Open Space and Development

By Eric L Reed

Let's keep the open space open. Let's create a walkable, economically vibrant City center. Let's review those regulations that make it difficult for homeowners to improve their homes.

I believe that a significant amount of Belmont's housing stock goes unimproved because it is too difficult for homeowners to deal with some of the City's regulations. Homes with a 1 car garage must build a 2 car garage when a homeowner wants to add 600 or more square feet. Tree permits can cost up to nearly $5,000 if removed as part of a remodel. Planning Commission decisions can sometimes seem arbitrary and capricious. At the end of the day, there are ways that some regulations can be altered to enable homeowners to more easily upgrade their property without negatively impacting the small-town charm of Belmont. Not only do homeowners benefit, but so too does the City through higher property taxes.

In the future, Belmont's city center is a place where people can walk from shop to shop or go grab a bite to eat. It is a place where NDNU students can hang out or a manager at Oracle can take his team for a celebratory lunch. Parking is confined to a well-landscaped parking structure. However, "downtown" Belmont has been talked about for a long time and what we have to show for it is a lot of empty store fronts on El Camino and faded signs for the Firehouse Square development. Belmont has a reputation for being difficult to deal with and we will have to spend time and energy helping businesses understand that Belmont is more business friendly than it has been in the past.

In the end, protecting open space provides value to future generations. Making it easier to upgrade our housing stock provides more in property taxes to the City. And, creating an economically vibrant downtown area makes it much easier for consumers to spend their money in Belmont rather than taking it somewhere else