Philosophy and Goals
As a Planning Commissioner since 2004, I have studied many land use issues and learned how our City government works. Over time, I’ve become aware of what needs to be fixed, and what it will take to guide Belmont into a bright future.
As a Member of Belmont’s City Council, I’ll continue to gather feedback from residents and business owners and take a thoughtful and common sense approach to retain our high quality of life and to keep our lovely town moving forward.
I will work with you and the City staff to:
- Revitalize our Downtown by supporting thoughtful "smart" development. City Staff has been working on many economic development plans: Village Center (in the area around the downtown Safeway) Firehouse Square (adjacent to the old Firehouse, Belmont Station (east of CalTrain), and an area east of Highway 101, but South of Ralston/Marine World Parkway.
We DO NOT need to develop the Sports Complex area to achieve our goals! There are also many opportunities for development and redevelopment of existing businesses along El Camino, north and south of Ralston.
- Improve resident-to-business communication. “Buying Local” is good for our residents, our economy, and the environment. Supporting our residents is the heart of what it means to live in Belmont.
- Work diligently and creatively to preserve our parks and open space. Support recreational activities, including walking, team sports, biking, skateboarding, swimming, and other ways to get out and enjoy our great climate.
- Solve gridlock on Ralston by creating new bike lanes to assure a place to bike from 280 to across Highway 101; implementing creative traffic control, creating safe walking lanes, and supporting incentives to encourage walking, use of mass transit, home offices, and carpooling. We need to move easily, yet gently, through our neighborhoods.
- Generate productive dialogs among residents, City Hall, and our many institutions. The Sports Complex issue is a good example of miscommunication generated by lack of understanding of what each side really wanted. Residents need to know how to get information and who to contact to solve their problems.