The new direction took some dyed-in-the-wool members by surprise when the chapter decided to do something it has never done before — endorse a major development. Those closest to the decision claim the growing interest in development represents the changing needs of a community that has taken huge strides to protect open space, but still struggles with a swelling population.

“We’re against development in the wrong places and for development in the right places,” said Chapter Director Melissa Hippard. “That’s why [development] is a big deal whether it’s Ricky’s Hyatt or Measure F or Brisbane’s Bayshore.”

When the Sierra Club stepped forward last summer to vocalize its support for the second phase of the Bay Meadows mixed-use development in San Mateo, some opposing the project were shocked — even outraged. With plans to replace race track on Delaware Street near Hillsdale Boulevard with 1,250 residential units, 1.25 million square feet of office space and 150,000 square feet of retail space, the development’s second phase is grand in scale.

There were comments about Sierra Club being bought off and selling out. More than six months after the endorsement, thoughts of those comments still makes Chapter President Karen Maki cringe.

“As Bay Meadows goes ... it’s really a natural place to develop. People need to live somewhere. We need to be thoughtful where we want to put them,” Maki said.

The Sierra Club is traditionally thought of as the group of environmentalists going the distance to protect open space. Locally, environmentalists have been successful in purchasing and preserving valuable open space with the help of the Peninsula Open Space District and can afford to focus on preventing sprawl and pollution by promoting “smart growth.”

Sprawl is when homes are built outside of urban areas to allow for larger homes on larger lots. San Mateo was created as a bedroom community outside of San Francisco, but became an urban center itself in the last 100 years.

The local chapter formed a Sustainable Land Use Committee about five years ago, when the second phase of Bay Meadows planning was in its infancy. A group of volunteers wanted the club to take an active approach when it came to researching and advocating for certain types of developments. Its motive is clear — to put housing near transportation and protect the most important open space.

Following a guideline approved almost a year ago with more than a dozen criteria, the land use committee put the Bay Meadows development to the test and ended up liking it. Both Maki and Hippard are quick to point out Sierra Club members, not the Bay Meadows Land Company, raised the idea of endorsing the project.

Bay Meadows continues to be the only project the club has endorsed. It even made it into the national Sierra Club, “Building Better” publication about the best urban developments in the nation.

Building near freeways and mass transportation helps stops sprawl and saves open space, but it also pays a part in cutting back on air pollution and traffic, Maki said.

A person driving a sports utility vehicle from Palo Alto to San Mateo pollutes less than a person driving a hybrid car from the East Bay to San Mateo. Creating shorter car trips or making it easier for people to take mass transportation is the way to cut down on air pollution, she said.

Dana Yates can be reached by e-mail: dana@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 106. What do you think of this story? Send a letter to the editor: letters@smdailyjournal.com.

San Mateo town hall meeting

Creating Safe and Healthy Communities

Thursday, May 18th

6:45 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

King Community Center

725 Monte Diablo Ave., San Mateo