Early in September, Sarah and Rawson Groves-Hobart were ecstatic. They had engaged with a potential buyer on an all-cash deal to sell their home at 1540 Newlands Avenue in the Burlingame Park neighborhood.

The prospective buyer made an inquiry to the Burlingame planning department regarding what kind of permits he would need to add another story to the home. City officials told him that because the house was more than 50 years old, any changes to it could require environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act. Before the planning commission would take any action, he would need to procure an historical assessment of the property, costing $3000.

Wanting to complete the sale, the Groves-Hobarts paid for the independent historical review. It was determined that the home had no historical value, but it came too late – the buyer had already withdrawn his offer.

To avoid such deal-smothering red tape, two other sellers have already commissioned an independent firm to determine whether their property has any historical significance.

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Buyers and sellers fear that a precedent has been set. It now seems clear that owners of any home in the Burlingame Park neighborhood that is at least 50 years old will be forced to fund a report on their property to go before the planning commission for approval of improvements.

That could change.

On Monday, November 9, 2009, the Burlingame Planning Commission moved to request the City Council fund a widespread historic resources report for Burlingame so that individuals do not have pay the expense on individual property and rulings are consistent throughout the city.

Bill Meeker, Community Development Director, said early estimates indicated this report would cost $50,000 or more, and the council would need to pull the money from the City’s general budget. Officials this year have frozen virtually all new spending and cut services in response to a $4 million deficit.

Burlingame Public Library provided by Loren Javier

When the Burlingame City Council examined this issue in the past, there has been disagreement on the benefits of financing a city-wide historical report. However, the council will change on December 7th with current Planning Commissioner Michael Brownrigg replacing five time Mayor and Councilwoman Rosalie O’Mahony.

Past and future city council members were all present at Monday’s hearing but said afterward they needed more details on the survey before deciding whether to endorse it.