Op-Ed To Thwart Referendum Of Racetrack Conversion to TOD

The City of San Mateo, CA, unanimously approves the conversion of a functioning, 1930's era, 83-acre racetrack into a mixed-use TOD. Opponents petition to put the proposal on the ballot.

1 minute read

November 12, 2005, 11:00 AM PST

By Irvin Dawid


"After more than five years of public scrutiny of the Bay Meadows redevelopment proposal, including almost 100 public meetings before the Citizens' Advisory Committee, the Planning Commission and the San Mateo City Council, Bay Meadows II received its final, official blessing on Monday. The Sierra Club, the Greenbelt Alliance, the League of Women Voters of Central San Mateo and the Housing Leadership Council of San Mateo look forward to the transformation of the aging race track with its vast, barren parking lots into a vibrant, new residential community.

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."

Thanks to Sustainable Land Use committee listserv, Sierra Club

Thursday, November 10, 2005 in San Jose Mercury News

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