Save Foster City

The Mirabella Project

A. LOCATION

    Open space public land between the City Hall and Library on one side and the Peninsula Jewish Community Center (PJCC) on
    the other. It is along Shell Boulevard on one side and Foster City Boulevard on the opposite side.

B. DEVELOPER

     SARES REGIS GROUP

C. DESCRIPTION

    The Mirabella Project will occupy 11 out of the total 15 acres open space under a 99-year lease with the City Government.
    This is the last piece of open-space public land in Foster City and its use is being given to a private developer.

    As of March 2008, the Project is comprised of a total of 11 buildings:

         *  Two 14 - story buildings
         * Two  10 - story buildings
         *  Two    6 - story buildings
         * Five    1 - story buildings for retail spaces

    It will house retail spaces and a retirement community. The latter will include 350 senior housing units, of which 18% or 65
    units will be designated as affordable senior housing which will be concentrated in one building, and 82% or 285 units will be
    high-end senior housing which will occupy the prime spots in the project complex.

    Note: With the unanimous approval last July 7, 2008 by the City Council of the request of Sares Regis to expand the
              project we expect the project to be bigger than described and shown above. Details of the expanded projects are not
             yet available.

D. STATUS

    The draft environmental impact report is currently being written by the city's consultants.

E. ISSUES AND CONCERNS

    (1) Giving the Use of Public Land to a Private Developer

          This is the last piece of public land in Foster City, yet it is being given up to Sares Regis, a private developer whose
          objective is understandably to maximize its profit.

    (2) Residents Have a Need for the Public Land

           Some possible uses by the residents of this public land among others are as follows.

Residents have been clamoring for a public high school for a long time. With the overcrowding in the San Mateo schools, we do not want to come to the point where our children and youth, who is our future, will be turned away in high schools in the neighboring towns.

Currently, it is said that 4 of the 15 acres will be reserved for high school. It is a very small plot to have a complete facility and good high school environment. Why reserve a token 4 acre for a public high school when 11 acres can be given to a private developer?

Note:
Sadly, the community may have totally lose the use of the 4 acres for a school when the City Council unanimously rescinded reserving the 4 acres for educational purposes last July 22. The well-heeled Sares Regis will likely take over this to further expand its Mirabella project.
The Foster City public library is so crowded and noisy that it needs an extension.
It would be nice to have a sculpture park where we can enjoy the arts in an open space setting and simply have a place to stroll and enjoy Foster City in the open.

(3) Disregard of the Results of the 2006 Survey of Residents

      The City conducted a survey of the residents regarding their desire and opinion on what should be the use of this last piece of
      open public land (15-acre). Eighty percent of the respondents requested that this public land be reserved for educational
      purposes. Regrettably, the responses of the residents have been totally ignored. Instead,The City Council invited developer
      Sares Regis who decides to put up a Retirement facility.The survey results was tantamount to a public vote and should have
      been seriously considered and respected.

(4) Rezoning of Non-Residential Area to Residential

      The Master Plan of Foster City has designated the 15-acre area as a non-residential area. It was intended for public use.
      However, the City Council in a closed-door vot has rezoned the 15-acre land to allow the building of residential units to fit into
      the plans of Sares Regis to build a retirement community.

(5) Criteria and Process in Deciding to Build a Retirement Home

How did the City Planners and City Council end up with a retirement home when the residents through the 2006 survey have
expressed other uses of the land that meet their needs? What was the process involved and criteria to arrive at the decision?

(6) Details of the Agreement with Sares and Regis

      Details of the agreement should be made public.
      What concessions and rights are given to Sares and Regis?
      What are financial agreements and contractual obligations of both parties (Sares Regis and the City)?

(7) Safety Issues of the Mirabella for Seniors

      There are safety issues and concerns regarding Seniors living in high-rise towers in a land-fill area. Note that Foster City is
      not a regular town with solid foundations. It was built from the marshes of San Francisco Bay.

      Thus, there are inherent high risks involved in residing in high-rise towers in this type of land in a region naturally prone to
      earthquakes. This risk is particularly acute for seniors who may have greater difficulty and lesser flexibility in responding to
      emergencies and calamities.

      How prepared is the Foster City government to handle the massive Mirabella and its senior residents in times of emergencies?
      Are there any plans in place to handle natural disasters, calamities, and other emergencies for Mirabella?

SUMMARY

Mirabella should not be allowed to be built on public land. It will benefit only a few: a private developer and a handful of residents.

The best use of the 15-acre public land is for public use, not private.

The 15-acre land should revert back to the residents of Foster City for their use and welfare. The residents rightfully deserve to be the beneficiaries of our last piece of vacant public land.

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