San Mateo Officially Has A New Historic District

SAN MATEO, CA — A new resolution has been adopted that officially designates San Mateo's Glazenwood neighborhood as a historic district at the local level.

The crowd inside City Hall erupted into cheers after San Mateo councilmembers unanimously voted to approve the resolution during the latest meeting on Monday.

When city councilmembers implemented a new, owner-driven, two-step process for establishing future historic districts earlier this year, it raised questions about the status of the Glazenwood neighborhood.

Glazenwood has been eligible to be designated a historic district since 1989, according to San Mateo city officials.

Past city council members appeared to have had sessions to discuss the possibility of designating the Glazenwood neighborhood a historic district, but it appears no formal action was ever taken.

But for more than 15 years, city brochures and general plans still referred to Glazenwood as the "Glazenwood Historic District."

During that time, it has been treated as a historic resource for CEQA review, but not as a locally designated district under the city’s ordinance.

City officials during the meeting on Monday recommended that councilmembers drop the resolution at the local level and find that the action is exempt from CEQA guidelines.

Councilwoman Danielle Cwirko-Godycki suggested that the city look into commemorating the designation, with some suggestions including a plaque.

Local Editor Albert Gregory contributed to this report.