 Brisbane Council Approves Northeast Ridge Development Over Objections of Citizens.
Endangered Species Theatened.
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On February 16, the Brisbane City Council voted unanimously to
approve the Northeast Ridge EIR addendum, allowing Brookfield Homes to complete
their development on San Bruno Mountain. It was a hard verdict for Mountain
Watch and the community to swallow.
Most of the council members would not vote for this project were
it new, and most of them cited a belief that if they did NOT approve the
project, Brookfield would be allowed to build out their 1989 plan. Brookfield's attorneys had threatened to
pursue this course, and all agreed that the 2007 plan is preferable.
We believe that the 1989 plan could not be built. In 1989, PG&E had estimated this to
cost $2,500,000 - $10,000,000 in today's dollars, and we know from cost over
runs on most construction projects recently, that construction costs have
outstripped inflation. New 'kill permits" would have to be issued, along with
environmental review for moving the towers, and bringing utilities to the site.
All these factors make building on Callippe Hill prohibitive: we believe the
2007 plan represents a solution to Brookfield's problems on Callippe Hill, and
not an altruistic gesture.
In the end, all of our experience on the mountain, our experts,
our well-researched comments, and the emotional pleas for the council to
represent the people's point of view, were not enough to overcome the powers
that be -- the US Fish and Wildlife Service, San Mateo County, Brisbane City
Staff, and Brookfield itself.
The council took as experts only those people who
argued in favor of the project, which included the city staff.
The city staff invited other like-minded
experts to speak. They spoke first, they spoke last, and the council asked questions
only of them. Personally, I find such
a format inadequate for making fair and intelligent decisions. It is, perhaps, one reason why so few
citizens get involved with council meetings, and why so many are frustrated
with government.
Thanks to all of you who have supported us in
this all-out effort to modify this project. You sent hundreds of emails and letters, packed the Brisbane
City Council chambers, thousands of you read our documentation and watched
video presentations on our website and on YouTube, and you helped to bring
attention to-in the press and the
general environmental community-an
issue that another community might have overlooked.
The fight is not yet over. San Bruno Mountain Watch's ongoing
legal challenge against San Mateo County's "Negative Declaration" for the
project makes it possible that project modifications might still be made. So we are still committed to finding a win-win option that benefits
the environment and the community.
Please keep in mind that advocacy is only one way that we pursue
our mission of preserving San Bruno Mountain in perpetuity. We also have active programs in
stewardship, education, and land conservation, and we welcome your
participation. Check our website
for the public calendar of activities.
Remember, San Bruno Mountain Watch isn't just an organization
that has a membership, it's a state of mind, one that puts the earth and the
preservation of this special place among the top of the priorities in our lives. Again, we thank you for
your support and hope to see you on
the mountain.
Ken McIntire for San Bruno Mountain Watch
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