HomeMy WebLinkAboutPPC Minutes - 7.12.16
MINUTES
July 12, 2016
CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO
PARKING PLACE COMMISSION
1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 5:04 p.m. by
Chairperson James
2. ROLL CALL
Present: Shirley James, Chairperson
Jolene Malfatti, Vice Chairperson
Sam Shihadeh, Commissioner
City Staff: Justin Lovell, Commission Secretary
Marissa Garren, Commission Clerk
Tony Rozzi, Senior Planner
Public: Maria Martinucci, SSF Chamber of Commerce
Jason Cardoso, Armstrong Brewery
3. AGENDA REVIEW NO CHANGES
4. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS / PUBLIC COMMENT NONE
5. APPROVAL OF REGULAR MEETING MINUTES: May 10, 2016
Motion—Commissioner Shihadeh/Second—Vice Chairperson Malfatti to approve
the minutes as submitted. Approved by unanimous voice vote.
6. PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS NONE
7. ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS
a. Parking study guiding principles
Secretary Lovell introduced Tony Rozzi, Senior Planner of the Economic and
Community Development Department who has been working with consultant
CDM Smith for the downtown parking study. Mr. Rozzi updated the commission
that the study is underway and funded by a grant with the County of San Mateo.
The City was responsible for providing the consultant with guiding principles
based on what is important to the City from a policy standpoint and its parking
priorities. These principles are based on accessibility and management and are
open for discussion and feedback from the Commission before being provided to
CDM Smith.
Vice Chairperson Malfatti asked if the principles take into account the proposed
loss of the 22 parking spaces on Grand Avenue with the new parallel parking that
is planned for the downtown. Mr. Rozzi replied that it does take this into
consideration and that CDM has prepared an “existing conditions” memorandum
and an engineering model that has predicted the parking demand with the new
commercial and residential developments in the downtown area.
Commissioner Shihadeh commented that he still remains concerned about the
parking demands with all new developments such as those currently taking place
on Airport Boulevard and on Grand Avenue. When factoring in the elements of
the barricaded parking spaces for the construction sites, it will be more than 22
spaces lost. Secretary Lovell responded that the permitting process for the
contractors may not affect the parking spaces. If any spaces are lost during
construction on Airport Boulevard, these parking spaces aren’t used as
frequently as those on Grand Avenue and the parking demand impact shouldn’t
be as high. Commissioner Shihadeh replied that with the additional parking lots
also removed, this will play even a higher impact. He would like to see this
addressed in the parking study and what recommendations the consultant has
for the City. Mr. Rozzi replied that the consultant requested these principles
which the City can adhere to see what was important to the City to successfully
maintain the parking district.
Chairperson James commented that the she doesn’t see the downtown gaining
additional parking and asked if the City has any plan to gain back any of the lost
spaces. Mr. Rozzi replied that with the annual parking district capacity report,
parking capacity is regularly at 30%. The guidance that staff is currently receiving
on a policy level from the City Manager and the City Council for certain parking
lots, is that they would like to have certain lots developed for higher and better
use. This will only be able to happen if staff has a clear mechanism in place to
evaluate whether it makes sense for the developments. Unless there would be
an additional parking structure added, it is difficult to determine where any
additional parking lots would be added in the downtown area. Secretary Lovell
added that during the peak periods of 12:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. and during the
evening hours on weekdays, parking is at high capacity on Grand Avenue,
however additional parking still remains available on nearby streets close to the
downtown. Any proposed recommendations provided by CDM will be presented
to the City and the Parking Place Commission after these guiding principles are
taken into consideration.
8. ITEMS FROM STAFF
a. Information on parking reductions in downtown parking district
Secretary Lovell provided follow up information to commissioner Shihadeh’s
request from the May 10, 2016 Parking Place Commission meeting regarding the
parking reductions. He added that as of October 2014, the City Council approved
an ordinance change including the removal of the responsibility of granting
parking reductions from the Parking Place Commission to the Planning
Commission to help streamline the permitting process for new businesses within
the downtown area, at the same time the operations and management were
transferred from the Economic and Community Development Department to the
Public Works Department. Over the last two years, there have been five projects
which met the parking requirements based on the current zoning codes without
having to get any additional required parking. Sufficient onsite parking has been
provided for nearby residents and visitors for some of the new housing
developments such as those located on Cypress Avenue, Linden Avenue, and
Rotary Plaza. The one business that was required to purchase parking permits is
for the “The Coop” on 303 Linden Avenue. As part of their permit approval, they
were required to purchase two parking permits for use by their employees.
Maria Martinucci, CEO of the South San Francisco Chamber of Commerce
commented that she is excited for the current and future developments taking
place in the downtown area with the opportunities it will provide. She has realized
that many of the surface parking is being eliminated and asked if there was any
study to show what surface parking is being lost and what the Miller Parking
Garage can accommodate for the lost spaces. Secretary Lovell responded that
the Miller Garage can currently accommodate additional parking to the spaces
lost in the surface lots. In the short term, there is space available and some
modifications can be made in the Miller Avenue Parking Garage to
accommodate. Tony Rozzi added that a second memorandum will be provided
by the consultant that plays out the development scenarios in the downtown
area.
Vice Chairperson Malfatti asked if there was any discussion with the Planning
Commission if underground parking was a possibility for the residential
developments. Secretary Lovell replied that each development will have its own
onsite parking. Some may be underground where others may have staggered
parking which will conform with zoning requirements. Mr. Rozzi added that 1-2
spaces will be available per unit. Through enforcement in the downtown and
possible neighborhood parking districts, parking spillover will be worked towards
preventing.
b. Parking sponsorship discussion (Armstrong Brewery)
Secretary Lovell added that the owner of Armstrong Brewery is interested in
sponsoring a day of free parking for the public. This would be an opportunity to
work out an agreement with any business in the downtown area to help the
business advertise. Jason Cardoso, owner of Armstrong Brewery, commented
that parking is limited during 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. in the downtown area and would
like to sponsor the parking structure for 1 to 2 days bringing more attention to the
Miller Avenue Parking Garage and advertise Armstrong Brewery. Secretary
Lovell added that the Commission have the authority to limit the amount of times
per year this sponsorship can take place with downtown businesses. Vice
Chairperson Malfatti agreed with the idea as long as there is no cost to the City.
She added that it is a great way to get the public familiarized with the Miller
Avenue Parking Garage and to welcome new businesses in the downtown, while
parameters are being met. Commissioner Shihadeh requested that staff research
if other cities are participating in sponsorships such as this. Secretary Lovell
added that no motion is needed for this item, but it can be further discussed in a
future meeting.
c. Downtown construction contractor parking
Secretary Lovell presented that four parking spaces had been requested for the
contractor of the construction taking place at 211 Airport Boulevard (on the
Cypress Avenue side) for 8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. for 18 months. The parking spaces
would be paid for and no revenue would be lost by the City. The bigger
developments will most likely have similar requests, therefore it is a parking
consideration to be discussed by the Commission.
9. ITEMS FROM THE COMMISSION NONE
Chairperson James adjourned the meeting at 6:05 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
______________________________ _____________________________
Justin Lovell Shirley James
Parking Place Commission Secretary Chairperson