San Mateo’s upcoming parking debacle

It presumes lots of people will be using public transportation, which is wishful thinking at best. It prohibits local government from mandating minimum parking requirements if it impacts state-mandated city housing quotas.

San Mateo has more than 15 large development proposals. Larger developments include Hillsdale Shopping Center with 1,670 housing units, Concar Passage (along Delaware Street) with 850 housing units.

And Mollie Stone’s removal with the potential for many units. These and others will be within a half mile from major transit stops.

One example of what’s to come is a smaller development of six stories, 181 units, on North San Mateo Drive, recently and easily approved by the Planning Commission. However, parking would only include 180 spaces allowing one car parking per unit. And what about visitor parking?

The debacle: The number of households with two or more cars has increased substantially from 22% in 1960 to 60% in 2023. The average number of cars per California household is 2.3. So, with all these developments, the developers will not be allowing enough resident parking spaces, meaning more profit for them. That means spillover parking and traffic into your neighborhood if you live a half mile from a major transit stop.

If this upsets you and the quality of your life, contact the San Mateo City Council, and state legislators Diane Papan and Josh Becker, and let them know how you feel.

Gary Isoardi

San Mateo