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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 2005-10-05 I - ~'t\l S:1N S (0 n >-< - ~ ~ v 0 C4l1FOtt~"'~ MINUTES CITY COUNCIL CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO SPECIAL JOINT MEETING CITY COUNCIL - PLANNING COMMISSION WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2005 MUNICIPAL SERVICES BUILDING COMMUNITY ROOM 33 ARROYO DRIVE 1. Call to Order 6:07 p.m. (Cassette Tape No. 1) 2. Roll Call Present: Councilmembers Garbarino, Gonzalez and Matsumoto, Mayor Pro Tern Fernekes and Mayor Green Planning Commissioners Giusti, Honan, Prouty * , Romero, and Sim*, Vice Chair Zemke* and Chair T eglia *Commissioners Prouty and Sim arrived at 6:09 pm and Vice Chair Zemke arrived at 7:08 pm Absent: None Staff: City Manager Nagel, City Attorney Mattas, Assistant City Manager Van Duyn, and Senior Planner Steve Carlson 3. Public Comments Ms. Kamala Silva Wolfe:, resident, submitted a list of items that she would like to see addressed in the EIR being prepared by Lamphier & Gregory. City Manager Nagel stated a written response will be prepared. 4. Study Session: Joint meeting with the Planning Commission - discussion of the following projects: a) Lowe's Home Improvement Center, 600-790 Dubuque Avenue Staff report presented by Senior Planner Steve Carlson. Messrs. Roger Bernstein and Anthony Farmand, representatives of Lowe's Home Improvement Center, gave an overview ofthe project. Mayor Green asked for comments from the Planning Commission, then City Council. Commissioner Prouty stated his preference for a parking structure and felt it was more efficient. Commissioner Honan recently observed several eyesores at the San Bruno store and suggested that empty pallets, dismantled appliances, broken shopping carts, and surplus store supplies be enclosed or kept indoor's. Chair Teglia expressed concerns regarding the store configuration on the site and that it be re-orientated. He suggested the Dubuque Avenue area be visually enhanced. Councilman Gonzalez suggested the rear of building, facing the railroad tracks, be visually enhanced, materials from the demolition of existing buildings be recycled and the back area be monitored for graffiti. Mayor Pro Tern Fernekes asked for clarification on where customers will be drawn from and Mr. Bernstein responded that the store would be a regional draw, hopefully from San Francisco and off 101 from the south. Councilwoman Matsumoto stated a preference for a parking structure, but has concerns regarding safety. She asked for statistical information regarding a structure versus an open parking lot. She asked if a "local employee preference" can be made a condition and City Attorney Mattas stated he will look into it. Councilwoman Matsumoto stated concerns regarding the landscape tree species and container size and questioned the anticipated traffic flow on weekends. Councilman Garbarino questioned the signage, delivery hours, and stated support for the local prefi~rential hiring concept. Mayor Green questioned the close proximity of the Home Depot and Lowe's stores and success ratio. Mr. Bernstein stated the positives; including more selection, store competition and that ultimately the consumer wins. Councilmembers Garbarino and Matsumoto questioned the location of the employee parking area and suggested it be monitored for compliance. Councilman Gonzalez discussed the potential need for an employee childcare program and Lowe's willingness to make a childcare contribution. Mr. Bernstein stated he will look into the matter and will get back to Council. Commissioner Prouty suggested that personal trucks be parked off-street. Commissioner Sim asked for a context drawing of the street "designed-out" and stated the Commission is looking for a high quality look. Chair Teglia asked for a picture of what Lowe's most expensive store looks like. SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETThrG MINUTES OCTOBER 5, 2005 PAGE 2 (Recess: 7:01 pm -7:12 pm) 3. Public Comments (continued) Mr. Nick Tentes, resident, questioned the zoning of the area and asked if Lowe's and Home Depot approached the City or did the City approach Lowe's and Home Depot. City Manager Nagel confirmed that the two businesses approached the City. Senior Planner Carlson stated the general plan designation for Dubuque Avenue is retail, not R&D. 4. b) Home Depot, 900 Dubuque Avenue Staff report presented by Senior Planner Carlson. Mr. Jeff Nance and Ms. Beverly Metz-Robbins gave a visual overview of the project. Commissioner Honan discussed the impact of the quarterly outdoor sales on the parking area, and the anticipated truck delivery schedule. Commissioner Romero commented on the poorly designed parking structure at the Colma store and suggested the landscaping on the entire site be enhanced. Vice-Chair Zemke asked that the elevator be maintained and kept operational. Chair Teglia suggested other creative ways be look at for orientating the building. He asked for a picture of what Home Depot's most expensive store looks like. Commissioner Giusti stated concerns regarding the parking of vehicles along the side of the building where shopping carts need to maneuver and that this has been a problem at the Colma store. Commissioner Prouty asked that substantial trees be planted and maintained. Councilman Garbarino suggested landscaping be added to the top level of the parking structure. Councilwoman Matsumoto asked that preferential hiring practices be included in the project, that the applicant work with staff on this matter, and that a landscape maintenance agreement also be included. Councilman Gonzalez asked that the feasibility of a bridge linking the second level of the parking structure to the store be looked into and that landscaping be added to this level. He asked that a graffiti program be maintained. In response to Mayor Pro Tern Fernekes' question regarding the potential customers, Ms. Metz-Robbins stated that the targeted customers will be drawn from Burlingame to San Francisco. Mayor Pro Tern Fernekes described Colma's parking SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OCTOBER 5, 2005 PAGE 3 structure's poorly designed driveways and Senior Planner Carlson confirmed that the structure will not be similar. Chair Teglia suggested the parking spaces be slanted or diagonal. Commissioner Honan stated there were one too many signs for the site. In response to Commissioner Prouty's concern regarding graffiti, Ms. Metz- Robbins stated graffiti is aggressively monitored at their stores. Commissioner Sim suggested several plant species be considered to trellis the parking structure, such as bougainvillea, more vertical landscaping, and to avoid institutional light fixtures. Councilman Gonzalez suggested a sign be put at the rear of the store. Commission Sim suggested the parapet wall be dimensional rather than flat. (Recess: 8:05 p.m. - 8:16 p.m.) c) Discussion of TelTabay Phase III; Myers Development Mr. Jack Myers, Myers Development, Mr. Norman Garden, RTKL, and other development team members gave a visual overview ofthe proposal. Mayor Pro Tern Fernekes and Councilwoman Matsumoto (TelTabay III subcommittee members) asked for feedback from the Commission and Council members. Chair Teglia commented on the original concept for developing the site, including hotel and retail businesses, not residential. He stated concerns regarding the failure to rehabilitate tht:: "Point". He stated major issues to be looked at during the public hearing process would include a massive development, maintaining a view up the mountain, location of high-rises, and the residential element. Commissioner Romero asked for documentation on how the number of below market rate units was calculated. He stated concerns regarding the Point area and that it is not looking as good as he would like. He stated that he favored a hotel as part of the mixed use, residential second, and an office tower as the third preference. He stated that the height of the buildings was not what was envisioned. (Cassette Tape No.2) Chair Teglia reiterate concerns regarding the concept to reduce the development's footprint by building-up, and promises that were made to stay off the Point. He stated he is not averse to adding residential, but concerned that the project is looking massive for the area. SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OCTOBER 5, 2005 PAGE 4 Commissioner Prouty stated concerns regarding the orientation of the buildings and commented that the proposal looks front-loaded. He suggested a hotel/condo use be considered. Commissioner Sim stated his opposition to proposing another tower and that it would have to be designed differently and not isolated. The discussion continued with Commissioners Sim, Romero and Giusti, and Chair Teglia voicing thl~ir concerns regarding the configuration of the proposed site plan, connecting the residential tower with the mixed-use development by adding trails and pedestrian walkways, and overall agreeing the cUlTent proposal will not work. Mayor Pro Tern Fernekes stated the subcommittee (Fernekes/Matsumoto) and staff members met last week with Mr. Myers and that the subcommittee expressed many of the same concerns. Councilman Gonzalez stated dissatisfaction with building more high-rises and suggested the height be reduced so that the mountain can remain visible in that area. Councilman Garbarino suggested the orientation of the proposed tower be adjacent to the townhouse area. Mr. Myers agreed to look at it again. 5. Adjournment Being no further business, Mayor Green adjourned the meeting at 9:02 p.m. Submitted by: /:J~"'la' //7. ~~ ~a M. Payne, City Cler{ City of South San Francisco Approved: ~\~;;t ~ Raymond L. Green, Mayor City of South San Francisco SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OCTOBER 5, 2005 PAGE 5 , ".