Safeway redevelopment

The Burlingame community has been hoping for a new Safeway store for more than a decade. I personally met with Safeway for the first time in 1997 even before I ran for a city council seat. Safeway was referred to me by the city planner as a knowledgeable neighbor who could give them input on their plans for a new store.

The original plans that were denied in 2004 were complicated by two of Safeway’s goals: keeping the store open during construction and swapping land with the City in order to reconfigure the parcel to make room for a much larger store. There were many other issues, but I believe those two were the crux of the delays.

After a lengthy Working Group process (which I initiated as mayor) that reached some excellent conclusions about vehicle access, pedestrian thoroughfares, rooftop parking, open space, protecting heritage trees and a dozen other community concerns, Safeway has submitted a vastly improved design to the Planning department. The plan envisions having the new store fit on land Safeway currently owns so there would not be a land swap. It also envisions the current store being closed for about ten months. Safeway plans to have a new store open by December 2010.

While I cannot take an official position on any application that might come before the city council, I can say that I am impressed with the way Safeway and its architects have addressed a wide variety of the concerns I had with the old plan. In February, 2004, when I voted against the previous plan, I spoke for 45 minutes about my vision for this project. I believe Safeway listened to the community's concerns and suggestions, and has submitted a far superior plan this time.