Downtown height limit change and five-story Chapin Avenue building
Summary
Colson and Brownrigg want Chapin Street in front of the new City Hall re-envisioned as a civic plaza; the adjacent developer may pay for much of it, and a concept will come back to Council.
At a glance
- Total mentions
- 3
- Last 30 days
- 2
Discussed at 2 meetings in the last 60 days; most recently Nov 9, 2026.
Impact analysis
Unknown; developer cost-sharing expected.
Downtown visitors and City Hall users.
Neighbors concerned about downtown height and scale could see taller buildings become the norm if the height limit is raised.
Mentions & discussions (3)
Planning Commission — November 9, 2026
A developer wants to raise the maximum height in the Chapin Avenue Commercial district to build a five-story, 87,307-square-foot commercial building with plazas and below-grade parking. It would reshape a visible downtown block — but only if the plan amendment clears the Commission.
Planning Commission — October 26, 2026
A JP Morgan Chase-owned site downtown could get an 87,307-square-foot, five-story office building with public plazas, plus a zoning change to allow more height. The decision was pushed to November 9, so residents still have a chance to weigh in.
City Council — May 19, 2026
Colson and Brownrigg want Chapin Street in front of the new City Hall re-envisioned as a civic plaza; the adjacent developer may pay for much of it, and a concept will come back to Council.
Related development
1430 Chapin Avenue (Project No. CDSR23-0001)
This would be one of the taller new buildings downtown and would set the height standard for the Chapin Avenue area going forward.
Major Design Review and Special Permit at 1228 Drake Avenue (DSR26-0009)
A new home in an established neighborhood; commissioners liked the design and asked the owner to chat with a neighbor about overhanging trees.
We'll email you when it's on an upcoming agenda and when it's voted on, at most once a day.
The weekly brief for Burlingame
What the council decided, in plain English — one email a week.
Free. Unsubscribe with one click any time. We never sell your email.