Some five years after plans to build an apartment building just north of San Mateo’s Central Park were first submitted, a developer hoping to play a role in connecting downtown San Mateo with the park can focus on making it a reality after the Planning Commission’s unanimous approval Tuesday.
Several commissioners and residents commended the design and boost in the city’s housing stock to be ushered in by a five-story, 80-unit apartment building planned for a 1.2-acre lot lining East Fifth Avenue and west of San Mateo Drive at the Planning Commission’s Tuesday meeting. Slated to replace a surface parking lot and ramp to an adjacent parking garage, the project to build 74 market-rate and six affordable apartments as well as some 7,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space will also include a public paseo cutting through the building and connecting the park with adjacent commercial spaces lining Fourth Avenue.
Commissioner John Ebneter voiced support for the project, noting its aesthetic fit within the neighborhood and proximity to downtown shopping and recreational opportunities across East Fifth Avenue in Central Park.
“It just seems like the perfect project in the perfect spot,” he said, according to a video of the Aug. 28 meeting. “You’ve got everything around you that you need access to.”
An artist’s rendering of a proposed mixed-use housing proposal on Fifth Avenue in downtown San Mateo.
Scaled down from an eight-story development with 117 units proposed in 2014, the plans were revised to address community input urging the developer, Essex Property Trust, to reduce the density of the building, include enough parking for residents and downtown visitors and include more retail space at the project site, said Rachael Stoddard, development manager with Essex Property Trust at the commission’s Aug. 14 meeting. Because the Aug. 14 meeting lasted past 11 p.m., the commission opted to continue its discussion to the Aug. 28 hearing.
By reducing the building height to five stories, including 236 parking spaces on the site and increasing the retail space provided on the project’s ground-floor by 4,000 square feet, the developer sought to address those concerns, said Stoddard.
Though several spoke in favor of the project, concerns about how it will affect traffic on East Fifth Avenue and nearby intersections lingered for Central neighborhood resident Laurie Watanuki.
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She wondered how traffic generated by the project would affect pedestrian and bicycle routes residents use to access Central Park, noting lighting and pedestrian safety are among issues the developer considers in designing the building’s vehicular entrances and exits onto El Camino Real and San Mateo Drive.
“Our concerns are that Fifth Avenue may become the preferred route for vehicles and delivery trucks to Essex,” she said.
Having reviewed an earlier version of the plans, Commissioner Dianne Whitaker commended the developer for the changes made since the plans were last discussed by the commission. But she also expressed concerns about using the alley behind the proposed building for two-way traffic and the challenges truck drivers might face turning into the loading zone behind the structure.
For San Mateo resident Evan Adams, the project marked a step in the right direction in providing housing for families and individuals close to downtown where they can walk to restaurants and recreational opportunities. Acknowledging the high demand for housing in the area, Adams expressed disappointment the project had been reduced in size.
“If you look downtown, there’s not a lot of access to housing,” he said. “I wish it was taller, I wish you could put more people in there.”
Great deal for the developers and their partners the SM downtown business association ...selling views of Central Park...and commercializing it at the same time.
So for all the YIMBY's out there, how many affordable units did they say?......six with 74 Market rate right?...that will fix the problem.
Get ready for having your Starbucks on Fourth in the shade of the Essex at Central Park.
Sure wish Hexagon's numbers could be checked independently...80 units - 134 parking spots (retail plus visitors)...but no impact caused by the Essex's entrance alley on S. San Mateo Dr. bet. 4th and 5th....??
And so Tom, there are a lot of vacancies on the Peninsula right now, single family homes and apts... but it's the affordability that is the problem, right Tom?
And if you take the time to check the actual shading studies done for the Essex at Central Park project...you will see, during the winter months in particular on 4th Ave. and directly adjoining north of the project, many businesses and 4th Ave. itself ,will be covered in shadow.... Merry Christmas.
To be honest I hate the design. It's the same "cookie cutter" boring, modern, boxy architecture that is being built all up and down the Peninsula. Can anyone think outside the "box" and/or has any imagination these days?? Also, where are all those cars in that parking lot supposed to park now??
@Vincent, you said there were "lots" of vacancies up and down the Peninsula right now, please cite your vacancy data source(s). Like me, I'm sure many others would be interested to review detailed vacancy rates by location and housing type, age, etc.
That building project is an eye sore, when you have the park a block across from that building, it doesn't look right. The traffic is going to get worse with too many units in downtown. We care about the quality of life in our town, we need more open space and less ugly buildings ruining the essence of downtown.
This housing project is in the wrong place, it doesn't fit well with being close to Central Park. The parking and traffic is going to be an issue and make it worse. Downtown SM needs better traffic, not more high density housing projects.
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(8) comments
Great deal for the developers and their partners the SM downtown business association ...selling views of Central Park...and commercializing it at the same time.
So for all the YIMBY's out there, how many affordable units did they say?......six with 74 Market rate right?...that will fix the problem.
Get ready for having your Starbucks on Fourth in the shade of the Essex at Central Park.
Sure wish Hexagon's numbers could be checked independently...80 units - 134 parking spots (retail plus visitors)...but no impact caused by the Essex's entrance alley on S. San Mateo Dr. bet. 4th and 5th....??
Vincent: All housing is affordable to someone. Otherwise it would be vacant. And how much shade is a 5 story building going to cast?
And so Tom, there are a lot of vacancies on the Peninsula right now, single family homes and apts... but it's the affordability that is the problem, right Tom?
And if you take the time to check the actual shading studies done for the Essex at Central Park project...you will see, during the winter months in particular on 4th Ave. and directly adjoining north of the project, many businesses and 4th Ave. itself ,will be covered in shadow.... Merry Christmas.
Vincent: Draper University (formerly Benjamin Franklin) is a lot taller. Should that be torn down because it casts too much shade?
To be honest I hate the design. It's the same "cookie cutter" boring, modern, boxy architecture that is being built all up and down the Peninsula. Can anyone think outside the "box" and/or has any imagination these days?? Also, where are all those cars in that parking lot supposed to park now??
@Vincent, you said there were "lots" of vacancies up and down the Peninsula right now, please cite your vacancy data source(s). Like me, I'm sure many others would be interested to review detailed vacancy rates by location and housing type, age, etc.
That building project is an eye sore, when you have the park a block across from that building, it doesn't look right. The traffic is going to get worse with too many units in downtown. We care about the quality of life in our town, we need more open space and less ugly buildings ruining the essence of downtown.
This housing project is in the wrong place, it doesn't fit well with being close to Central Park. The parking and traffic is going to be an issue and make it worse. Downtown SM needs better traffic, not more high density housing projects.
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Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
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Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.