Project Description

Waters Technology Office Park is an 11.1-acre property off Norfolk St. previously occupied by an approximately 100,000-square-foot office business park. The redevelopment required the demolition of all existing offices to be replaced with 190 for-sale residences, including a mix of two-story detached single-family residences, as well as three (3) and four (4) story attached townhomes and flats. The project also proposes a new publicly accessible, privately-owned trail along Borel Creek and private open space.

The project required the following entitlements:  

• Site Plan and Architectural Review (SPAR) for the construction of 190 dwelling units.
• Planning Application Modification for exterior changes.
• Planned Development Special Use Permit to permit setback reductions and minimum lot size reductions for the single-family residences.
• Vesting Tentative Subdivision Map to create individual single-family home lots (28) and 162 condominium units and associated common space.
• Site Development Planning Application for the removal of major vegetation (trees).
• General Plan Land Use Designation Amendment from Executive Office to Medium Density Multi-Family; and Appendix C, Building Height, Amendment to allow an increase in height from 35 feet to 45 feet.
• Zoning Reclassification from E1- Executive Park to R3 - Multiple Family Dwellings, Medium Density to allow residential as a permitted use.

Project Update

During the Planning Commission meeting of January 23, 2019, the Commission recommended approval of the project (PA 2018-013) to the City Council by a 3-0 vote. The City Council approved the project on February 19, 2019 and the zoning reclassification on March 18, 2019.

On September 1, 2020, the applicant submitted an application (PA 2020-043) for a Planning Application Modification to allow exterior changes to the building height, materials, color, windows, and doors, as well as the removal of a townhome unit and addition of a detached residence due to the relocation of the trash enclosure. On October 27, 2020, the Planning Commission voted to approve the project. The decision was appealed to the City Council, who approved the project on January 19, 2021. 

The City of San Mateo has prepared an Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration, which identifies and discusses potential environmental impacts on the projects and proposed mitigation measures to be incorporated in the project to eliminate any potentially significant impacts.

Hard copies of the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration are available at the Planning Division – Public Service Counter at San Mateo City Hall (330 West 20th Ave.) and at the City’s Main Library (55 West 3rd Ave, Reference Desk).

Related Documents

• Applicant Response to Comments to the Planning Commission – January 14, 2019
• Project Plans: (Current) – March 9, 2018
• Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration
• Appendix A:  i.  Air Quality Technical Report
• Appendix A:  ii.  Supplemental Air Quality Technical Report - Construction Analysis
• Appendix B:  i.  Tree Inventory and Assessment
• Appendix B:  ii.  Biological Resources Reconnaissance Report
• Appendix C:  Design Level Geotechnical Exploration
• Appendix D:  Greenhouse Gas Assessment  
• Appendix E:   i.  Asbestos Operations & Maintenance Plan
• Appendix E:   ii.  Phase I Environmental Site Assessment
• Appendix E:   iii.  Phase II Environmental Site Assessment
• Appendix F:   i.  Environmental Noise Study
• Appendix F:   ii.  Construction Noise Analysis
• Appendix G:  Transportation Impact Analysis     

Meetings

• City Council (Public Hearing): Video – January 19, 2021
• Planning Commission (Public Hearing): Video – October 27, 2020
• City Council (Public Hearing): Video – March 18, 2019
• City Council (Public Hearing): Video – February 19, 2019
• Planning Commission (Public Hearing): Video  – January 23, 2019  
• Planning Commission (Public Hearing): Video  – January 8, 2019  (Cont. to Jan 23, 2019)
• Planning Commission (Study Session): Video  – May 22, 2018
• Planning Commission (Study Session): Video  – December 11, 2017
• Neighborhood Meeting: Summary – November 9, 2017

Applicant Information

Aaron Head
Pulte Group
(925) 250-7608
Aaron.Head@PulteGroup.com

City Contact Information

Wendy Lao, AICP
Associate Planner
(650) 522-7219
wlao@cityofsanmateo.org