City of San Carlos; Measure I
This information is provided by the County Registrar

ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT OF OR IN OPPOSITION TO THE PROPOSED LAWS ARE THE OPINIONS
OF THE AUTHORS

CITY OF SAN CARLOS

MEASURE I
"Shall Ordinance No. 1234 adopted by the San Carlos City Council changing the
zoning from C-2 and R-1 to PC by the adoption of a plan of development for the
property known as the Laurel Theater, 1500 Laurel Street, be adopted?"

IMPARTIAL ANALYSIS OF MEASURE I

On July 7, 1997, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 1234 "AN ORDINANCE OF
THE CITY OF SAN CARLOS ADOPTING A PLAN OF DEVELOPMENT FOR THE PROPERTY KNOWN AS
THE LAUREL THEATER, 1500 LAUREL STREET" (hereinafter the "Ordinance").  The
Ordinance amended the zoning map of the City to change the zoning from C-2 and
R-1 to PC by adoption of a Plan of Development in accordance with the Planned
Community Zoning Regulations of the City of San Carlos for the land known as
the Laurel Theater, more particularly described as the 28,294+/- square foot
parcel of land located on the southerly side of White Oak Way, westerly side of
Laurel Street, and easterly side of Walnut Street and also more specifically
identified as Lots 7-15 of Block 60, 14M, 1-3.

The Ordinance approved the Laurel Theater Mixed-Use Project (hereinafter the
"Project") proposed by 1500 Laurel Street Associates to change the zoning at
the corner of Laurel Street and White Oak Way from C-2 to PC and the zoning at
the corner of Walnut Street and White Oak Way from R-1 to PC to permit the
development of a mixed-use project consisting of ground floor retail and office
use not exceeding 3,125 square feet and not exceeding 42 multi-family
residential units consisting of 16 studio, 14 one-bedroom, and 12 two-bedroom
units.  The Project provides for not less than 63 on-site parking spaces with a
minimum of 61 spaces reserved for residential uses and three street parking
spaces by re-striping a portion of Laurel Street to the satisfaction of the
City Public Works Director.  Ten percent of the residential units are required
to be available to families earning less than 65% of the County's median
income.

Before approving the Project, the Planning Commission recommended approval and
the City Council approved a Negative Declaration as required by the California
Environmental Quality Act.  The City Council also made a finding that the
Project is consistent with the City's General Plan and the Westside Specific
Plan.

The effect of a "YES" vote will be to ratify approval of the Project and not
repeal the Ordinance.  A "NO" vote will disapprove the Project and will repeal
the Ordinance.

If the Ordinance is repealed by the voters, the Ordinance shall not again be
approved by the City Council for a period of one year after the date of its
disapproval by the voters.

William L. McClure,
Special Attorney for the City of San Carlos

The above statement is an impartial analysis of Ordinance No. 1234.  If you
desire a copy of the Ordinance, please call the City Clerk's Office at
650/802-4219, and a copy will be mailed at no cost to you.

ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF MEASURE I

Help us make the South Laurel neighborhood even better.

Measure I permits the redevelopment of the abandoned Laurel Theater into an
attractive complex of contemporary retail shops and 42 upscale apartments.

Measure I will:
*  allow the vacant Theater to be demolished. Currently, the property is
boarded-up and rat infested;
*  provide retail shops to serve neighborhood residents;
*  create 42 apartments for local working professionals;
*  provide 100% of all required parking.

What effect will Measure I have on other San Carlos neighborhoods and
residents? Measure I will:
*  Remove a long-standing eye-sore;
*  Improve the South Laurel commercial area;
*  Increase property values in White Oaks;
*  Require the builder pay $50,000 in fees to our local elementary and high
schools;
*  Reduce traffic congestion in North Laurel by creating shopping alternatives
in South Laurel;
*  Permit construction by a builder who hires San Carlos contractors.

The San Carlos City Council, Planning Commission and Traffic Commission all
reviewed the proposed use. The San Carlos School District determined there will
be no negative impact on local schools. 28 public hearings were conducted on
the project over a 15 month period. The original proposal was changed 25 times,
including a significant reduction in height and density to satisfy neighborhood
concerns.

Opponents claim this will set a precedent for "residential rezoning". It won't.

The empty lot behind the Laurel Theater, vacant for 15 years, has been rezoned
to allow a small portion of the apartment units to be built. That portion is
set back away from adjacent homes and is limited to the similar height of
nearby residences. The apartments are in character with the surrounding
residential neighborhood and will help rejuvenate South Laurel.

We urge you to join a broad coalition of San Carlos residents and business
people in voting Yes on Measure I.

/s/ Michael J. King	8/19/97	Vice-Mayor
/s/ Donald M. Eaton	8/19/97	City Council Member
/s/ Joseph E. Judge	8/19/97	San Carlos Mayor, 1966-67 and 1970-71;Councilmember
1964-1976, 48 year San Carlos resident
/s/ Don Shalvey	8/20/97	White Oaks Resident, Superintendent San Carlos Schools
/s/ Bernice Ortman	8/20/97	52 yr resident of White Oaks

REBUTTAL TO ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF MEASURE I

VOTE NO ON MEASURE "I" to protect and preserve your residential neighborhoods.

The proponents of this measure would like you to believe that the only way
South Laurel can be rejuvenated is by development of this project.  NOT TRUE!!

Measure "I" will permit development of a MASSIVE apartment complex, with the
existing retail space being reduced by approximately 50%.  Reducing the retail
space will result in the loss of a popular restaurant and provide for even
fewer shopping alternatives in South Laurel.

The portion of this proposed project which intrudes into the residential
neighborhood is NOT SIMILAR in height of nearby residences.  West of the alley,
on White Oak Way, at the corner of Walnut Street, the building will be THREE
STORIES high.

The rezoning of the R-1 lots WILL set a precedent for future development,
diminishing property values of surrounding single family homes.  Homes which 
represents to most, the greatest single investment of our lives.

Increased density and relaxed parking requirements result in more traffic
congestion and less on-street parking.

Historically, the rezoning of residential lots has led to the destruction of
single family neighborhoods throughout our City.

DON'T BE FOOLED into accepting this project as it is proposed.  The South
Laurel area deserves to be rejuvenated.  Development of the Laurel Theater site
is welcomed, with the preservation of the existing single family neighborhood.

VOTE NO on Measure "I".

/s/ Monroe Johnson, 42-year resident, Businessperson
Past President, RWC/SMCo. Insurance Agents Assoc.
Honorary Member White Oaks PTA

/s/ Ken Baisa, 41-year resident,
Businessperson
Retired Manufacturing Engineer

/s/ Walter A. Sonnichsen, 30-year resident,
Consultant, Architectural
Colonel U.S. Army Retired Facilities Engr.
Former Member American Institute of Architect Committee on Office Practices

/s/ Thomas M. Pfeiffer, 47-year resident
Contractor, Realtor
Owner, Pfeiffer Construction

/s/ Jean Mary Orr, 50-year resident
San Carlos "Outstanding Citizen 1976"
Governor's Appointee, 1983-1994
San Carlos Bicentennial Chairman 1975-1976
Past President, Jr. Matrons 1953-55 1995-96
Past President, San Carlos Villagers, 1993-95
Past Chairman, San Carlos Chamber "Civic Affairs Committee"

ARGUMENT AGAINST MEASURE I

A NO VOTE on MEASURE "I" will be a message, to our City Council, that
preservation of our residential neighborhoods is of uppermost importance.

The existing character of Walnut Street, south of Arroyo, much like most of San
Carlos, is a single family residential neighborhood which should be preserved.

The proposed development, approved by the City Council, requires the rezoning
of two residential (R-1) lots and a commercial (C-2) lot, on which the Laurel
Theater stands, to Planned Community (PC). The rezoning of these lots will
allow development of a three story, 42 unit apartment complex, which will
extend from Laurel Street INTO the single family residential neighborhood on
Walnut Street.

If developed as approved, the intrusion of this massive apartment complex will
have a significant, negative impact on the residential neighborhood, changing
its pattern, scale and character, forever. It will set a precedence for further
destruction of this neighborhood and others throughout our city.

Unfortunately, our City leadership is determined to push through this project
and others down the line, doing so with total disregard to what the citizens of
the city feel, how the long time residents of the area will be affected, and
most importantly, without thought of how their decision will serve to destroy
that which makes San Carlos special. That being our single family residential
neighborhoods and the families whom live in these neighborhoods.

We all agree South Laurel and the Theater site are in need of, and deserve to
be renovated by increasing the amount of commercial space, rather than
decreasing it as proposed in this project. Destroying the residential
neighborhoods to develop one corner lot on Laurel Street is not the answer.

This is your chance to protect and preserve your residential neighborhoods.

VOTE NO ON MEASURE "I"

/s/ Victor E. Stoltz, 52-year resident
Former San Carlos Mayor
Former San Carlos Planning Commissioner

/s/ Sandra Baisa, 44-year resident
Vice President, Investment Management Firm

/s/ Rex C. Garoutte, Secretary
Laureola Association

/s/ Peter Angelides, 45-year resident
Member, San Carlos Economic Development
Advisory Commission

/s/ Al Russell, Realtor
Director San Carlos Service Clubs for Seniors
Former President San Carlos Lions
Former President RWC Board of Realtors

Rebuttal to Argument Against Measure I

Measure I - A solution to the Laurel Theater eyesore.

For 15 years the Laurel Theater and its dirt parking lot have sat vacant.  The
building is rat infested and boarded up.

Measure I will allow it to be replaced with 42 apartments and retail shops.

After 28 public hearings over 15 months, the project was approved by the City
Council and Planning Commission.

Unfortunately, nearby neighbors have resorted to misleading statements to stop
the project.  They want nothing built and are making misleading claims to get
your vote.

Opponents claim that rezoning the dirt lots sets a city-wide precedent. Absurd!

*  The rezoning is a technical planning change specific to this site only! It
sets no precedent.

Opponents claim that the project is out of scale.  Deliberately misleading!

*  The project is an attractive compliment to the surrounding area.  The
two-story building on Walnut Street has front lawns and porches similar to
nearby homes.  The retail shops on Laurel will enhance the neighborhood.

Opponents claim City leaders have "total disregard" for local residents'
concerns.  Outright False!

*  This project has been changed or scaled back 25 times in direct response to
neighborhood concerns.

Measure I is a clear choice:

A Yes vote removes an eyesore and transforms Laurel Theater into a project we
can all be proud of.

A No vote keeps the Theater intact - boarded up and rat-infested.

Please join us and many other San Carlos residents in voting Yes on Measure I.

/s/ Sylvia Nelson	8/25/97
City Council Member, White Oaks Resident

/s/ David L. Buckmaster	8/25/97
City Councilmember, Former White Oaks Resident

/s/ Inge Doherty	8/25/97
San Carlos Planning Commission Member
White Oaks Resident 28 yrs.

/s/ Tom Davids	8/27/97
Former Mayor (1994) and City Council Member (1991-95)
1997 Citizen of the Year

/s/ I. Thomas Quinn	8/26/97
Chairperson-Housing Committee
Member, San Carlos Economic Development Advisory Commission
White Oaks Resident-34 Years

Copyright © 1997 League of Women Voters of California, Smart Valley Inc.
The League of Women Voters never supports or opposes candidates or political parties.