such uses are compatible with nearby production, distribution and repair activities. Status: Complete

    • Policy 4C.1: Identify opportunity sites (sites that are vacant or underutilized, and/or appropriate for significantly greater intensities of development) near planned transit facilities, in order to support transit usage and leverage increasing long-term demand for office, retail and residential development located near transit hubs. Promote and assist in redevelopment of appropriate identified sites. Status: Complete

Circulation and Parking

    • Policy 1B: Identify optimal multi-modal railroad crossings across both railroad corridors that would ensure critical north-south connections within the community, and identify needed improvements, potentially in conjunction with potential Dumbarton Rail and High-Speed Rail project improvements, to support pedestrian and bicycle safety. Potential new crossings include 8th Avenue/Fair Oaks Avenue (pedestrian and bicycle-only crossing), Pacific Avenue/Westmoreland Avenue and Berkshire Avenue. Explore, as options for any new rail crossings, pedestrian- and bicycle-only crossings, and at-grade, underground, and overpass crossings. Prior to creating new rail crossings, pursue full feasibility analysis and impact studies, and ensure that assessment of potential crossings includes full participation of local residents in areas that could be impacted by creation of new crossings. Status: Complete

    • Policy 1D: Re-evaluate auto-oriented Level of Service (LOS) policies for certain roadways and intersections within North Fair Oaks, such as the Middlefield Road commercial corridor, to ensure a balance of mobility for all modes of travel. Develop a new LOS policy that includes an emphasis on pedestrian, bicycle and transit access and circulation and maintenance of emergency vehicle response times and does not rely on auto congestion as the only indicator of a significant traffic impact. Status: Complete

    • ♦ Policy 2A: Improve and enhance pedestrian facilities along key streets that connect to destinations throughout North Fair Oaks to prioritize “complete streets” design standards that give equal space to pedestrians, bicyclists, public transit, and cars. The design standards and guidelines in Chapter 7, Design Standards and Guidelines, support this objective. Status: Complete

    • Policy 2B: Modify road standards as presented in Chapter 7, Design Standards and Guidelines, particularly along destination streets such as Middlefield Road and major corridors including El Camino Real and 5th Avenue, to achieve a safe and inviting pedestrian environment. Improvements should include the use of elements such as wider sidewalks, mid-block crosswalks, street trees, planting strips, and curb extensions for urban commercial corridors or residential street improvements. Status: Complete

    • ♦ Policy 2E: Provide high visibility 10-foot wide crosswalks at all controlled intersections and ensure that crosswalks have ramps and warning strips that comply with ADA standards. Status: Complete

    • Policy 2F: Evaluate the feasibility of implementing a lane reduction, or “road diet” for Middlefield Road between Douglas Avenue and 8th Avenue. By reducing the number of travel lanes, the roadway width can be reallocated to provide bike lanes, widened sidewalks, crosswalk curb extensions (bulbouts), and other streetscape improvements. Status: Complete

    • ♦ Policy 2K: Allow use of mid-block crossings at locations with high pedestrian activity between intersections. Ensure that all mid-block crossings include high-visibility, 10-foot wide crosswalks, advanced warning signage, and flashing beacons or in-pavement flashers where possible. Status: Complete

    • Policy 2L: Upgrade traffic signal equipment to ensure that all signalized pedestrian crossings have sufficient crossings times, audible indicators and countdown timers, where feasible. Status: Complete

    • Policy 2M: Explore the use of special paving materials for crosswalks to heighten visibility and lend identity to the area. Status: Complete

    • Policy 3E: Upgrade traffic signal equipment to ensure that adequate bicycle detection is provided. Status: Complete

    • Policy 5D: Implement the reduced parking standards presented in this Plan (see Appendix C) for development within the proposed mixed-use, transit-oriented development areas concentrated along the Middlefield Road and El Camino Real corridors, as well as within the vicinity of the proposed multi-modal transit hub. Status: Complete

    • Policy 5E: Modify parking policies to allow affordable housing developments, minor expansions of single-family homes, transit-supportive development projects, and other uses where reduced parking demand can be demonstrated to qualify for further reduced parking requirements or exemptions per approval from the County Planning Department. Status: Complete

    • Policy 5F: Allow unbundled parking in new multi-family residential developments within the proposed mixed-use districts to allow resident to pay only for the parking spaces they need. Status: Complete

Infrastructure

    • Policy 1C: Require that any future developments that will result in an increase of water usage equivalent or greater than the water usage of 500 dwelling units must complete a Water Supply Assessment (WSA), to determine if adequate water supply is available prior to issuance of any development permits. Status: Complete

    • Policy 1D: Create new landscaping and building design criteria for new developments to reduce water use. The design criteria shall include incentives for all major new developments to provide dual-plumbing for future recycled water use, use the latest water efficient technologies (i.e., low-flow fixtures, infrared detectors, waterless urinals, etc.), and plant drought tolerant and native non-invasive landscaping). Status: Complete

    • Policy 2D: Pursue new standards requiring that each new development minimize infiltration and inflow into the sewer system by contributing to replacement of existing sanitary sewer laterals and/or mains. The extent of the replacements should be based on the new development’s net increase in sewage generation. Status: Complete

    • Policy 2F: Create a new program to share and gather sewage conveyance data from Redwood City and the South Bayside System Authority treatment plant on an annual basis. This information can then be used for planning and determining the basis for cost-sharing and/or fee adjustments. Status: Complete

    • Policy 3B: Create a new program to perform regular inspections of stormwater treatment facilities at all new developments. These inspections should be performed by Public Works, and the frequency and extent of such inspections will depend on the size of new developments and potential for pollutants to enter the storm drain system. Status: Complete

    • ♦ Policy 3C: Create a new program for existing public streets to be redesigned with integrated stormwater treatment areas such as bioretention areas, vegetated swales, rain gardens, and other passive retention and filtration facilities. These stormwater treatment areas will remove pollutants from stormwater runoff that would otherwise have flowed from public street surfaces directly into the storm drain system and then the Bay. The new program should also consider adopting a regional green street program that requires stormwater treatment areas in all new developments. Status: Complete

    • Policy 3D: Pursue new Low Impact Development (LID) standards that promote both treatment and storage of stormwater runoff. These Low Impact Development standards should require new developments to minimize impervious surfaces, use stormwater as a resource (rain water harvesting for irrigation or other select uses),and preserve/re-create natural landscape features. New developments could adhere to these standards through the use of rain gardens/bioretention areas, green roofs, cisterns, permeable pavement, or other tools. Status: Complete

    • Policy 3E: Create new incentive programs for the County’s Planning, Building, and Engineering staff to continue stormwater treatment education, as technology and treatment techniques change continuously. Status: Complete

    • Policy 4A: Pursue new standards that require new developments in areas where there are no existing storm drain lines to install new lines and extend them to downstream connection points. The size and length of the new storm drain lines will vary based on the new development’s location, size, and potential for future development at adjacent parcels. All new developments should also be required to provide on-site detention facilities (tank or oversized pipes) so that the new development does not cause an increase of flow into the storm drain system and contribute to local and regional flooding. Status: Complete

    • Policy 5B: Create a new program for existing public streets to be redesigned with integrated stormwater treatment areas such as bioretention areas, vegetated swales, rain gardens, and other features to reduce the peak storm flows. The new stormwater treatment areas should also be designed to provide stormwater retention, which will hold back stormwater runoff for a period of time so that downstream flooding is reduced. Status: Complete

    • Policy 5D: Pursue new Low Impact Development (LID) standards that require new developments to reduce stormwater runoff. LID strategies include, but are not limited to, the use of permeable pavement, green roofs, rainwater cisterns, and landscaping that is designed appropriately to capture and retain stormwater. Status: Complete

Health and Wellness

    • Policy 1E: Seek joint-use agreements with the Redwood City School District to expand access to playgrounds in the Fair Oaks and Garfield schools after school hours and on weekends. Status: Complete

    • Policy 1F: Partner with Redwood City to expand the joint-use agreements with the Redwood City School District and with Redwood City Parks and Recreation to improve access for North Fair Oaks residents to facilities at the nearby Taft and Hoover schools after school hours and on weekends. Status: Complete

    • Policy 2C: Post and adequately maintain signage to indicate park rules and hours in multiple languages. Status: Complete

    • Policy 4B: Limit the addition of new fast-food restaurants and liquor stores within North Fair Oaks. Status: Complete

    • Policy 4D: Limit the concentration of fast food restaurants and liquor stores within a quarter mile of schools. Status: Complete

    • Policy 4R: Encourage public and private agencies and organizations to continue centralized food distribution to North Fair Oaks families in need. Status: Complete

    • Policy 4S: Support Meals on Wheels and other services that provide food to residents who require in-home support. Status: Complete

    • Policy 4T: Collaborate with residents and community groups to build new community gardens (community gardens are defined as areas that provide space for individuals or community members to grow plants for household use, education, recreation, and community distribution) on vacant public parcels in neighborhoods, school yards, church yards, and potentially as part of private development projects. Status: Complete

    • Policy 4X: Ensure that residents have access to clean drinking water in homes and throughout the community. Status: Complete

    • Policy 5E: Include community garden components in the development of new parks or play areas in North Fair Oaks. Status: Complete

    • Policy 6C: Improve bicycle and pedestrian access to clinics and other health facilities within the neighborhood to ensure that residents have safe and convenient access to these facilities. Status: Complete

    • Policy 6E: Encourage and facilitate development of a pharmacy in North Fair Oaks. Status: Complete

    • Policy 6G: Promote and facilitate service providers in North Fair Oaks that reflect the diversity of the community and offer services in languages other than English. Status: Complete

    • Policy 6I: Support in-home provision of supportive services to special needs groups, to help residents remain in independent housing. Status: Complete

    • Policy 7C: Translate prevention and educational materials into multiple languages, including Spanish, and ensure that materials are written appropriately for the literacy levels of the target audience. Status: Complete

    • Policy 10E: Where pedestrian crossings are signalized, ensure that the crossing time is sufficient for all residents to cross safely, and install pedestrian countdown signals wherever feasible. Status: Complete

    • Policy 10F: Install signal loop detectors (detectors that sense the presence of vehicles at intersections and trigger appropriate signal changes) that are sensitive to bicycles at signalized intersections. Status: Complete

    • Policy 13F: Promote creation of new childcare space in and around larger residential, mixed-use, commercial and other larger developments, and as part of transit stations and transit-oriented development projects. Status: Complete

    • Policy 13G: Explore policies to streamline and facilitate creation of new childcare facilities, particularly neighborhood based large family childcare facilities, through changes to County code, changes to permitting processes, fee waivers, exemption from permitting requirements, and other incentives. Identify and remove barriers to, and provide incentives and assistance for, large-scale and small-scale childcare provision in all parts of North Fair Oaks. Encourage multiple new developments to pool needed childcare space in centrally accessible locations, and to contribute to creation of shared childcare space on- or off-site. Status: Complete

    • Policy 13H: Allow childcare as a use permitted by right in all areas designated Commercial Mixed-Use. Status: Complete

    • Policy 14A: Promote higher-density mixed-use development along Middlefield Road and El Camino Real through changes to land use regulations and codes, as described in Chapter 2, Land Use Designations. Status: Complete

    • Policy 14B: Encourage infill development that respects the scale of surrounding homes on residential streets.Status: Complete

    • Policy 14C: Encourage affordable housing, particularly in areas that have access to public transportation within walking distance. Status: Complete

    • Policy 18E: Ensure that adequate signage is posted near railroad corridors to promote crossing safety. Status: Complete

    • Policy 20B: Ensure that all neighborhood schools and community centers have disaster response plans in place, and that these facilities are prepared to serve as shelters as appropriate. Status: Complete

    • Policy 21A: Reduce the impact of direct, indirect and cumulative impacts of stationary and non-stationary sources of pollution such as heavy industry, railroads, diesel trucks and nearby roadways. Status: Complete

    • Policy 21I: Encourage, as part of new development projects, and as part of public and private right-of-way improvements, installation of electrical vehicle (EV) charging stations, and/or provisions of infrastructure (including appropriate conduit) for future installation of EV charging stations, to provide opportunities for future EV charging without requiring retrofitting of existing facilities. Status: Complete

    • Policy 22B: Prevent soil and water contamination from industrial operations and other activities that use, produce or dispose of hazardous or toxic substances. Status: Complete

Housing