From Volume 1, Number 1 Published August 1, 1999
There are five important elements listed in bold print in the Burlingame’s General Plan. Professional urban planners and architects put the five elements in place. The elements are the following Circulation, Land Use, Waterfront, Open Space and Conservation. These five elements are essential to urban planning. These five elements provide the basics for creating a balance between nature and civilization, as we know it.

Somewhere along the line Burlingame lost track of these elements or guidelines that when properly adhered to can add to our quality of life. Money became the new element that was more desirable than the first five. We went from being the Oyster producing capitol of the Bay Area to the land-fill topped with chain-hotel capitol of the Bay Area.

All is not lost. There is still some land left. There are still some waterways left. One element that is currently being addressed is circulation. A proposal has been made to improve the pedestrian circulation over highway 101 at Broadway. Plans for widening of the walkway and adding a screen fence have reached the drawing boards in Cal-Trans Sacramento Offices. This is just the beginning. The State Lands Commission still owns many acres of land and waterway on the Eastern property of Burlingame. These areas can be reclaimed as parks and recreational waterways for the residents of Burlingame.

If you are in favor of this and other quality of life issues such as the creation of open space parks, bike and pedestrian paths across 101 and along Burlingame’s waterfront, stay in tuned to the voice of Burlingame.