BY EMILY MIBACH

Daily Post Staff Writer

San Carlos residents and the city’s mayor are weighing in on the controversial housing bill SB50, which could pre-empt city zoning rules and result in denser housing projects.

Council Monday (April 8) discussed local, state and regional efforts to add housing and regulate building in the city.

Mayor Mark Olbert said he does not like SB50, noting that it “steamrolls local control.”

Resident Josh Wallace said under SB50, San Carlos’ slogan would change from the “city of good living” to the “metropolis of good living.”

Resident Sandy Althouse claimed that seven-to eight-story buildings could be constructed near the train station, which could be “terrifying” for the area.

Resident Ben Fuller said he has been working with people in Palo Alto, along with the mayors of Cupertino and Los Altos and state Sen. Jerry Hill, D-San Mateo, to come up with ways to change or oppose the bill.

But many residents, such as Michelle Nayfack and Jean Daner, said they want to see more housing built so people who work in the city can find a place to live there.

Others on Monday spoke about different ways to increase housing or at least limit job growth in San Carlos.

Resident David Crabb floated the idea of a moratorium on office buildings bigger than 10,000 to 20,000 square feet.

Both councilwomen Laura Parmer Lohan and Sara McDowell asked if there is a way to force developers to build low-income housing as part of projects and not just pay fees.

Olbert indicated that the council will be talking about housing laws and regulations at the council’s next meeting later this month.