San Mateo Planning Commission approves 181‑unit North San Mateo Drive housing project amid neighborhood parking concerns

The San Mateo Planning Commission on March 20 approved a staff‑recommended permit package to build a six‑story, 181‑unit multifamily building at 715 North San Mateo Drive, with the project including 19 units set aside for very‑low‑income households and provision of 180 parking spaces. The commission voted 4‑0 to find the project exempt from CEQA and to approve site plan and architectural review, a site development permit and a vesting tentative map.

The staff presentation, led by consulting planner Greg Powell, described the project as roughly 258,000 square feet with a mix of studio through three‑bedroom units and a variety of resident amenities including a pool and fitness room. Powell said the proposal relies on state density‑bonus provisions and waiver requests to exceed some local standards and that the project is subject to recent state laws—including the Housing Accountability Act, SB 330 and AB 130—that limit local discretion and, in Powell’s view, make the project…