Safeway out of planning stage

Approval of the plan came with the additional details suggested by the Planning Commission and public last month. The commission liked the idea of a grocery store with rooftop parking adjacent to a two-story office building but wanted the blueprint tweaked to increase pedestrian safety and add greenery.

The trees now total 75, mostly drought-resistant and including seven olive trees in planters on the rooftop parking area. Other changes include a plaque on the base of a fountain on the corner of Howard Avenue and El Camino denoting the location of the historic DeAnza camp.

The plaque and fountain gave some pause. Both resident Jennifer Pfaff and Commissioner Sandra Yie agreed the corner looked a little like an office park while Russ Cohen expressed disappointment.

"I’m hoping we can do a little bit more than that, more than just a plaque,” Cohen said.

Replacement of the fountain with a boulder was one idea suggested by Safeway representatives, supported by Commissioner Tim Auran and placed on a list of items slated for return to the commission as "FYI items.”

Other items suggested by Commissioner Richard Terrones include pedestrian paving, having no pedestrian walkway near the loading dock, pedestrian lighting, trash enclosures, accent lighting of the aforementioned fountain, cart storage and sprucing up the back of the building.

A number of speakers and commissioners agreed the back was a prime spot for artwork such as a mosaic or mural.

Overall, Safeway’s proposal is 45,645 square feet with a 6,190-square-foot mezzanine sitting at 1420 to 1450 Howard Ave. The mixed-use building at the opposite corner will have 12,428 square feet of retail on the ground floor and 5,460 square feet of retail above. The existing 6,554-square-foot Wells Fargo building will be refurbished. Pedestrian walkways will connect the site to the rest of downtown.

The Planning Commission’s consideration included approval of the mitigated negative declaration and conditional use permits for its height, 24-hour operation, the sale of alcoholic beverages and take-out services.

The commission also signed off on rezoning the area.

The plan now heads to the City Council for final approval. If all goes smoothly, the city of Burlingame could see the completion of a project more than a dozen years in the works.

Safeway first submitted plans to rebuild in 1997. At the time, residents and merchants voiced concerns claiming the design was not pedestrian friendly. A reworked plan — including a 50,000-square-foot grocery store, 12,000-square-foot Walgreens and three to four shops to be on the corner of Howard Avenue and Primrose — debuted the following year only to be met with a petition against the proposal boasting over 900 signatures. Community meetings led to no resolution and Safeway eventually pulled the plans.

The back and forth resulted in a new plan for a 66,900-square-foot combined Walgreens and Safeway in 2001 but it was rejected by the City Council in 2004. In 2007, Burlingame created the Safeway working group charged with creating design criteria for a new store tailored to the city.

The current Safeway plan can be under construction as soon as a week within receiving building permits, said Safeway Real Estate Manager Deb Karbo who forecast a January 2011 completion date.

Michelle Durand can be reached by e-mail: michelle@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 102.