South City sets sites on future
By: Andrea Koskey
Examiner Staff Writer
June 11, 2009
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| New neighborhood: The mayor of South San Francisco says a 1.2-mile stretch of El Camino Real that’s sparsely developed would be “perfect” for a “walkable community.” (Juan Carlos Pometta Betancourt/Special to The Examiner) |
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO — The city could be putting the freeze on construction projects.
South City is considering a 45-day moratorium on development along El Camino Real between Westborough Boulevard and Noor Avenue, so officials can design a plan to make the corridor more inviting and pedestrian-friendly.
“This corridor is the perfect place a new project or a new walkable community could exist,” Mayor Karyl Matsumoto said. “We just need to stop development for a while to get it together.”
The 1.2-mile stretch of El Camino Real is sparsely developed, with strip malls, fast-food restaurants and open space.
South San Francisco native Kym Tambini has seen the city of 60,000 expand through the years, and said attempts to provide more shops mixed with housing could be a good move.
“I’m glad they’re realizing not everyone has six kids and lives in a house,” she said, in reference to the large suburban developments that have popped up around South City. “There are small families and singles here, too.”
Though there are no projects pending along the road, Matsumoto said the moratorium would prevent anything new from being approved for 45 days while city officials work out a plan.
Combining shopping and housing is one way to make South City a walkable community, Matsumoto said, it’s just a matter of deciding what it should look like.
Assistant City Manager Marty Van Duyn said officials are looking at all possibilities, from big-box retail stores to apartment complexes.
“El Camino is a natural extension with other cities along the corridor,” Van Duyn said. South San Francisco “should look for new development opportunities to add to it.”
South City has also put a moratorium on the Chestnut area of El Camino Real corridor for similar reasons, he said.
That moratorium has been extended from its original length, but Van Duyn could not recall for how long. He said, though, that it’s currently in place and is likely to expire in August, around the same time the new moratorium would end.
Building blocks
South City wants to develop a stretch of El Camino Real.
What: Development moratorium on El Camino Real between Westborough Boulevard and Noor Avenue
Length of road: 1.2 miles
Length of moratorium: 45 days
Reason: To give city officials time to create a plan for development
Pending projects on hold: None
Source: City of South San Francisco
akoskey@sfexaminer.com
