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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05.16.91 Minutes MINUTES SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO PLANNING COMMISSION Regular Meeting of May 16, 1991 CALL TO ORDER: 7:34 P.M. (Cassette No.1) PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE MEMBERS PRESENT: Vice-Chairman Matteucci, Commissioners Boblitt, Mantegani and Zellmer. ABSENT: Chairman DeZordo and Commissioner Wendler. *commissioner Zellmer arrived at 7:39 P.M. ALSO PRESENT: Planning Division Steve Solomon Maureen K. Morton Susy Kalkin Of cr. M. Dickson Mike Baird Police Department Building Division CHAIRMAN COMMENTS APPROVAL OF MINUTES of April 18, 1991 Due to a lack of quorum, the minutes were/not approved until the end of the meeting. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS AGENDA ITEMS - PUBLIC HEARINGS 710 Airport Boulevard, Sierra Inn Motel Partners, UP-91-892 Use Permit and design review approval to allow construction of an additional unit, a new laundry and storage space and to eliminate two parking spaces at an existing motel in the P-C Zone District in accordance with provisions of SSFMC section 20.24.030(c). May 16, 1991 staff report presented. commissioner Boblitt asked staff if the parking spaces were standard size or compact. Planner Kalkin answered they were standard. Motion-Boblitt/Second-Warren: To approve UP-91-892 subject to the conditions and based on the findings in the staff report. Approved by the following roll call vote. AYES: Vice-Chairman Matteucci, Commissioners Boblitt, Mantegani and Warren. ABSENT: Chairman DeZordo and Commissioner Wendler. ABSTAINED: Commissioner Zellmer who arrived too late to vote on this project. PAGE 1 OF 6 PAGES PC Meeting of 5/16/91 AGENDA ITEMS - Cont. 221 Airport Boulevard. Unocal Corporation (D. W. Ratto. owner). UP- 91-889 May 16, 1991 staff report presented. Representing the applicant: John Knott Robert Lee & Assoc. 1137 No. McDowell petaluma Mr. Knott stated the station has been there for over 50 years. The reason for additional parking was to make the site "user-friendly." They were willing to close the driveway (driveway #2 in the study) and landscape it. The applicant proposed landscaping a four-foot strip along the westerly property line (the Zoning Ordinance requires 6' minimum width landscape strip) but to extend that strip would eliminate two of the eight parking spaces proposed there. Mr. Knott asked the Commission for a compromise. commissioner Warren asked staff the width of the tandem parking spaces. Senior Planner Morton answered 8~ feet wide. Commissioner Warren stated she preferred the parking spaces to the landscaping. commissioner Mantegani stated that he did not like the present state of the service station and was concerned with the possibility that Unocal would never make improvements to this site. Planner Morton did advise the Commission that this site was in the Downtown Redevelopment Area. Commissioner Mantegani inquired as to the possibility of having a "state-of-the-art" Unocal station now. Chief Planner Solomon stated that the City would like a visually pleasing entry to the downtown area and would like to see an office building or some other strong architectural feature. Commissioner Boblitt stated that since this station is an entrance to the city, it should be "state-of-the-art." commissioner Zellmer stated that this station would probably be around for the next ten years. The precedent that this commission has taken is to require "state-of-the-art" for gas stations. commissioner Mantegani questioned the percentage of the landscaping. Planner Morton stated it would be over 8%. Commissioner Manteg'ani stated that the Commission had this opportunity to request a "state- of-the-art" gas station and should. commissioner Zellmer agreed and asked the Commission to ask for the best possible plan for this site and request site improvements with it. Vice-Chairman Matteucci expressed his concern about traffic problems and with the design and agreed with the Commissioners about it being an entrance to the City and an important site. PAGE 2 OF 6 PAGES PC Meeting of 5/16/91 AGENDA ITEMS - Cont. Commissioner Warren asked Mr. Knott what would be involved in upgrading the station? Mr. Knott stated there were many degrees of upgrading. He felt Unocal was in a vulnerable position because of the redevelopment potential and the station being a non-conforming use. Mr. Knott stated that more landscaping was being added to beautify this site. He understood the concerns of, the Commission but felt Unocal was caught in the middle. commissioner Mantegani asked about the redevelopment program; what are the guidelines and when can we expect to see changes. Chief Planner Solomon stated redevelopment could come in five years but the Department was in the process of bringing in new staff and no plan was currently available. He advised the Commission if they so desired they could continue the matter and have the applicant go before the Design Review Board. A concern of the Commission was that ifUnocal made major improvements to this site and then down the road the City wanted something else in that site, we would be "cutting our own throats." commissioner Zellmer agreed with Commissioner Boblitt that this was their opportunity to ask for the upgrade. 'He believed it would be ten years before there was any redevelopment in the downtown area and that any improvements made would be amortized. The Commission discussed the possibility of continuing the case if the applicant was willing to bring back a proposed upgrade plan. Mr. Knott explained that his client did not want to put millions of dollars to upgrade this station, if in the near future, the City wanted something else on that site. He stated that it had been modernized about ten years ago and that the tanks had been replaced about three years ago. This station is not on the docket for major construction in the near future. Commissioner Warren stated that she could see the predicament the applicant was in because of the uncertainty of the future of this site but she did want to see this area significantly upgraded. Motion-Warren/no second: To approve UP-91-881 subject to the conditions and based on the findings with the elimination of conditlon #4. For lack of a second the motion died. Representing the applicant: Natalie Mead Union oil Ms. Mead advised the Commission that Union oil is proposing to open a service station with a minimart in another community, which is what would be proposed with an upgrade at this location. She stated that they had received quite a bit of opposition from other cities about PAGE 3 OF 6 PAGES PC Meeting of 5/16/91 AGENDA ITEMS - Cont. having a minimart on the site and wasn't sure how South San Francisco felt about it. Motion-Boblitt/Second-Mantegani: To continue this application with direction to upgrade the station, refer the application to the Design Review Board and return to the Planning Commission on July 18, 1991. At this time commissioner Warren moved to table the motion in order to reopen to public hearing for the purpose of giving the applicant two minutes to speak. Commissioner Zellmer seconded the motion. Approved by voice vote. Mr. Knott did not believe the applicant would proceed with an upgrade, other than that which is reflected in the application, including removal of the driveway and the landscaping. He asked for the Commission's leniency. The hearing was closed again. The tabled motion was approved by the following roll call vote. AYES: Commissioner Boblitt, Mantegani and Zellmer. NOES: Vice~ Chairman Matteucci and Warren. ABSENT: Chairman DeZordo and Commissioner Wendler. 900 Linden Avenue. Robert Orr (Marv Lonati. owner). UP-91-890) Use Permit to allow establishment of a produce market with outdoor display racks in an existing building within 200 feet of a residential zone in the C-1 Zone District in accordance with provisions of SSFMC Sections 20.22.030 and 20.22.070(c). Vice-Chairman Matteucci removed himself from the dais. because of conflict of interest. He turned the meeting over to commissioner Mantegani. May 16, 1991 staff report presented. Applicant: Robert Orr 600 Keoncrest SSF Mr. Orr stated that he thought this would be very beneficial to the community. commissioner Warren was concerned about the hours of operation. She asked about the trucks delivering the produce. Planner Morton stated that the applicant himself would go to the produce terminal and deliver the produce to the site in a pickup truck. Mr. Orr explained to the Commission that everything would be done inside of the building before the store opened. Commissioner Boblitt had two concerns; she wanted to have a six and twelve month review; and she wanted to have the portable display cases taken in at night (make this condition #10). PAGE 4 OF 6 PAGES PC Meeting of 5/16/91 AGENDA ITEMS - Cont. commissioner Zellmer was concerned about condition #5 regarding parking. Planner Morton assured the Commission that the applicant had enough parking spaces to satisfy the Zoning Ordinance. Motion-Warren/Second~Boblitt: To approve UP-91-890 subject to the revised conditions and based on the findings in the staff report.. Approved by the following roll call vote. AYES: Vice-Chairman Matteucci, Commissioners Boblitt, Mantegani, Warren and Zellmer. ABSENT: Chairman DeZordo and Commissioner Wendler. Vice-Chairman Matteucci returned to the dais. 650 Dubuque Avenue. Cal Billv's (Elbert Bressie. Owner) .UP-91-891 Use Permit to establish an indoor driving range with accessory retai1 activity within an existing building in the P-C Zone District in accordance with provisions of SSFMC section 20.24.030(c). The staff requested a continuance to allow the applicant to submit more information. Motion-Boblitt/Second-Warren: To continue UP-91-891 to June 6, 1991. Approved by voice vote. ABSENT: Chairman DeZordo and Commissioner Wendler. Items from Staff Chief Planner Solomon requested that the Commission set a special meeting in late June or early July dealing with the Conference Center. He also advised the Commission that the traffic study would not be available until June 18, 1991. Since the July 4th meeting will be cancelled, Chief Planner Solomon ~sked the Commission for another convenient date. Motion-Zellmer/Second-Warren: 1991. Approved by voice vote. Commissioner Wendler. 'To hold a special meeting on July 11, ABSENT: Chairman DeZordo and Items from Commission Commissioner Boblitt expressed her concern about the project at Appian Way and Gellert (Sunrise). She stated that the applicant was in litigation but she wanted staff to keep a close eye on this project. She also stated that the lot next to the Sunrise project had a wall with the outside frames removed. She recalled that when the property was sold the Commission advised the new owner to remove this wall but did not stipulate this as a condition on the use permit. At the present time, this owner has stopped building and the use permit has almost expired. Commissioner Boblitt asked staff if it was possible for the City to/take the wall down and put a lien on the property. Chief Planner Solomon stated that if the wall was declared a nuisance it could probably be removed but it would be a question for the Council. Commissioner Boblitt also expressed her concern about the danger on this lot with half-built houses and no PAGE 5 OF 6 PAGES PC Meeting of 5/16/91 ITEMS FROM COMMISSION - Cont. guard to protect the'children who will be playing,there during the summer. Chief Planner Solomon reiterated the Commission's concerns which were to have staff explore, with the City Attorney, the ability of the city to pursue a nuisance abatement regarding the wall and providing security on the st. Francis Heights project and the need for a security guard on the Sunrise project. commissioner Mantegani asked staff where he should direct questions about the maintenance of landscaping projects (private projects where the City took over the landscaping strips). Chief Planner Solomon stated that he thought he should direct questions to Park and Recreation but would check and get back to him. Chief Planner Solomon advised the Commission that our new City Attorney is Michael O'Toole from Gardenia who will be joining the City on June 15, 1991. A decision on whether the City will have a Deputy City Attorney will be made at a later date. At this time the minutes of April 18, 1991 were approved. Motion-Boblitt/Second-Zellmer: To approve the April 18, 1991 minutes as presented. Approved by voice vote. ABSENT: Chairman DeZordo and Commissioner Wendler. ABSTAINED: Commissioner Warren who was not present at the April 18, 1991 meeting. vice-Chairman Matteucci adjourned 1991 at 7:30 P.M. ~~?Jd~YWV Stev 'Solomon, Secretary Planning Commission City of South San Francisco the meeting at 8:50 P.M. to June 6, euc i, vice~Chairman Planning Commission City of South San Francisco LM:SS:ab PAGE 6 OF 6 PAGES PC Meeting of 5/16/91