Burlingame considering 12 acres

Burlingame is in negotiations with the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission to purchase about 12 acres of land along California Drive stretching from Burlingame Avenue to Broadway.

The property has minimal development opportunity, City Manager Jim Nantell said Friday. The city's strapped financial situation may also make the purchase difficult, he said.

"We have to find out from the council if there is interest in the property. We are not in the best situation to buy the land," Nantell said.

The SFPUC approached Burlingame with the proposal, Nantell said, and part of the land is taken up by California Drive. Eucalyptus trees dot the property next to land Caltrain owns around the train tracks.

Caltrain has plans to make about $7 million in upgrades to the Burlingame and Broadway stations and may take back land it currently leases to an auto dealer.

Mike Harvey leases space from Caltrain to store cars and the auto dealer is miffed the transit agency didn't contact him about proposals to upgrade the two train stations that may include taking back land he uses.

Mike Harvey Acura and Honda sells about $100 million in cars a year which puts over $1 million into Burlingame's budget.

If Burlingame buys the land, which contains more than 100 spaces of parking, from the SFPUC it could lease the land to Harvey. The council will meet in closed session Monday to discuss the deal.