FOSTER CITY (Map, News) - When asked what most excites them about the Village in Foster City, Claudette and Jim Main spill over with enthusiasm.

“Oh, I love it,” 60-year-old Claudette begins. “It’ll be within walking distance of Leo Ryan Park, the Rec Center, the library …”

“And the convenience stores will be right next to the retirement facility — restaurants and coffee shops, right there where you live,” interrupts her 67-year-old husband.

The Mains were among about 20 Foster City residents who attended a Planning Commission study session Tuesday night at whcih commissioners gave the thumbs up to a developer’s site plan for 11 of the city’s last 15 acres of undeveloped land.

The initial design was criticized by commissioners in January for not being “connected” enough to the nearby Civic Center, theater, recreation center and parks, said planner Lynette Dias.

The newer version, which has wider walkways and vistas between the project’s central plaza and surrounding buildings and parks, was enthusiastically received.

Much more work has to be done before the commission gives its final approval to the project, intended to provide a long-desired heart to Foster City, which lacks a downtown. The project will consist of a large central plaza surrounded by 31,000 to 50,000 square feet of retail space, a health care facility, and a continuing care retirement facility — the part of the project the Mains are most interested in.

“The first words out of Commissioner [Ron] Cox’s mouth when he saw the new plans was, ‘Wow, this is wonderful,’” Dias said.

Commissioner Noemi Avram said one of her favorite parts of the new design is a pavilion in the middle of the central plaza, which could be used for a restaurant to “bring life” to the plaza. She said she is pleased with the current site plan, which to her is the most important part of the project.

Now that the basic design has been given the go-ahead, the architecture of the building will begin to be developed, Sares-Regis project manager Zach Wilson said.

“We have the starting blocks now, and we’re ready to move forward with the architecture,” he said.

The developer hopes to begin construction by summer of 2009, Wilson said.

It couldn’t happen fast enough for the Mains, who have looked at retirement communities in Southern California but would rather stay in Foster City.

“We’re looking toward the future,” Jim Main said. “This is going to be wonderful.”

kworth@examiner.com

Comments from Examiner Readers

11:56 AM MST on Tue., Apr. 29, 2008 re: "City rejects PGA Tour�s bid for fungicide use at Harding"

Examiner Reader said:
Rather than pressuring SF to use dangerous chemicals the PGA ought to be threatening to stop having tournaments at golf courses that don't use recycled water. Harding Park uses Hetch Hetchy water. What a terrible waste.

2 agree | 0 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

9:20 AM MST on Sat., Apr. 26, 2008 re: "Neighborhood parks are making the grade"

Examiner Reader said:
I wish Supervisor Maxwell and others so inclined, would stop with the comments re: the more affluent neighborhoods receiving the bulk of park funding. As an employee of the Recreation and Park Dept. I can tell you that, through the years, a lot of tax dollars have been allocated to the southeast quadrant of the city, more often at the expense of other areas of the city to address such concerns as playground/field maintenance and recreation programming. This is an area of the city that appears to expect certain entitlements, yet cannot uphold their end of the bargain to respect and work with our department to help maintain our resources. It's tiring to constantly hear that this area is so underfunded and how it's the Recreation and Parks Dept's fault for not doing this, or not doing that. When their play structures, buildings and equipment are vandalized and program attendance is low, we still make the necessary repairs and do the community outreach. And this is still our fault? C'

4 agree | 0 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate

10:39 AM MST on Sun., Mar. 16, 2008 re: "New proposal for downtown space wins over hearts"

Justine said:
it looks weird that the building is on a high side n the surrounding is low.. why not make it same plane field so it won't look like theres a huge building out of no where???!?!? or face the other building towards ryans park n not block behind JCC...

1 agree | 0 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate

3:04 AM MST on Sun., Dec. 2, 2007 re: "Once empty lot, now part of community"

Examiner Reader said:
You should see the beautiful 20,000 Christmas lights on the garden of eden on 2600 block of Eager street. This is the twelve years of lifting the spirit of the children and residents. Another example of what to do with a vacant lot - save lives. The lights are on from 5p.m. to 1.33a.m.

87 agree | 95 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate

6:46 PM MST on Fri., Jun. 1, 2007 re: "Future park among largest in county"

Examiner Reader said:
The traffic on woodbine road is bad enough as it is so lets build something to bring in more. The people that were born and raised in woodbine have moved away because of the over crowding and the outsiders coming in. We don't need another yuppie park where people can drive in with their lexus', what about a park were you can drive your tractor in,you know something for the farm people.Lets listen to the people OF WOODBINE not the people thats lived here for a few years.

356 agree | 260 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate

7:35 PM MST on Thu., May. 24, 2007 re: "Future of Rash Field�s volleyball park is uncertain"

Ryan said:
Its interesting that with such a large demand for the Volleyball courts, all of the proposals for the new park have less area for volleyball. There is nothing like city officals that don't listen to the people. You got to love it!

369 agree | 259 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate