Business View Civil and Municipal | Volume 2, Issue 12

88 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 2, ISSUE 11 Quality of life, that’s a value that is obviously very important as we proceed with the planning and build-out process. And I guess ‘build out’ is the appropriate term, right? Millbrae is a community that isn’t built out like some cities are. We’ve only just started that process.” In June, the Millbrae City Council also met with the Planning Commission to discuss the city’s long-term blueprint for developing the downtown core and the El Camino Real. A main objective of the plan is to enhance quality of life in Millbrae by providing a roadmap for future growth that would emphasize transit-oriented, mixed-use development to create an exciting place for people to live, work, shop, and visit. “We already have a lovely downtown area – that’s where our festivals take place – and it really feels like the city’s front porch,” shares Smith. “It’s where we entertain, host gatherings, and have dedicated dining spaces. We hope to California to plan for more housing than they have in the past, Millbrae is focused on hearing from community members about what they need, what they love, and what they’d like to see more of. Williams explains, “Housing and Community Development… at the state level, they establish goals for each municipality through each region’s council and government. It’s then up to our region and, in our case, the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG), to decide how much of the regional need should be met by each city, town, and county. Our new number is 2,200— that’s 2,200 housing units between 2023 and 2030.” While some cities with similarly high numbers are fearful of what lies ahead, Williams feels heartened by the drive and dedication behind Millbrae’s transit infrastructure spending. He maintains, “These transit corridors and the densities that City Council is already projecting – we’re going to be able to accommodate all that and become urbanized in the right kind of way.