Track vote stumbles

Friends of Bay Meadows, the preservationist group that circulated the petition, isn’t ready to admit defeat.

"It’s a very good bet that we’ll be challenging the recall cards in court,” said Linda Schinkel, founder of Friends of Bay Meadows.

Bay Meadows spokesman Adam Alberti said race track officials are "relieved by the return.” The future of Bay Meadows from this point on will depend on the development deal and timeline approved by the City Council last month, Alberti said.

Residents still have about a year to voice their opinions while the Planning Commission reviews specific designs for the mixed-use development.

Councilwoman Carole Groom hopes those involved with the referendum petition remain involved with the planning process.

"I believe deeply in democracy and I believe all steps in the democratic process were taken,” Groom said. "I do hope this means we can move forward.”

The City Council took much criticism from residents who felt the Bay Meadows planning process was hindered by a pro-development council. Opponents of the project complain the council appointed residents with the same views to a citizens’ advisory committee that met for five years to help develop the project. Groom served on the advisory committee, which met up to twice a month for three to four hours a meeting. Every meeting was open to the public.

The Public Works Commission and Parks and Recreation Commission reviewed the project before the Planning Commission spent nearly a year fine tuning the project. It recommended the project to the City Council this summer. The council unanimously approved it on Nov. 7. The council also hired a third party attorney to review the development agreement, an independent financial report to analyze the project’s fiscal benefits and requested a renowned horse racing expert to explain why race tracks are dying.

"We did what the public asked us to,” Groom said. "When you look at the changes, it’s clear they were heard. This project today is nothing like it was when we began.”

Friends of Bay Meadows began circulating the referendum petition on Nov. 8, just one day after the San Mateo City Council unanimously approved the plan. About 85 volunteers helped collect the 5,708 signatures in less than 30 days. On Dec. 7, 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.

On Dec. 15, the city announced the defects were not significant enough to delay the count. The County Elections Office began verifying every signature Dec. 19 and finished the count Tuesday night.

San Mateo will uphold the Nov. 7 decision of the City Council to allow Bay Meadows to be demolished and redeveloped. It will take no further action on the petition, according to Wednesday’s statement by Gomez.

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.

The proposed project is twice the size of Bay Meadows Phase I which was completed in 2000.

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.<