Environmentalists love it. A majority of neighbors, having addressed traffic concerns, are enthusiastic about it.

And on Tuesday night, the San Mateo City Council also gave its support to Station Park Green, a 599-unit mixed-use development slated for 12 acres along the 1700 block of Delaware Street.

“I think it’s an outstanding project,” said council member John Lee before the final vote. “We need that housing. How about that – 600 housing units. We need it.”

The other four council members offered similar praise, followed by a unanimous endorsement, then a round of applause in the council chambers.

First proposed five years ago, Station Park Green has now cleared the biggest hurdle at City Hall. The city still needs to choose between one of three options, which alter slightly the ratio of retail versus office space, among other differences. But the “background framework” is in place, according to city staffers, including two full acres of park space, nine small “blocks” divided by pedestrian paths, and 1,150 mostly underground parking spaces.

Prior to groundbreaking, the current buildings on the site – a Kmart and a Michael’s Arts and Crafts, plus a Shell gas station and other retail – will be razed. According to development firm EBL&S, the Michael’s will return as part of the new development.

On Tuesday city staffers lauded the project’s green credentials, which include a high density of 50 dwellings per acre, plenty of nearby retail space, and proximity to the Hayward Park train station and other mass transit. City staffers said factors like these will help put San Mateo on the map as a “sustainable city.”

City Park Green is considered to be a key part of San Mateo’s ambitious Rail Corridor Plan, which includes other large, transit-friendly projects along the Caltrain corridor such as Bay Meadows.

Alan Talansky, a vice president for EBL&S and the firm’s lead manager on the project, told council members that the project’s perks include a community room, electrical lines installed below ground, and tree plantings along 19th Avenue – in all, $3.5 million worth of benefits to the city that were not part of the original proposal.

“I think the city did a pretty good job of negotiating here,” Talansky said.

Karen Alschuler, a principal from architectural firm Perkins & Will, which designed the project, told council members some main goals of the project were “to lead with landscape,” “to build a vital center” and “to design for sustainability.” The design has received praise for its high LEED, or “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design,” ranking, and has earned the developers a number of awards.

Council member David Lim asked Talansky about benchmarks during the building process, saying he didn’t want to see the Kmart demolished followed by a “hole sitting there” for 10 years. “Is there a timeline?” he asked.

Talansky replied, “We will not tear down this building until we know we can build it and we have financing to do it.” The property owner, ARJAX Railroad Associates II, “would not give up the rental income of the building until we knew we could build,” he said.

Nine members of the public spoke to the council before the final vote, all but one speaking in favor of the project. Many of them said they represented local organizations, including William Mack, speaking on behalf of the San Mateo Building Trades Council.

Mack asked those members of his group who were in the audience to stand, and about two dozen people stood up. “The building Trades Council strongly supports this project,” he said. Noting the high unemployment rate among builders, he lauded the fact that “The developers agree to use our highly skilled men and women,” which he said will result in “construction of the highest quality.”

Other speakers, representing the Chamber of Commerce, housing advocates and residents of the nearby Hayward Park neighborhood, also endorsed the project. One, however, said he was concerned the plans were outdated and the parking inadequate. Of the project’s 1,150 parking spaces, 839 are to be designated for residents only, and 311 to be shared among residential visitors and commercial uses.

Speaking before the vote, council member Brandt Grotte said he has “come to the conclusion that the Planning Commission did their job, city staff did their job, the developer did their job,” resulting in a “very, very fine project.”

“I look forward to it continuing to invigorate the Hayward Park train station,” he said, making that station a “key node of transport.”