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Greenbelt Alliance In the News

November 10, 2005

Don't sign away Bay Meadows project

PETITION DRIVE COULD THWART YEARS OF EFFORT

Unfortunately, a small group of naysayers who don't want to see the racetrack go -- even though it is long past its zenith -- are circulating a petition to stop the development of this new community. Signing the petition will only result in unnecessary and expensive delay to both the city and the approximately 1,250 families who will eventually move into San Mateo's newest community.

We do not support placing the agreement that took five years of careful negotiations between the developer, the city and the public on the ballot.

As non-profit community organizations, we wholeheartedly support the city council's approval of the development agreement with the Bay Meadows Land Company. While we often find ourselves at odds with for-profit developers, in this case we believe that the development of new housing, shops, 15 acres of new parks, all adjacent to a Caltrain Baby Bullet stop, the Hillsdale Shopping Center, and along the county's main transit corridor -- El Camino Real -- is most wise.

Residents must know that study of the Rail Corridor Plan, of which Bay Meadows is an essential element, began in 1998. The city negotiated with Bay Meadows Land Company to get the development it sought -- not the proposal the developer wanted.

While there is some concern with the 1.25 million square feet of office space, we understand that it was a necessary part of the proposal in order for the project to be financially viable. Residents should take comfort in the two independent financial audits showing that the project will be a net tax gain to the city -- most important to note because of Proposition 13 restraints on residential projects.

Many residents are concerned the development may bring additional traffic to the area. However, the two new underpasses of Caltrain at 28th and 31st avenues will be paid for by the developer through traffic mitigation fees, saving San Mateo tens of millions of dollars. These underpasses will greatly increase the east-west circulation within the city.

The city negotiated an unprecedented Transportation Demand Management program that will encourage non-motorist trips for the new residents and commuters. Equally important is the design, density, diversity and location of the new community, which will encourage more walking and transit use than if it were located adjacent to the freeway or the bay, or in the hills.

Most important, these new homes bring the opportunity for San Mateans to continue to reside in our beautiful city. The median single-family home price in San Mateo is now an incredible $840,000; for condominiums and townhomes it is $500,000. Clearly, there is more demand than supply, and we welcome the market attempting to fill this need. However, the market may not provide homes that are affordable to those making less than the median income of $80,656, which is why we voted overwhelming for Measure P last November.

Ten percent of the new homes will be below market rate and affordable to households making as low as $64,000. In addition, the city negotiated a plan with the developer to donate an acre of land so that 63 homes will be affordable to seniors on fixed incomes. Bay Meadows phase II goes beyond the affordability requirements of Measure P.

The Sierra Club, the Housing Leadership Council of San Mateo County, the Greenbelt Alliance and the League of Women Voters of Central San Mateo believe that the agreement reached Nov. 7 by the city of San Mateo deserves your support. Please join us. Don't sign away the future of San Mateo.

RAFAEL REYES is the Bay Meadows task force leader for the Sierra Club Loma Prieta chapter. MOIRA BIRSS is program organizer for the Housing Leadership Council of San Mateo County. They wrote this article for the Mercury News.

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