On track for housing

San Mateo is in the beginning stages of developing an area plan for land near the Hillsdale Caltrain station that will one day lead to the demolition of many buildings along El Camino Real in favor of high-density transit-oriented housing.

The city has hired a consulting firm to help it decide the potential for new housing developments and other uses between 25th and 36th avenues and to Flores Street just west of the Hillsdale Shopping Center.

Eventually, the Caltrain station at Hillsdale will be moved north and the city hopes to link new developments such as Bay Meadows Phase II and Station Park Green to the east of the train tracks to El Camino Real.

The Hillsdale Station Area Plan consists of 151 acres and includes the 25th Avenue business district, although the city's consultants do not anticipate much changes to the district other than minor streetscape improvements.

Most opportunities for development will be on El Camino Real north of the Hillsdale Shopping Center and train station, said David Early, founder of Design, Community & Environment, the city's consultant for the project.

The city held its first community workshop to discuss the future vision for the area last night. It was attended by about 20 people including Councilman Brandt Grotte, former councilman Fred Hansson, some public works commissioners and representatives from nonprofit housing providers.

The area north of the train station is heavy with auto-oriented commercial businesses and has the most potential for change, Early said. Some of the parcels along the corridor are small, Early said, and the potential exists to combine the parcels to build larger projects.

Early noted a current project currently under construction that fits into the city's TOD vision called Peninsula Station on the 2900 block of El Camino Real.

Peninsula Station is a 68-unit affordable housing complex on about an acre of land that will have approximately 3,000 square feet of commercial space being built by the Mid-Peninsula Housing Coalition.

The consulting group is also taking into consideration San Mateo's desire to build more TOD with a regional vision for El Camino Real called the Grand Boulevard.

Design, Community & Environment's Bruce Brubaker noted the sidewalks along El Camino Real in the area plan are narrow and that traffic moves at curb level.

To create a more pedestrian-friendly environment, the sidewalks would likely need to be widened and better separated from traffic, Brubaker said.

El Camino Real is "too challenging for pedestrians," Brubaker said.

Incremental improvements are being proposed for the sidewalks, Brubaker said.

The consultants have also determined a new demand for office space is not likely for the area since vacancy rates are high in the city now.

Last night's workshop allowed attendees to weigh in on urban design, possible gateways along El Camino Real toward new developments to the east of the train tracks and any potential for streetscape improvements.

The city was awarded a Station Area and FOCUS Planning Grant from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission in partnership with the Association of Bay Area Governments to prepare the plan. Adoption of the plan is anticipated in early 2011.