San Francisco Bay Area Vision Project

San Mateo County is the second-smallest county in the region in terms of land area, after San Francisco. The Coast Range divides San Mateo County into two distinct parts: the coastside and the eastern side. The coastside of the county is primarily agricultural, although some residential and office development has appeared in recent years. The eastern half of the county is where 90 percent of development is.

One third of San Mateo is permanently protected open space, the second-highest proportion in the Bay Area. The county is recognized for its outstanding environmental resources, particularly the breathtaking beauty of the 45-mile coastline, the undeveloped portions of the Bay shoreline, and the wooded areas surrounding Crystal Springs Reservoir.

Historical Development Patterns

San Mateo County developed first as a series of "railroad suburbs." Caltrain service continues that early commute pattern, and now extends south to Silicon Valley. The train route parallels El Camino Real, the first highway and automobile route through the Peninsula. The downtowns of most of the county's cities-South San Francisco, San Bruno, Millbrae, Burlingame, San Mateo, Belmont, San Carlos, Redwood City and Menlo Park-are clustered around El Camino Real and/or the Caltrain tracks.

Projected Growth in San Mateo County

Since the adoption of policy-based projections, San Mateo's population forecast is based on a conceptual growth pattern that may be different from existing local general plans and zoning. ABAG's projections assume that there will be intensified growth along the El Camino Real corridor, parallel to the Caltrain line. It is also assumed that there will be higher density development in all the cities along this corridor.

On the coast, the small communities of Montara, El Granada, and Half Moon Bay are expected to have slight increases in household and employment growth in existing downtown areas. The City of Pacifica will have a substantial increase of employment growth in its downtown urban core, with slight increases in housing throughout the city's existing residential communities. The City of Brisbane is expected to expand its employment district by adding substantial employment growth in the Baylands Business Park, adjacent to Hwy 101.

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HOME ABOUT THE BAY AREA Population & land area Alameda Contra Costa Marin Napa San Francisco San Mateo Santa Clara Solano Sonoma Housing Economy Transportation Environment Equity FOCUS INITIATIVES	Santa Mateo County San Mateo County is the second-smallest county in the region in terms of land area, after San Francisco. The Coast Range divides San Mateo County into two distinct parts: the coastside and the eastern side. The coastside of the county is primarily agricultural, although some residential and office development has appeared in recent years. The eastern half of the county is where 90 percent of development is. One third of San Mateo is permanently protected open space, the second-highest proportion in the Bay Area. The county is recognized for its outstanding environmental resources, particularly the breathtaking beauty of the 45-mile coastline, the undeveloped portions of the Bay shoreline, and the wooded areas surrounding Crystal Springs Reservoir. Historical Development Patterns San Mateo County developed first as a series of "railroad suburbs." Caltrain service continues that early commute pattern, and now extends south to Silicon Valley. The train route parallels El Camino Real, the first highway and automobile route through the Peninsula. The downtowns of most of the county's cities-South San Francisco, San Bruno, Millbrae, Burlingame, San Mateo, Belmont, San Carlos, Redwood City and Menlo Park-are clustered around El Camino Real and/or the Caltrain tracks. Projected Growth in San Mateo County Since the adoption of policy-based projections, San Mateo's population forecast is based on a conceptual growth pattern that may be different from existing local general plans and zoning. ABAG's projections assume that there will be intensified growth along the El Camino Real corridor, parallel to the Caltrain line. It is also assumed that there will be higher density development in all the cities along this corridor. On the coast, the small communities of Montara, El Granada, and Half Moon Bay are expected to have slight increases in household and employment growth in existing downtown areas. The City of Pacifica will have a substantial increase of employment growth in its downtown urban core, with slight increases in housing throughout the city's existing residential communities. The City of Brisbane is expected to expand its employment district by adding substantial employment growth in the Baylands Business Park, adjacent to Hwy 101.