New San Mateo development feels pressure on tree preservation

While residents provided common feedback around potential parking and traffic impacts, some were particularly focused on the destruction of over 30 trees, seven of which are considered protected.  

“When I heard there were going to be 32 trees that were going to be taken out, and seven of them heritage trees, it kind of took my breath away. … These trees take a very long time to grow,” San Mateo resident Michelle Maccarra said, in reference to the oak trees on the site. “They actually don’t produce acorns until they’re 20 years or older, and I’m wondering, since a lot of the trees that are heritage trees are on the perimeter of the site, why they can’t be saved?” 

Stephen Siri, The Martin Group co-managing principal, maintained they worked closely with the project’s arborist to preserve as many trees as possible, but certain building requirements precluded the team from keeping all of them. 

“Unfortunately, we are not able to save all of the trees due to limiting factors such as tree health and tree locations that conflict with the future building envelope, site circulation requirements, and off-site improvements,” he said in an emailed statement. “We intend to preserve seven existing trees and provide new trees within city sidewalks and project. We will continue working collaboratively with the project’s certified arborist and city to refine our plan wherever feasibly possible.”

The 1.6-acre site, currently home to a one-story office building built in the 1980s and set for demolition, will eventually comprise a Spanish revival-style building with offices on the first two floors and 120 rental units in the third to fifth stories. Forty of those are considered additional units allowed by the state’s density bonus law, which allows developers to override some local jurisdictions’ zoning limits provided they offer a certain amount of affordable housing.   

The development will include a mix of studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments, with 12 units of affordable housing at the very low-income category. 

Comments in previous meetings also noted the lack of three-bedroom apartments, which some residents, including Councilmember Rich Hedges, noted would be particularly helpful for low-income families. But to adhere to the 120-unit cap, adding three-bedroom units would mean scaling down the size of one- and two-bedroom units, Siri said. 

The Planning Commission voted unanimously on several approvals, including a special use permit and architectural review and site development planning application.