San Bruno B.A.R.T.

  Seven years in the making, the plans for the first major chunk of the Bay Meadows Phase II development will have to go through at least one more vetting before the San Mateo Planning Commission feels comfortable voting on them.

  Tuesday night was to have been the final review before a public hearing tentatively scheduled for April 8 to determine the fate of the project's commercial heart, along Delaware Street. But as of press time, the commission was leaning toward clearing other items off its March 25 agenda in order to squeeze in one more study session.

  The idea came after Planning Commissioner Kelly Moran made an impassioned stand, arguing that over the course of five workshops and many months, she was never presented with plans that give a good feel for the new neighborhood's layout. Parking, train station designs, landscaping, bike paths and neighborhood safety are among the concerns she still harbors.

  That could have posed a setback for San Mateo's largest planned development, which has been in the works since Bay Meadows Land Co. announced plans to replace the racetrack with housing, offices and shops in 2001. Developers are hoping to raze the 74-year-old track after its last race on May 11 and break ground as soon as September 2008.

  But the compromise proposed by developer Chris Meany - a special study session on March 25 - could keep the project on target for possible approval as early as April 8.

  "It's great to say we just need a little more time, but there are consequences for the development," Meany told the planning commission.

  Though a final decision had not been reached as of press time, Planning Chief Ron Munekawa told the commission he thought it would be possible to delay other planning commission business in order to accommodate the extra March session.

  Meanwhile, the majority of the commission appeared pleased with the look of the project, which will bring up to 1,200 residential units, 750,000 square feet of offices and 100,000 square feet of stores and restaurants to southeastern San Mateo.

  Commissioners were particularly blown away by the architecture on a giant parking garage near Delaware Street and 28th Avenue, a dramatic white structure that would feature punched-metal screening reminiscent of San Francisco's De Young Museum. They also heaped praise on plans for a major office building along the Caltrain tracks, whose curved design is centered on an oval that would overlook one of the neighborhood's most visible corners.

  One audience member, Frank Peimani, argued the modern-looking buildings just resembled "boxes and boxes."

  "From what I can see, it's a very depressing design," Peimani said, in a sentiment echoed by Planning Commissioner Chris Massey.

  Fellow Commissioner Torin Knorr strongly disagreed, saying, "We're not building in the '50s anymore. This is for the next generation and the generation after that." He said the plans looked "world-class" to him.

  Linda Schinkel, leader of the Friends of Bay Meadows group that has tried to save the racetrack, cautioned that the project might not be the "transit-oriented" development envisioned if Caltrain can't find funding to move the Hillsdale station.

  There are also questions about funding for underpasses that would connect Bay Meadows' streets to the surrounding area.

E-mail Will Oremus at woremus@dailynewsgroup.com.