Track petition signatures verified

All of the petition’s 5,696 signatures were checked by the San Mateo County Elections Office, which will deliver the petition and the results to the city clerk’s office this morning.

As of last night, county election officials were "still putting together the final numbers,” Elections Manager David Tom said.

At least 4,661 must belong to San Mateo registered voters for the petition to qualify as a referendum for the June ballot.

Friends of Bay Meadows, a preservationist group, began circulating the referendum petition on Nov. 8, just a day after the San Mateo City Council unanimously approved the plan. In 30 days, the group gathered 5,696 signatures with the help of about 85 volunteers.

The Bay Meadows Land Company plans to replace the aging 83.5-acre 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. It is touted as a transit-oriented development, but opponents believe it will create traffic problems and destroy a 75-year-old San Mateo landmark. 

Friends of Bay Meadows delivered the petition to Gomez on Dec. 7. The next day, Gomez and City Attorney Shawn Mason noticed "defects” while reviewing the petition. The city hired an independent attorney to determine whether they were significant enough to nullify the petition.

The city announced the defects were not significant enough to delay the vote on Dec. 15. The County Elections Office began verifying every vote on Dec. 19.

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.