CITY MANAGER’S UPDATE
Sean Rabé, City Manager
As I write this from behind my desk, I’m looking through my window at trees covered with green leaves, birds building nests in those trees, and beautiful blue skies. Spring has returned to Colma!
Colma participated again this year in the Annual National Mayors’ Water Challenge. The Mayor’s Challenge is a non-profit community service program that ran throughout the month of April, with the goal of assisting cities in promoting environmental stewardship through water conservation. Colma residents who took the pledge received a chance to win two free tickets to the December 9th Town Holiday Party! The drawing will take place at the May Council meeting.
What better way to celebrate this beautiful weather than by going for a bicycle ride? May 11 is Bike to Work Day and the Town will be staffing an Energizer Station for the fifth year in a row! We will also have our new bicycle fix-it station, generously donated by Kaiser Permanente, installed on Hillside Boulevard in front of the Community Center. Participating bike riders can stop by for encouragement and refreshments. If riding your bike to work is an option, give it a try. You may register to win prizes at commute.org. It is really fun and really good for you and our planet! If riding your bike to work is not feasible, consider using two wheels instead of four when doing your weekend chores. It will become a habit before you know it.
Finally, join in the community fun and sign up for our Town Wide Clean Up Day. The Town Wide Clean Up Day, held this year on May 20 from 9 am to 2 pm, is your opportunity to take pride in Colma by helping fellow residents and staff in cleaning up the streets of this wonderful Town, including areas around the Colma Creek. All participants will receive a giveaway and an awesome BBQ lunch. Volunteers need to register for the Town Wide Clean Up Day at the Colma Community Center by May 18, 2017.
Colma Planning Department Updates
Michael Laughlin, City Planner
The Planning Department is pleased to report on a number of projects and business that will start or be coming this year:
- CarMax is currently under construction on upper Serramonte Boulevard. The dealership is expected to open in October of 2017 or before.
- The Veteran’s Village Housing Development was approved by the City Council last fall. Construction of the 66 unit affordable housing project located on Mission Road is expected to break ground late this year or early next year.
- The 280 Metro Center will be undergoing a facelift this year. The property owner is also considering new tenants to fill vacancies in the center. A business called Sweet Honey Desserts is expected to open this summer next to the Ross store. The City Council will be reviewed a proposed fitness training use called “Orange Theory Fitness” next to the Men’s Warehouse at its April 26, 2017 meeting.
- Serra Center will also be undergoing a facelift this year and updating signage. The Black Bear Diner will be coming to the center in late summer (in the former Fresh Choice location).
- B and C Street Homes. Eight houses will be built on B Street this year, and one on C Street. The homes will be built using modular construction techniques. The project will create temporary inconveniences for neighbors when utilities are brought in from the street and during construction. The Town is working with the developer to minimize these disturbances to the extent feasible.
As always, please feel free to contact the Planning Department at (650) 757-8888 if you have questions about upcoming projects in the Town.
View the rest of the May edition of LiveWire here.