COMMUNITY ISSUES

At the community workshops held in late winter 2007, North Fair Oaks residents gathered to identify and prioritize
key community concerns. These issues follow.

A. NEIGHBORHOOD ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

Top Issues

• Frequency of street sweeping
• Loud music from cars and homes
• Lack of street trees
• Code enforcement (including abandoned mrs)
• Road condition
• Sewer capacity
• Inconsistent zoning
• Lack of street lights
• Lack of after-school youth activities

Other Concerns

• Lack of consistency in garbage collection
• Flooding problems
• Graffiti problems
• Billboard placement and content
• Lack of signage overall
• Lack of signage in Spanish
• Lack of signage about parking policies
• Cars for sale or repair in streets
• Cars parked illegally in streets (especiallY when these cars impede J"treet sweeping)
• Impacts of Hetch Hetchy pipeline expansion
• Barking dogs
• Need for college-level or adult classes that don't affect residential parking situations
• Cleanliness of vacant lots
• People who do not clean up after dogs
• Potential impacts of Dumbarton Caltrain line
• Spilled gasoline from gas stations (especially gas station at 8th and Middlefield)
• Dangerous diagonal parking
• Responsivenss of Public Works on flooding and other road condition issues
• No way to make anonymous calls or complaints about road problems
• Lack of design review for commercial buildings
• Inadequate garbage collection along Middlefield
• Need for sidewalks and commercial areas to be swept and cleaned
• Too many potholes/streets with standing water
• Problematic precedent of needing to tip Allied Waste in order to have aU garbage cans picked up
• Perception of favoritism with respect to road repairs and improvements
• Lack of clarity on who maintains rail corridor

B. HOUSING

Top Issues

• Overcrowding
• Housing affordability for low-income residents
• Subdivision of large lots/Non-conforming lot sizes (both legaL and ilLegaL)
• Lack of a shelter for residents experiencing homelessness

Other Concerns

• Cost of housing
• Rent control
• Displacement of residents/gentrification
• Garage conversions and other renovations that intensify residential uses
• Absentee landlords
• Not enough home improvement loans

C. COMMUNITY FACILITIES AND SERVICES

Top Issues

• Quality of local schools
• Safe routes to school
• Lack of community parks
• Lack of a cultural center for youth and families
• Use of PUC right-of-way for parks
• Lack of a job training center

Other Concerns

• Community gardens
• Joint use of park and school facilities
• Information about available services
• Lack of quality child care
• Later garbage collection
• Trash and recycling pickup
• Pickup of bulky items
• Bulk trash and electronic waste on streets
• Lack of trashcans on Middlefield Road
• Lack of portable toilets for day workers
• Lack of dog parks
• Lack of funding for FOBA activities and other community-based initiatives
• Not enough sidewalk maintenance

D. LOCAL ECONOMY

Economic development in North Fair Oaks is also a concern for many residents, who would like to see additional local-serving retail establishments and bener support for local businesses in general. In addition, commercial fac;:ades along Middlefield Road need improvement.

Top Issues

• Lack of neighborhood-serving retail services
• Lack of a Larino chamber of commerce
• Condition of commercial fac;:ades
• Lack of support for new businesses

Other Concerns

• Lack of a day workers' center
• Lack of a North Fair Oaks business alliance
• Need for bener financing for businesses
• Problems with unlicensed businesses
• Need for basic services: hardware store, pharmacy, grocery stores, etc.
• Need for bank or ATMs on Middlefield Road

 

E. TRANSPORTATION

Top Issues

• Safery of pedestrian crossings
• Speeding
• Safcry of major imersections

Other Concerns

• Safery of railroad crossings
• Lack of transponation for older residems
• Need for traffic calming
• Poor bicycle access and paths
• Poor access to transit
• Poor design of Middlefield Road
• Too much traffic turning right off of Middlefield Road during commute hours
• Problematic placemem and size of chicanes
• Concerns about the cost and longeviry of patching versus paving
• Problems with cut-through traffic

F. PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY

Top Issues

• Gang presence
• Lack of communiry policing
• Racial profiling by the police
• Drug dealing
• Lack of sheriff response ro "hot spots"
• Lack of emergency clinics
• Public drinking
• Loitering
• Lack of universal health and safery standards
• Commercial dumping of roxic substances
• Number of neighborhood liquor licenses
• Slow CHP response to local traffic accidems
• Poor service at me Nonh Fair Oaks Clinic

Other Concerns

• Too much aircraft noise
• Poor water qualiry
• Lack of places ro buy qualiry water
• Air pollution
• Alcohol sales ro minors
• Too little collaboration between Nonh Fair Oaks neighborhoods
• High juvenile crime and detemion rates
• Lack ofNonh Fair Oaks-specific fire codes
• Lack of enforcemem of open comainer law
• Lack of access ro health care
• Lack of police presence at parks at night
• Inconsistem light/siren use by emergency vehicles
• Need for better communiry information on liquor laws affecting Nonh Fair Oaks
• No public pool or soccer field for youth
• Problems with car racing

 

(PDF version of above document)

NEIGHBORHOOD VISION

A key element of the community workshop process involved the development of a community vision for the future of North Fair Oaks. Community members see a future in which the unique characrer of North Fair Oaks is preserved, but the community is "on the map" as an imporram, diverse place with many strengths and assets.

North Fair Oaks will be diverse, with:

• Residents of all races, ethnicities, and ages;
• Cross-cultural facilities;
• Integrated neighborhoods; and
• Respect for all residems from the authorities.

North Fair Oaks will be connected, with:

• Walkable, bike-friendly streets;
• Improved access to transit;
• Bike paths to community destinations; and
• No physical barriers between neighborhoods.

North Fair Oaks will be safe and healthy, with:

• Farmer's markets;
• Strong neighborhood watches;
• Harmony between neighbors;
• Neighborhoods free from gangs and violence;
• Safe streets;
• Safe spaces for families to gather; and
• Safe places for immigrants to live and work without fear.

North Fair Oaks will have a strong civic fabric, with:

• High voter turnout;
• Strong neighborhood associations;
• Excellent schools and a library;
• A revitalized North Fair Oaks Street Fair; and
• A strong community identity.

North Fair Oaks will be beautiful, with:

• Community parks, gardens, and trees;
• Underground urilities;
• Clean streets;
• Attractive yards and business facades; and
• A residemial character much like today's.

North Fair Oaks will be economically strong, with:

• Thriving neighborhood retail;
• A diversity of businesses in the right places;
• Living wages; and
• Prosperity for all residents.

North Fair Oaks will be supportive, with:

•Clean and affordable housing;
• Activities and setvices for residents of all ages;
• Jobs in the community;
• Space for youth; and
• Resources for people experiencing homelessness.

(PDF version)

North Fair Oaks Visioning Update

(Agenda for NFO Council meeting)

North Fair Oaks Council Meeting of July 19, 2007

Visioning Update Agenda

1. Project Background and Introduction of County Staff

2. Neighborhood Vision

(See above)

3. Community Issues/County Response

3.1. Introduction

3.2. Neighborhood Environmental Quality
• Code enforcement services
• Zoning and land use planning
• Public Works – roads, sewers, street lights and garbage collection

3.3. Housing
• Non-conforming lots
• Inclusionary zoning
• Rehab loans and assistance programs

3.4. Community Facilities and Services
• Funding for safe school routes
• Hetch Hechy ROW and Dumbarton rail line updates
• Human Services job training and other programs

3.5. Local Economy
• Redwood City Chamber of Commerce
• Start-Up, SCORE and other resources

3.6. Transportation
• Traffic control and cross-walks

3.7. Public Health and Safety
• Law enforcement
• Liquor licenses
• Air and water quality
• Medical clinics for children and adults

4. Next Steps