To meet current and future housing needs, State law requires that our city plan for about 7,000 new housing units by 2031. The State is also anticipated to require us to plan for approximately 15,000 new units by 2040. 

To address this housing shortfall, City Council placed a measure on the November 2024 ballot to allow for additional housing for all income levels including, low- and middle-income residents and to allow us to meet State housing requirements. 

After six years of work by our staff and input by more than 6,000 residents and stakeholders, the City Council recently adopted San Mateo’s General Plan 2040. The plan lays out the community’s vision for how our city will look, feel, and change over the coming years through 2040. The heights and densities in the adopted General Plan 2040 exceed current limits approved by the voters under Measure Y (2020). Under state law, the voters must approve any changes to these limits. Therefore, City Council placed a measure on the November 2024 ballot for voters to consider amending these limits, which will help meet state requirements for our Housing Element. If the measure is approved by the voters, it would allow full buildout of the General Plan, which primarily focuses growth in ten study areas: Downtown; near Caltrain stations; and along El Camino Real. Learn more about the General Plan.

Without the measure, we would need to increase density citywide, in all residential neighborhoods, to meet the State’s housing requirements. 

By concentrating new housing in and around Downtown San Mateo, the measure would allow existing residential neighborhoods to stay low-density while creating a more vibrant downtown by placing higher density within walking distance of transit. This will support a greater diversity of businesses and employers and generate more customers to support local businesses. 

Additional housing from the measure would not only meet State mandates and preserve local control but would also improve the business climate downtown and support local businesses and business districts around our city. Independent studies show that this plan would generate millions of additional dollars each year for essential city services. By locating new housing closer to transit, jobs and services, we would also reduce vehicle trips, traffic, and greenhouse gas emissions while increasing transit use.

No, this measure is not a new tax. It will not increase taxes for residents.

The measure will appear on the November 5, 2024 ballot for voters to consider. 

As we continue to explore options for meeting State-mandated housing requirements, we want to hear from you! If you have questions or input that you would like to share, please contact communitydevelopment@cityofsanmateo.org.

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