In-N-Out Burger Gets the Green Light in San Carlos

Planning Commission Approval

On Monday night, the San Carlos Planning commission voted 5-0 to give In-N-Out Burger the go-ahead to build a restaurant at the intersection of Holly Street and Industrial Road in San Carlos.  This hurdle needed to be cleared before the vacant northeast corner of the intersection could be transformed into the latest outlet of arguably the hottest fast-food restaurant chain in all of California.

In-N-Out has an almost cult-like following, with a very simple strategy of offering nothing but great burgers, fries and drinks.  They even have their own “secret” menu, which makes ordering even that much more fun.   But the popularity of this restaurant, and the throng of  loyal followers expected to flood the drive-thru lanes, has some local neighbors worried.

Exception to the Sign Ordinance

In the process of the permit review, In-N-Out was granted a variance to the City’s sign ordinance, thus allowing it to erect a 65-foot pole for its trademark sign, which itself will be over twice the size of the previous limit.   The sign, and the possibility of increased traffic and noise prompted many neighbors to voice their concern at the Planning Commission meeting.  But in the end, the Commission voted unanimously to approve the project.

Double-Double on the Horizon

According to this article in the San Jose Mercury News,  the next step is for In-N-Out to submit their plans for obtaining the necessary building permits.   Once approved, the construction can begin.  Although an opening date has not yet been set, speculation is that it will be around April-May of 2011.   In the meantime, those who need to get their animal-style fix need only go to the Redwood City location on Veterans Avenue, which is already under construction and will open well before the San Carlos outlet.
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High Speed Rail to Run Above Ground in San Carlos

Plan Released

According to the detailed plan that was released by the California High Speed Rail Authority on Thursday, most of the high-speed rail section that will someday traverse the Peninsula and the South Bay will do so above ground, and not in an underground trench as many communities had hoped for.   According to this article in the Daily News, the Rail Authority assigned most Peninsula cities above-ground implementations since they are the least expensive, but that decision was not well received by many community leaders on the Peninsula who were lobbying very hard to minimize the intrusion of the new rail system.

Elevated? Been There, Done That…

While many communities on the Peninsula now face the first prospect of an elevated train track splitting their city, San Carlos is one of the only cities that has at least some experience in this area.   Years ago, amidst a sea of contention, San Carlos opted to elevate the Caltrain tracks through its city limits as a way to alleviate the chronic traffic tie-ups at the railroad crossings.   Opponents to the plan believed that an elevated berm would isolate the east side of the city from the west — a fear many community leaders on the Peninsula are now expressing for their own constituents.

Whether or not this was the net effect on San Carlos is a subjective matter, but what one cannot argue is the fact that traffic flow at the Howard Avenue, Brittan Avenue, and Holly Street intersections is immeasurably better since the tracks were elevated.  They’re still far from perfect, but much better than before.

A Little More Noise?

Aside from the isolation concerns, one of the biggest objections to an elevated track will be the noise impact.   It’s not a stretch to see how the wind noise and rail noise that’s generated by a train that is capable of 200 mph will be far different (and quite possibly louder) than what we’re accustomed to with CalTrain today.   Granted, the train will likely not be hitting those speeds on the Peninsula, but the noise element will be a big concern for many.

In reality, with all of the objections already being voiced by community leaders, it’s easy to see how the whole California High Speed Rail idea could spend the next decade or so in the court system…instead of fulfilling the dream of a high-speed rail backbone in California.

What are your thoughts on the High Speed Rail Initiative?
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Field Renovation Set to Begin at San Carlos Highlands Park

All-Weather Turf Installation

What in essence marks the end of a decade-long battle that pitted neighbor versus neighbor in San Carlos, the Planning Department has issued permits for the removal and grading of the existing field at Highlands Park, which is the first step in the transforming the field from a natural grass field to a synthetic, all-weather surface.    According to this announcement on the City website,  the contractor has been given the notice to proceed for the removal of the existing field, and work is expected to begin within the next 10 days.

For those of you not familiar with the all-weather turf saga, the idea to resurface one or more of the athletic fields in San Carlos was tabled nearly 10 years ago as a way to accommodate the increasing usage of the limited number of athletic fields in the City.   The topic was debated fiercely for nearly a decade in City Council meetings, in the press, and even in the courtroom.  But while other cities on the Peninsula forged ahead and installed all-weather surfaces on their playing fields, San Carlos remained one of the few communities without a stitch of all-weather turf..until now.

Earlier this year the City Council, expecting a positive outcome from the anti-turf camp’s last efforts to legally block the turf, awarded a contract to replace the playing surface at Highlands Park.  So here we are.

Proceed With Caution.

As is noted in the announcement, there will be quite a few trucks and equipment in the area while the construction is in process, and the tennis courts will be inaccessible during this time.  So if you don’t need to be up at Highlands Park for the near-term, it’s probably advisable to steer clear of the area.
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San Carlos Receives $2.2M Grant for Transit Area Upgrades

Improvements to East Side of Transit Hub

Changes will soon be coming for the neighborhoods directly east of the Caltrain station.   From the City of San Carlos website:

The City of San Carlos announced today that the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) has approved a $2.2 Million grant for the City’s East Side Community/Transit Connectivity Project.  The project is designed to improve pedestrian and bicycle access to housing, jobs and transit on the East Side of San Carlos.  Project funding will come from the MTC Grant ($2,216,648) and matching funds ($554,162) that come from State Proposition 1B funds and San Carlos Redevelopment Agency Capital Funds.

The East Side Community/Transit Connectivity Project was developed by the City’s Public Works and Community Development departments under the direction of Public Works Director Robert Weil and Community Development Director Al Savay along with input from key City Staff and design assistance from Callander Associates Landscape Architects.  The project focuses on the need for significant improvements on Old County Road and East San Carlos Avenue – two key streets that are near the San Carlos CalTrain station.  Project improvements will make this area more livable and safe for East San Carlos residents and businesses.
>>> Click Here to Read the Full Post
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San Carlos Poll: Which is Better — The Hills or The Flats?

A Tough Decision

Making the decision to move to San Carlos is usually an easy one.  With its great schools, mild weather, community vibe, and its proximity to both San Jose and San Francisco, San Carlos has become the destination of choice for many home buyers.    But once you make the decision to move to San Carlos and you spend some time driving around the town, you’ll realize that there’s another big decision you’ll have to make:  Should you live in the hills or in the flats?

Like other cities on the northern stretch of the Peninsula, the terrain in San Carlos changes dramatically as you start to head west.  While the town is mostly flat in the area between El Camino and Alameda de las Pulgas, the terrain upticks quickly as you continue west.   The change happens even more quickly in the northern Section of San Carlos known as Cordes, which is mostly hilly.  And depending what you’re looking for in a home, both regions offer something for every home-buyer:

The Hills

People who live in the hills of San Carlos often enjoy incredible views of the San Francisco Bay and/or the Pacific Coast Range to the west.   Homes in this area are generally larger and newer than the homes in the flatlands, and it’s also easier to find larger lots in the hills, although that doesn’t guarantee that all of the land is suitable for building.     Residents of the hilly areas also enjoy relatively quick commute access to Interstate 280.

Downsides?   The views can come at a price of convenience.  With the exception of parts of Cordes, getting to downtown San Carlos for shopping or dining requires a trip up and down the hill in the car.  And if 280 isn’t your commute route of choice, getting to 101 in the morning through San Carlos can be an exercise in patience (especially if you’re going north on 101.)

The Flats

Folks who choose the flatlands of San Carlos enjoy the “walkability” of their neighborhood and the proximity to downtown San Carlos for shopping and dining.  If having a flat yard is a high priority for a home-buyer, you’ll likely have more choices east of the Alameda (not to say that there aren’t flat lots up in the hills — there definitely are.)

Downsides?  Since San Carlos was developed from the El Camino westward, homes in the flats tend to be a bit older (as in 1930′s and 40′s) and lots size tend to be smaller than their compatriots in the hills.   Some streets close to El Camino are downright cozy!

So What’s Your Pick?

Audience participation time… For those of you who already live in San Carlos, here’s an opportunity to help home buyers that are new to San Carlos.   Why do you like living in the hills of San Carlos?   Or… what makes the flats perfect for you and your family?   What benefits or downsides did I miss in the description above?

Let’s hear what you have to say about the neighborhood that you call home!    Brag about your home in the comments section, and be sure to vote in this poll:

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Dollar Tree Coming to San Carlos?

Update — 7/26:

The San Carlos Planning Commission has just given the go-ahead needed for the Dollar Store to move into the space formerly occupied by Hollywood Video.

Former Hollywood Video Site.

A Dollar Tree store in San Carlos?  It could happen.   A few years after a competing store was blocked from setting up shop in what is now Bianchini’s Market, the Dollar Tree is eyeing the spot of the former Hollywood Video Store that’s in the Home Depot/Lucky’s parking lot on Old County Road.   For those of you not familiar with the Dollar Tree (or other stores like it) they sell a bunch of stuff that’s priced at $1, hence their name.

In tonight’s Planning Commission Meeting, the owner of the building at 1121 Old County Road will ask the City to modify the conditional use permit that’s in place for the building, thus clearing the way for a wider variety of uses for the building…like a Dollar Tree store.   For more information, check out this article in the Daily Journal..

What Do You Think?

San Carlos residents already punted on the idea of a “discount” store like this one, but it was closer to downtown.  What do you think about a Dollar Tree store in San Carlos?
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“Why Doesn’t San Carlos Have a Peet’s Coffee?”

Conspicuously Absent

It’s a question that I seem to hear all the time.

There’s no doubt that downtown San Carlos has a healthy appetite for caffeine.  How else could a town as small as this support no fewer than three Starbucks stores, as well as a host of other boutique coffee shops? (Speaking of which, I am still convinced that Plantation makes the best cappuccino in town.)    Combine this with the seemingly endless string of new restaurants opening up on Laurel Street, and you’d think there would be enough options for every caffeinated palate.

But there’s one notable exception…

A Loyal Following

Coffee drinkers have preferences that are as strong as the coffee that they drink, and Peet’s Coffee and Tea has a very loyal and growing customer base.  So I’m not surprised to hear people ask “Why doesn’t San Carlos have a Peet’s Coffee?”  At one time, it was widely rumored that a Peet’s was going to open in the bottom-floor retail space at the 1001 Laurel Street condo complex.  But that doesn’t appear to be happening.  So for now, fans need to schlep to Redwood City or Belmont to get their Peet’s fix.

So what do you think?    Is there room in downtown San Carlos for one more coffee shop?   Would a Peet’s Coffee survive in downtown San Carlos?  Hmmm, we haven’t had a poll in a while on the site…

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White Oaks Nabs Its Own Sandwich Shop

The Sandwich Spot

White Oaks residents no longer need to trek up to the north section of Laurel Avenue to grab a deli sandwich.  The Sandwich Spot just opened their doors a couple of weeks ago, giving White Oaks residents a great alternative for a quick lunch.  The Sandwich Spot features a large array of both hot and cold sandwiches, like a any good deli should.   However, they take it a step further by offering their own special spreads on some of the sandwiches (I was told the garlic spread is outstanding!) and they actually bake some of their bread right there in the deli.   The sandwich that we ordered was easily large enough to split between two people, and it was very good!

As you can see from the picture below, the Sandwich Spot shares a roof with the White Oaks Flower Shoppe, which used to occupy the entire building at 1312 Laurel Street — kitty corner to Skinny Sippin’ at Howard and Laurel.

According to the owners, this “arrangement” of flowers and sandwiches is quite synergistic – so much so, that there’s a walkway that connects both businesses from the inside. Grab a sandwich, and then buy your cardiologist a bouquet of flowers?

So check out the Sandwich Spot. The sandwiches are great, and you won’t leave hungry!
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