McLellan Plans 202-Unit Apartment Project in San Mateo

• McLellan Company has filed plans for a 202-unit apartment development at 4095 Pacific Boulevard in San Mateo.
• The six-story project will replace an existing gas station and shopping center on a 1.6-acre site.
• Twenty-five units will be designated as below-market-rate housing, helping San Mateo advance its state-mandated housing goals.

What the Proposed Development Includes

McLellan Company has submitted formal plans for a new multifamily development at 4095 Pacific Boulevard in San Mateo, near the city's border with Belmont. The proposal calls for a six-story, 79-foot-tall residential building containing 202 apartments on a 1.6-acre site at the corner of Pacific Boulevard and Laurie Meadows Drive. The project would deliver approximately 324,240 square feet of space, including 218,390 square feet dedicated to residential use. An additional 92,140 square feet would be allocated for a two-story parking garage with 207 vehicle spaces and 234 bicycle parking spaces. The site is located across from the Caltrain tracks between the Belmont and Hillsdale stations, placing future residents near a major transit corridor.

What the Housing Plan Looks Like

The development is designed to provide a mix of housing options. Plans include 24 studio apartments, 111 one-bedroom units, and 67 two-bedroom units. Of the 202 homes, 25 will be reserved as below-market-rate housing. McLellan is utilizing California's State Density Bonus Law and Senate Bill 330, allowing the project to move through a streamlined approval process while exceeding what would typically be permitted under existing zoning regulations. These state housing laws are increasingly being used by developers to deliver higher-density projects in markets facing housing shortages.

What Existing Uses Will Be Replaced

To make room for the new residential building, the developer plans to demolish the existing gas station and one-story shopping center currently occupying the property. While project costs and a construction timeline have not yet been disclosed, the filing marks another step forward in San Mateo's effort to encourage housing development on underutilized commercial sites.

What This Means for San Mateo's Housing Goals

The proposal arrives as San Mateo works toward meeting its state-mandated housing requirement of 7,015 new homes by 2031. City officials have approved or reviewed several large residential developments in recent months as part of that effort. Among them is Prometheus Real Estate Group's Gateway project at 668 East Third Avenue, which received approval for a 128-unit apartment building. Align Real Estate has also proposed redeveloping a Safeway property at 1655 South El Camino Real with a seven-story mixed-use project that would include 396 housing units and a replacement grocery store. Meanwhile, Tourbineau Real Estate Partners recently filed plans to convert a 12-story office tower at 2121 South El Camino Real into a 144-unit residential building, reflecting the growing trend of office-to-residential conversions across California.

What This Project Signals for Peninsula Development

The McLellan proposal highlights the continued shift toward higher-density housing near transit infrastructure throughout the Peninsula. As cities face increasing pressure to meet housing targets, developers are looking to transform aging commercial properties into residential communities that can add meaningful housing supply. If approved, the project would bring more than 200 new homes to a market that continues to face significant housing demand while making use of a well-located site near regional transportation connections.