Bay Meadows plots rival to Burlingame Avenue

Developers say the intimate, two-lane feel of Burlingame Avenue is preferable to downtown San Mateo's Fourth Avenue. If people want to get an idea of what San Mateo's new strip will look like, Meany said they should take a stroll down Burlingame Avenue.

The shopping strip is just part of the latest design the Bay Meadows Land Company is proposing for the massive 83-acre transit corridor; the newest blueprint cuts the amount of land set aside for office space nearly in half and also focuses on for-sale housing rather than for-rent housing. The idea behind the development by the new Caltrain station is to create a pedestrian-friendly atmosphere that will get people to ditch their cars. The area is currently plagued by traffic congestion, which city officials say will only get worse in coming years.

Until now, the proposal included 1,500 residential units, 2.1 million square feet of office space and 100,000 square feet of retail. Now the mix includes 1,250 residential units, 1.25 million square feet of office space and 150,000 square feet of retail space. The new formula means the density of the project - at 40 units per acre - would be far lower than the current city limit of 50 units per acre.

"This is a much better plan and it shows the developers listened to the community," said Planning Commissioner Robert Gooyer.

At the earliest, residents can expect to start seeing the massive development roll out within five years. The housing units would be rolled out first. The retail strip would be completed all at once thereafter, and construction of office space would depend on the market conditions. That's all assuming city officials give the project their stamp of approval.

Housing

A rich mix of housing options ranging from two-story, single-family homes to luxury flats to stacked townhouses will make up the 1,250 units developers are planning.

"We don't want to do too much of any one thing," Meany said.

The idea is to cater to home buyers of all stripes, he said, including first-time homeowners and families with young children.

The majority of the residential units will now be for-sale units, however, rather than the for-rent units developers originally proposed.

A number of San Mateo residents turned out to support the development of the transit corridor, which they say will bring much-needed housing to the city. Lisa Smoot, a 10-year resident, said she wants to see some housing in the area that a family of six can afford to move into.

Because of the number of senior housing projects already under way, Meany said developers do not have any plans to create any senior housing complexes.

Until now, developers were proposing 1,500 residential units.

Traffic

Right now, developers say the 83-acre site where the race track is located creates a "black hole" in the local transportation network, making travel in the Hillsdale area difficult.

The development will create arterial streets and street connections that make traveling easier, Meany said. The new proposal seeks to extend Franklin Parkway across the site and connect 31st Avenue at El Camino Real.

Coupled with the new road to be built along an extended 25th Avenue, developers say the project could triple the road capacity currently provided by Hillsdale for traveling from east to west in San Mateo.

Resident Donna Bischoff said there is no way the massive project can do anything but worsen the traffic situation already plaguing the area, however.

Yunmi Choi can be reached by e-mail at yunmi@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 109. What do you think of this story? Send a letter to the editor: letters@smdailyjournal.com.