The Loma Prietan - November/December 2009

With strong planning, San Mateo could shape a proposed infill development into a vibrant new walkable community. Proposed project plans would provide residents with transportation options and access to open space and neighborhood amenities.

This proposed Transit-Oriented Development (TOD), Station Park Green, is located at the Hayward Park Caltrain Station. The site is located on the east side of the tracks, just north of Highway 92. The proposal includes 10,000 square feet of office space, more than 60,000 square feet of retail, and 599 housing units in four- or five-story buildings. The project is expected to add about 1,000 residents.

The site lies within the Peninsula Rail Corridor and is currently home to K-Mart, a Michael's craft store, a gas station, and several large, underutilized parking lots. The neighborhood lacks access to neighborhood amenities, has a shortage of open space and already suffers poor air quality due to proximity to freeways.

In a September 13th letter to the San Mateo Planning Commission, the Chapter encouraged the city to optimize this opportunity to create a truly successful TOD through several suggested measures:

• Density Minimums: The proposed plan calls for a maximum project density of 50 units per acre. We recommended also establishing a minimum of no less than 42 units per acre.

• Walkability: We urged priority for pedestrian access. Particular areas for focus include sidewalk width, dedicated walkways, passageways every fifty feet, links to neighborhood services, trees, and walkable connections to children's destinations such as playgrounds, schools, and the cinema.

• Open Space: We suggested creating two acres of public open space for the neighborhood as well as private usable open space for residents within each apartment block. The aim should be to meet San Mateo's goal of three to five acres of open space per 1000 residents.

• Bike Paths: The existing gap in the Delaware bike path should be completed along the Delaware street frontage, and, east of the tracks, the bike / pedestrian path should connect Hayward Park Station to San Mateo Caltrain Station.

• A functioning train station: Hayward Park presently does not have the ridership to function as a bullet stop. It is suggested that measures be enacted to increase the walking and bicycling use of the station, for example by clustering neighborhood retail at the train station.

• Measures to reduce driving: The project includes "transit demand" measures that would provide residents transportation options and encourage telecommuting. Measures that reduce auto use, such as charging for apartment parking spaces and car and bike share programs should be included. Further incentives to reduce driving could be to provide a daycare center, homework club, and telecommuter-share office space.

• Water Efficiency: The plan should incorporate more advanced water efficiency and cleaning measures.

• Enforcement: The Chapter suggested strong enforcement measures, so that future owners cannot degrade the project from the city's present standard.

Details about Station Park Green can be found in the Planning section on the City of San Mateo's Web site.

Gita Dev is an architect and member of the Sustainable Land Use Committee.

Gladwyn d'Souza is chair of the Chapter's Transportation Committee and lives in Belmont, two blocks from the Caltrain station.