Protect San Mateo’s history

The City Council will vote on the revised ordinance May 4. Although staff describe it as an update, the revisions weaken long-standing protections for our city’s many historic buildings. Strong safeguards — such as design review and limits on demolition — would now apply only to the downtown historic district and three already-designated properties. The roughly 200 historic resources identified in the city’s own 1989 Historic Building Survey would receive less protection than they have had for decades.

This approach also conflicts with our recently adopted 2040 General Plan, which calls for actively preserving San Mateo’s historic resources and specifically recognizes the resources identified in the 1989 survey.

Compounding the problem are new state laws Assembly Bill 130 and Senate Bill 79. The laws make it much easier to build denser and taller housing near Caltrain, including inside the downtown historic district.

The draft prioritizes owner consent and development flexibility over preservation. Council should direct staff to incorporate the 1989 survey into the official inventory, extend review to all eligible resources, relax consent barriers for basic protections, and complete proper CEQA review.

San Mateo’s history is one of our greatest assets. Please contact your councilmembers and ask them to preserve — not reduce — San Mateo’s historic heritage.

Laurie Hietter

San Mateo

The letter writer wrote this on behalf of the San Mateo Heritage Alliance.