Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Gateway Project topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning commission recommends City Council approve 8‑story Gateway housing project at 668 East 3rd Avenue
Summary
The San Mateo Planning Commission voted 4–0 to recommend City Council approve Prometheus’s Gateway Project, an 8‑story, 128‑unit building that includes 20 deed‑restricted affordable units and requests waivers to local height and design standards; the project claims CEQA exemption under AB 130.
San Mateo planning commissioners on Feb. 10 recommended that the City Council approve an eight‑story multifamily project at 668 East 3rd Avenue, a development the city staff said would provide 128 units including 20 deed‑restricted affordable homes.
City associate planner Liz Galliardi summarized staff’s recommendation and said the proposal includes 73 covered parking stalls, one level of below‑grade parking plus internal garage space, and a mix of studios through three‑bedroom units. "This project is for a proposed 8 story multifamily residential building located at 668 East 3rd Avenue, also referred to as the Gateway Project," she told the commission. Staff recommended the council adopt a resolution approving the project with three modified conditions addressing curb and gutter reconstruction, clearer traffic‑infrastructure language, and deferring the photometric plan to the building permit stage.
The applicant, Prometheus, presented design details and rationale. Architect Alan Jones described a Mediterranean/Spanish revival expression that includes townhome‑style units along 3rd Avenue and stepped massing to break the façade. Jonathan Stone of Prometheus said the firm increased parking from an early proposal of roughly 45 spaces to 73 spaces to address neighborhood concerns and described the 0.64 parking‑space‑per‑unit ratio as “comfortable” given proximity to transit.
Public commenters offered mixed views. Lori Watanuki asked the city to require a cumulative traffic study that includes other downtown projects, saying multiple developments could create congestion. David Light and another resident urged the project team to fund traffic calming such as speed humps and pedestrian‑grade lighting; a remote commenter questioned whether the downtown commercial uses being replaced are better for the neighborhood.
Commissioners discussed design details, waivers and parking. Commissioners praised the materials and street‑level treatment while noting the project requests waivers from the gateway subarea’s stepback and setback standards. Commissioners asked staff and the applicant about construction type and window recesses to ensure the building will provide the intended depth and shadowing. Several commissioners agreed flexibility in selecting entry tile and other minor design elements should be allowed at the staff‑review level.
A motion to recommend City Council approve the project with the staff‑recommended modifications and added flexibility for tile selection passed on a 4–0 vote; Commissioner Shankal had recused from the item after disclosing prior attendance and a stated position at an informational meeting. The planning commission closed the item and referred the resolution to the council for final action.
If City Council takes up the item, any subsequent approvals would be subject to the conditions adopted in the council resolution and to the city’s standard building‑permit review processes.
