II. Existing Conditions - San Mateo, California

November 7, 2005 II - �

Bay Meadows Specific Plan Amendment - Existing Conditions

I I. Existing Conditions

November 7, 2005II - �


The existing racetrack facility was upgraded as part of Phase I of the Specific Plan. The then-

existing barns, stables, tackrooms, golf course and wash down ponds were demolished to

make way for Phase I. The track barn area was reduced in scope and relocated to the in-field

of the Main Track. The site currently contains approximately 1,100 horse stalls, and other main-

tenance and operating facilities consistent with its use as an active racetrack. The pond in the

center of the in-field serves as a detention basin for the Phase I site and the adjacent area.

In addition, an existing freeway oriented sign historically associated with the Bay Meadows

site is located in the Residential Area of Phase I but permitted under the Phase I Specific Plan

applicable to the Main Track.

The Bay Meadows racetrack is located at a proposed "express stop" on the Caltrain line

between San Francisco and San Jose, set within a developed area just to the east of El Camino

Real. Immediately to the east of the site is the Phase I portion of the development and

Highway 101. Bordering to the north of the site is the San Mateo County Exposition Center.

Separating the site on the west from El Camino Real is the Caltrain/Joint Powers Board right of

way. Just across El Camino Real from the site is Hillsdale Shopping Center, the largest regional

shopping center in San Mateo County and one of only two along the San Francisco Peninsula

between San Francisco and San Jose.

Just to the south of the proposed redevelopment is the long established Glendale Village

Neighborhood, consisting of predominantly single-family homes. Bisecting this neighborhood

is Hillsdale Boulevard, which connects El Camino Real and Hillsdale Shopping Center to 101

and the neighborhoods to the north and west of El Camino. A concrete sound wall and a 22

foot wide landscaped buffer and multi-use pathway constructed in Phase I provides a barrier

between this neighborhood and the Main track development area.

Another well-established neighborhood lies just to the north and east of the site across

Saratoga Boulevard. This neighborhood, called Fiesta Gardens, also consists of predominantly

single-family residences and is also separated from the site by a large sound wall built at the

neighborhood's request during the Phase I development. There is no access to Fiesta Gardens

from Saratoga Boulevard.

Phase I of Bay Meadows lies immediately to the east of the site. The portion of that develop-

ment bordering the Phase II Specific Plan Area is the Franklin Templeton campus. There are

currently four 3- and 4-story buildings comprising approximately 600,000 s.f. of office/commer-

cial space and two multistory parking garages on the Franklin campus. Another 300,000 s.f. of

office/commercial space is called out in the Phase I Specific Plan but is not yet constructed on

this site. A direct sight line axis exists through the Franklin campus to the mixed-use portion of

the Phase I development east of Saratoga Drive where there is a linear park and a concentration

of retail/commercial uses.

Racetrack Facilities

Surrounding Land Uses



San Mateo County Exposition Center

Bay Meadows Phase 2

Proposed Caltrain StationLocation

Hillsdale Shopping Center

Bay Meadows Phase 1

El C

amin

o R

eal

Fiesta Gardens

Glendale Village

U.S

. 101

FigURE ii-1Phase II Surrounding Context

The Phase II Specific Plan Area is currently well served by mass transit. The Peninsula Joint

Powers Board (JPB), an organization composed of representatives of SamTrans, San Francisco

City and County, and the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, operates Caltrain. Caltrain

service runs from San Francisco to San Jose and Gilroy. Over the last decade, Caltrain has expe-

rienced a 50% increase in ridership. San Mateo currently has four Caltrain stations: downtown

San Mateo, Hayward Park, Bay Meadows (located adjacent to the main Grandstand and only

open on race days) and Hillsdale. The Hayward Park and Hillsdale Caltrain stations are about 1.25

miles apart. More trains stop at the Hillsdale station than at the Hayward Park station, resulting

in shorter intervals between trains at Hillsdale.



The JPB is considering implementing service improvements that would provide faster travel

times between San Jose and San Francisco. A key improvement would be the elimination of

the Bay Meadows Caltrain station and the redesign and relocation of Hillsdale station as far

north as 28th Avenue. The relocated station would improve vehicular access and parking, as

well as provide safer platforms and easier transfers to buses and shuttles. The new station

will require a longer, 1,000-foot platform and will involve one or more grade separated cross-

ings. The JPB is also planning to implement a “baby bullet” express train service between San

Jose and San Francisco, taking about 45 minutes (a route which currently takes more than 1.5

hours). The express services' limited stops could include a station in San Mateo, most likely a

relocated Hillsdale station. As part of its effort to improve travel times, reliability and air quality

and to reduce noise, the JPB is also planning to electrify Caltrain throughout its corridor. Each

of the JPB improvements is independent of the Phase II Specific Plan, but the potential of this

El Cam

ino Real

Delaw

are Street

Saratoga D

rive

Hillsdale Boulevard

Pacific Boulevard

Franklin Parkway

Highw

ay 101

FigURE ii-2Phase II Surrounding Streets

25th Avenue



FigURE ii-3Existing Mass Transit Map

www.transitinfo.org/SamTrans

new station, with its raised tracks and additional grade separated crossings, as well as the oppor-

tunity for it to become an express stop for the new Baby Bullet service connecting San Francisco

and San Jose, serves as a major catalyst for the redevelopment and program intensity of the Bay

Meadows Main Track area.

In addition to the commuter train service provided by Caltrain, SamTrans provides extensive bus

service to the areas surrounding the site. These include local bus routes serving the train sta-

tions, Hillsdale Shopping Center, the Phase I redevelopment and the surrounding neighborhoods.

Express bus service is also provided along the 101 corridor with stops at the Hillsdale/Franklin

Boulevard Interchange with 1 01 in both the north and southbound directions.

Regional arterial transportation to the Phase II Specific Plan Area is provided by Highway 1 01,

which runs north to San Francisco and Marin County and southward to San Jose and Los Angeles.

Just to the north and east of the Fiesta Gardens and Phase I neighborhood, Highway 101 inter-

sects with State Route 92 in an elevated interchange. To the east, State Route 92 connects to

the East Bay over the San Mateo Bridge. To the west, State Route 92 connects to I-280 on the

western edge of the peninsula and continues west to Highway 1, The Pacific Coast Highway.



The Specific Plan Area lacks east-west connections between Saratoga Drive and El Camino Real

because of the physical barriers of the Caltrain railroad and large land uses including the Bay

Meadows Racetrack and the County Expo Center. The primary east-west connection is Hillsdale

Boulevard. This regionally significant arterial street connects Foster City to I-280, while locally

connecting US 101 to El Camino Real and the Hillsdale Shopping Center. Hillsdale Boulevard,

between US 101 and the Hillsdale Shopping Center, accommodates over 36,000 vehicles per day,

substantially increasing in the holiday season with shoppers destined to the shopping center.

The discontinuity of the street grid in this portion of the City adds traffic pressure to Hillsdale

Boulevard from both local and regional traffic. The only other east-west connections crossing the

Caltrain tracks and serving the Specific Plan area are 25th Avenue between Delaware Street and

El Camino Real, north of the Specific Plan Area, and 42nd Avenue between Pacific Avenue and

El Camino Real south of the Specific Plan area. These widely separated streets not only concen-

trate traffic to a few congested corridors, but also create a lack of connectivity for pedestrians

and bicyclists.

The Specific Plan Area is connected to 101 by the Hillsdale Boulevard/Franklin Parkway inter-

change that was improved as part of Phase I. Southbound traffic exiting 101 is placed onto

Franklin Parkway. Northbound traffic exiting 101 is placed on Hillsdale Boulevard. Site access

is then gained via Saratoga Drive, also constructed as part of Phase I. Saratoga Drive is cur-

rently connected to El Camino Real rather circuitously on the western side of the site by the

25th Avenue at-grade crossing of the Caltrain tracks, which links El Camino Real and Delaware

Street. Access to the site from El Camino Real is gained by crossing the tracks on 25th avenue

and turning south on Delaware Street, which parallels El Camino Real. Delaware terminates at

the main entrance to the Bay Meadows Racetrack. To the north, Delaware provides access to

State Route 92 and continues, parallel to US 101 and El Camino Real, into downtown San Mateo.

There are no other east west connections from El Camino Real to the Bay Meadows Racetrack

between 25th Avenue and Hillsdale Boulevard.

The southwestern portion of the site is connected to Hillsdale Boulevard and the Glendale Village

Neighborhood via Pacific Boulevard, which runs parallel to the Caltrain tracks. Pacific Boulevard

currently dead-ends into the site in the southwestern corner of the Specific Plan Area. A small half

cloverleaf interchange provides traffic access between Pacific Boulevard and Hillsdale Boulevard.

A minor land swap has been proposed between the current owner of the Phase II Specific

Plan Area, The Bay Meadows Land Company, and the San Mateo County Exposition Center.

This land swap could provide the means to extend Delaware Street south to create a regular

intersection with the easterly extension of 28th Avenue. The swap results in a very minor

net increase in the size of the overall County Expo Site with the Bay Meadows Land Company

trading .33 acre of property for .22 acre of County Expo property. The existing and proposed

conditions are shown in Figures II-4 and II-5. The illustrative plan shown in this Specific Plan

Amendment assumes the swap has taken place. However, in the event the swap is not

finalized, an alternative alignment is also permitted as shown in Figure II-5, and the acreages

shown for each Block will be revised accordingly.

Proposed Property Line Adjustment with the County of San Mateo



FigURE ii-4Existing Phase II

Site Property Line

FigURE ii-5Proposed Phase II Site

Property Line Adjustment

Land to County0.33 Acres

Land to BMLC0.22 Acres

Proposed Delaware Alignment

FigURE ii-6Proposed Phase II Delaware

Alignment without Land Trade



The Specific Plan Area rests along the margins of San Francisco Bay. The Main Track area is

occupied by a racetrack, a multi-story grandstand facility, barns and several two-story apartment

buildings located to the northeast of the track. The grandstand is situated on the western perim-

eter of the racetrack. Four single-story stables are situated at the north portion of the racetrack

infield. A pond is located within the southeast part of the infield. A pedestrian tunnel at the

west part of the racetrack and a roadway tunnel at the north part of the track cross beneath the

track and provide access to the infield. Asphalt parking lots are located on the southwest and

northwest portions of the site.

The site is blanketed by approximately 2 to 8 feet of clayey and sandy fill with gravel. The sur-

ficial clayey soils are moderately to highly plastic. Compressible marine clay known as Bay Mud

was encountered below the fill at the northeast corner of the site. The Bay Mud is medium stiff

to stiff and appears to be desiccated. In places the Bay Mud may be up to 10 feet thick.

Groundwater levels have been measured recently to complement previous investigations.

Groundwater varies from about elevation +108 feet near the southwest end of the site to 94

feet at the northeast end. These levels may fluctuate depending on rainfall and seasonal condi-

tions, therefore the design groundwater levels will be approximately 2 feet higher than the mea-

sured levels.

The site is not within an Earthquake Fault Zone, as defined by the Alquist-Priolo Earthquake

Fault Zoning Act and no known active or potentially active faults exist on the site. There is a

remote possibility for future faulting to occur in an area where no faults currently exist, however

the risk of surface faulting and consequent secondary ground failure is very low. Therefore

the risk of fault offset at the site from a known active fault is low. The saturated sandy soil

at the site is generally clayey, and medium dense to dense. The potential for liquefaction and

lateral spreading is low. Where sand above the water table occurs onsite, it is sufficiently

dense to resist differential compaction. The San Andreas faults lies 3.5 miles to the west and

the Hayward fault lies 15 miles to the east. Mitigation of seismic risks that are typical for the

Specific Plan Area will require appropriate geotechnical, civil and structural engineering methods.

The three new parks constructed as part of Phase I join the Fiesta Meadows Park in the Fiesta

Gardens Neighborhood as some recently improved parks in the vicinity of the plan. San Mateo

is also served by other larger parks including the 16 acre San Mateo Central Park in downtown

San Mateo with its active recreational, tot lots, and quiet contemplative spaces. Within the city,

Beresford Park provides additional recreation facilities to the Hillsdale/Beresford Neighborhoods

west of El Camino Real.

The 83.34-acre redevelopment will require its own public park and recreational facilities. The

city’s current open space standard is 2.0 acres per thousand residents, which would generate a

requirement for approximately 7 acres of new parkland on the Phase II site.

geotechnical Setting

Parks



FigURE ii-7Existing San Mateo Regional

Open Space Map

FigURE ii-8San Mateo Central Park Passive Recreation

FigURE ii-9San Mateo Central Park Active Recreation

San Mateo Central Park

Fiesta Meadows Park

Phase 1 Neighborhood Parks

Phase 1 Linear Park

Beresford Park

November 7, 2005II - �0


Storm Drainage The majority of the site watershed under study is the area contributing to the recently con-

structed 42-inch diameter Saratoga Drive drain. This drain runs along the length of Saratoga

Drive and discharges to the Borel Creek. Drainage from McLellan Avenue discharges to the

head of this pipe run, which also collects run-off from the Bay Meadows Phase I properties

adjacent to its route. The total area of the catchment modeled is approximately 151 acres.

A large area of paved parking behind the Grandstand drains to a 24-inch pipe that is also

thought to serve the Expo Center and a portion of the Expo Parking Lot area. The 24-inch pipe

drains to the Borel Creek via an outfall discrete from the Saratoga Drive system.

The water level in the Borel Creek is known to reach elevations high enough to restrict dis-

charge from the 42-inch drain and to flood Saratoga Drive and the Expo Center Parking Lot.

An existing detention basin has been constructed in the Main Track area to mitigate flooding

caused by the high water level in the Borel Creek. This basin is connected to the 42-inch

Saratoga Drive drain by twin 42-inch drains that run the length of the Main Track infield. The

existing on-site detention basin covers approximately 3.8 acres. The pond's gravity outlet is at

invert elevation +97.0ftAD therefore all storage occurs above this level.

The Expo Center parking lot is the lowpoint of the Saratoga Drive watershed at approximately

+98.5ftAD. When the water level in the channel is high, water backs up into the parking lot

via a series of catchbasins connected to the Saratoga Drive drain.

From City records, an existing 48-inch reinforced concrete pipe has been identified running

in Delaware Street from west of the Expo Center, north toward the Delaware/Saratoga inter-

section. It then discharges to the Borel Creek at this intersection. Topography and catchbasin

layouts indicate this does not drain any part of the Bay Meadows site.

Collection and treatment of wastewater is provided by the City of San Mateo. Existing facili-

ties serving the Specific Plan Area in the Delaware/Concar catchment include:

• 15-inch Main Track Collector. This sewer runs through the San Mateo Exposition Center

and discharges into the Mongini Pump Station. It receives flow from the Expo Center, the

northern section of the Grandstand, a portion of the Corporation Yard and the Barn Areas.

• 18-inch Saratoga Drive Trunk. This trunk runs along Saratoga Drive and discharges to the

Mongini Pump Station by passing underneath the Delaware - Bay Meadows Trunk sewer.

This pipe receives flow from the Franklin Campus and Mixed Use Site in addition to a

portion of the discharge from the Santa Clara Pump Station.

• 24-39-inch Delaware - Bay Meadows Trunk. This trunk sewer runs along the eastern

edge of the railroad and into Delaware Street and collects flows from an 845-acre

catchment from South San Mateo. It also receives flows from the Santa Clara Pumping

Station and from the southern section of the Grandstand in the Main Track site.

Sewer

November 7, 2005 II - ��


Water

Other contributing flows include the Mongini Pumping Station discharge and laterals from

Fiesta Gardens. This trunk discharges to the Dale Avenue Pump Station, from which the

flow is pumped to the San Mateo Waste Water Treatment Plant.

• Mongini Pump station - was upgraded several years ago. Improvements were sized for a

peak flow rate of 2,400gpm, which includes the 1998 flow of 1,250gpm and 1,150gpm

from future developments in the tributary area. A 10-inch force main discharges to the

Delaware - Bay Meadows Trunk. Flows from the Mongini Station join other City flows

through the Delaware - Bay Meadows trunk line to the City's Dale Avenue Pump Station

and on to the San Mateo Wastewater Treatment Plant.

• Santa Clara Pump station - flow capacity = 3,300gpm. The sewage flow from the area

south of Franklin Parkway discharges into the Santa Clara Pump Station. The flow is

pumped to Hillsdale-Saratoga Junction where a junction box splits the flow between the

Saratoga Drive Trunk Line and the Delaware Trunk line. It is not known whether there is

spare capacity in the pump station for additional future flow. Design flows are estimated

as follows:

—To 18-inch McLellan Force Main: 2,400gpm

—To 18-inch Saratoga Trunk: 900gpm

A report commissioned by the City has indicated that there "is a significant capacity

deficit in all of the major trunks in the southern trunk system" due largely to high

infiltration and inflow. All flows from the existing Main Track area ultimately end up in the

Delaware Trunk sewer north of the Saratoga / Delaware St. intersection, either by gravity

or via the Mongini Pump Station.

• Norfolk Sewer- Los Prados Catchment

This sewer runs parallel to and East of Highway I-101 along Norfolk Street and ultimately

drains to the Dale Avenue pumping station. The system is hydraulically separate to the

Delaware/ El Camino/ Saratoga Sewer and serves the Los Prados - Shore View area.

The City of San Mateo Los Prados South Shoreview Sewer Study, dated January 2001

recommends upgrades to several sections of the Norfolk sewer system.

Water service for the Specific Plan Area is provided by the California Water Service Company

(CWSC). The CWSC obtains its water from the San Francisco Water District though connec-

tions in the northwest region of the City of San Mateo.

Water distribution mains in the Specific Plan Area include a 12-inch main in Saratoga Drive,

a 12-inch main in Hillsdale Boulevard, and a 24-inch main in Delaware Street. A 6-inch water

main branching from the Saratoga main serves the existing Corporation Yard area. An 8-inch

ring main serves the infield barn area. The 24-inch Delaware high pressure main extends to

Pacific at the South of the site where it is reduced to a low pressure 14-inch main to serve the

McLellan neighborhood. It is assumed that the 24-inch Delaware main serves the Grandstand.

November 7, 2005II - ��


Pacific Gas and Electric provides electrical supply to the Specific Plan Area and electrical and

gas supplies to the Phase I Development via a Joint Trench scheme. The Joint Trench is

located on the northern edge of Saratoga Drive and contains high and low voltage electrical

conduit, telecom (telephone, fiber-optic, cable TV and street lighting) conduit and a gas main.

There are existing electrical and communications utility ductbanks and associated easements

located in Delaware street. At 31st Avenue, these ductbanks are located to the east of the

JPB right of way inside the Bay Meadows site. The survey shows these ductbanks extending

to approximately mid way between 28th and 31st Avenues. At this location it is not known

whether these ductbanks cross underneath the JPB rail or run inside the JPB right of way

further north.

A 24-inch gas main is also located within the Delaware utility corridor, inside the JPB right of

way, to the east of the tracks. This gas main runs the entire length of the western boundary of

the site.

The Specific Plan Area falls from west to east. The highest boundary elevation is at the south-

west corner at the Delaware/Franklin intersection at approximately +119ftAD. The existing

Saratoga Drive is at approximate elevation +100 to +104ftAD. All elevational references in this

document assume the Adjusted City of San Mateo Datum.

San Mateo Fire Department's Station #3, located at 27th Avenue and Edison Street serves the

Specific Plan Area. The San Mateo Police Department has facilities located on Delaware Street,

just north of the Expo Center. An application to construct a new approximately 44,000 s.f. police

station on the north east corner of Hillsdale and Saratoga has been filed by the applicant as

part of a revision to the Phase I Specific Plan.

The major source of noise affecting the Specific Plan Area is the Caltrain rail line which com-

prises the entire western border of the Site Area. While anticipated expansion of service along

the rail corridor, including the elevation of the tracks, will increase the volume of trains passing

through the corridor, the improvements should net in a reduction of noise pollution. The JPB

ultimately intends to electrify the train locomotives which will bring about quieter train service.

Additionally, the planned grade separation of roadway crossings of the tracks will reduce the

need for train whistle blasts.

Upon redevelopment of the Main Track, the facility’s amplified public address system, currently

audible to surrounding neighborhoods, will cease to exist.

Utilities

grading

Police and Fire Protection

Noise

November 7, 2005 II - ��


Solid Waste & Recycling

Other sources of noise on the site include nearby Highway 101 and State Route 92, as well as

Hillsdale Boulevard and El Camino Real. Lastly, occasional aircraft flyovers are also audible on

the site.

There are no solid waste or recycling capacity constraints posed to the development of the

Specific Plan. Browning Ferris Industries provides solid waste disposal for the Specific Plan

Area. Solid waste disposal is transferred to the Ox Mountain facility. The San Mateo City code

requires the provision of recycling facilities for multifamily housing. Commercial development

within the Specific Plan Area will also be in conformance with these code requirements.

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