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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 04/01/2004 MINUTES Apri/l, 2004 CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION CALL TO ORDER / PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ROLL CALL / CHAIR COMMENTS TAPE 1 7:30 p.m. PRESENT: Commissioner Giusti, Commissioner Honan, Commissioner Romero, Commissioner Sim Commissioner Zemke and Chairperson Ochsenhirt ABSENT: Vice Chairperson Teglia (excused) STAFF PRESENT: Planning Division: Thomas C. Sparks, Chief Planner Steve Carlson, Senior Planner Steve Kowalski, Associate Planner Bertha Aguilar, Admin. Asst. II Kimberly Johnson, Assistant City Attorney Sergeant Alan Normandy, Planning Liaison Bob Green, Acting Battalion Chief City Attorney: Police Department: Fire: AGENDA REVIEW Chief Planner Sparks noted that there were no changes but had an item for the Commission under Items from Staff. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS None CONSENT CALENDAR 1. Approval of Regular Meeting Minutes March 18, 2004. Approved 2. Edgewater Business Park Sign Program Utah Partners, Ltd./Owner Simeon Commercial Properties/Applicant 290 Utah Ave. P04-0021 & SIGNS04-0005 Approved Type "C" Sign Permit allowing a master sign program consisting of monument signs, directory signs, building fac;ade signs and existing flag poles totaling in excess of 300 square feet in the Planned Industrial (P-I) Zoning District in accordance with SSFMC Chapter 20.76 Motion Romero / Second Sim to approve the Consent Calendar. Approved by unanimous voice vote. PUBLIC HEARING 3. Pasco, Albert & Barbara/Owner Welte's Bar/Applicant 254 Grand Ave. P03-0006 & UP03-0001 Continued to May 6, 2004 Use Permit to allow live indoor entertainment at an existing cocktail lounge in the Downtown Commercial (D-C-L) Zoning District in accordance with SSFMC Chapters 20.26 and 20.81. Categorical Exemption Class 1 Section 15301 Minor Alterations of Existing Facilities. Planning Commission Meeting of April 1, 2004 Chief Planner Sparks noted that the applicant for the project had not arrived and asked that the Commission consider item number 4. 4. SandHill Property Co., Owner / Applicant 345 East Grand Ave. P04-0030 & UP04-0010 Continued to April 15, 2004 Use permit allowing wholesale, storage and distribution uses and freight forwarding uses to operate on a 24 hour daily basis generating in excess of 100 vehicle trips and outdoor truck storage in an existing 126,944 square foot warehouse and freight forwarding facility, situated at 345 East Grand Avenue in the Planned Industrial Zoning District (P-I) in accordance with SSFMC Sections 20.32.060, 20.32.070(a) and 20.32.070 (b). Mitigated Negative Declaration ND-Ol-034 previously adopted April 2002. Senior Planner Carlson presented the staff report. Public Hearing opened. Being there were no speakers the Public Hearing was closed. Discussion: Commissioner Romero stated that freight forwarding / warehouse uses that were in conformance in 1997 could continue as such since that year. He asked if the adoption of the General Plan changed the previous land use to a new land use. Senior Planner Carlson replied that the amendment specified that the freight forwarding / warehouse uses that were conforming as of July 10, 1997 are considered conforming land uses for the life of the property . Assistant City Attorney Johnson added that this was part of a compromise agreement with many business owners to keep the uses conforming that were in operation as of July 10, 1997. The conversion to Research and Development (R&D) approved previously by the Planning Commission uses does not apply the businesses that were freight forwarding / warehouse on July 10, 1997. Commissioner Honan asked how often an applicant is allowed to convert from one warehouse to business and technology. Assistant City Attorney Johnson noted that as long as a business stays within the categories that are authorized in the compromise agreement, they can continue to convert. If they had been warehouse of July 10, 1997 they could not convert to freight forwarding. In this case the R&D use was never implemented and the freight forwarding use was never abandoned. Chairperson Ochsenhirt asked if there was a provision stating that if the freight forwarding / warehouse use was changed to R&D they could not revert back to it. Assistant City Attorney Johnson noted that the best way to answer all the Commission's concerns would be via a memo with the resolution attached. John Tsai, 30 E 4th Ave.- San Mateo, noted that they fully intend to convert the project to R&D but at the time the project was approved the biotech market deteriorated and there were no tenants for the building. In the interim they will lease the property to keep it occupied with a short-term lease. He added that they would also request an extension for the use permit. Senior Planner Carlson noted that this is a conforming use and it requires a use permit due to the trip generation. Motion Honan / Second Romero to continue the item to April 15, 2004. Approved by unanimous voice vote. 3 Pasco, Albert & Barbara/Owner Welte's Bar/Applicant 254 Grand Ave. P03-0006 & UP03-0001 Continued to May 6, 2004 Use Permit to allow live indoor entertainment at an existing cocktail lounge in the Downtown Commercial (D-C-L) Zoning District in accordance with SSFMC Chapters 20.26 and 20.81. Categorical Exemption Class 1 Section 15301 Minor Alterations of Existing Facilities. S:\M[V\.ute.s\F[V\.ClL[zecl M[V\.ute.s\::2004 \0-4--01. -0-4- RPc.cloc' PClge ~ of 5 Planning Commission Meeting of April 1, 2004 Associate Planner Kowalski presented the staff report. Mrs. Rodriguez, owner, thanked the Commission for considering their request to have live entertainment at the bar. Public Hearing opened. There being no speakers the Public Hearing was closed. Associate Planner Kowalski noted that he had omitted the 6-month review condition from the Conditions of Approval and that it would need to be added along with a 12 and 18-month review per the Police Department's request. He added that the Police Department would also like a second acoustical study conducted once the building is sound proofed. Sergeant Normandy noted that the Police Department's concern is that the clientele and noise from the music might have a negative impact on the residents of the building. He noted that it usually takes about 6-months for a business to be successful and that is the reason for the additional reviews. With regard to the acoustical study, the Police Department would like to confirm that the soundproofing would work once it is in place and that is the reason for requiring a second acoustical study. Commissioner Honan asked if the same company that did the previous acoustical study would perform the second study. Sergeant Normandy noted that a city consultant performed the first study and that the Police Department would prefer using that same consultant to conduct the second study. Commissioner Zemke asked if there were any concerns or problems with previous businesses offering live entertainment on Grand avenue. Sergeant Normandy noted that the Escape and Silver Dollar were problematic for the community. Issues not related to the use permit resulted in the closing of these businesses. He added that Mr. Rodriguez is a responsible and cooperative business owner but there may be quality of life issues in the neighborhood once the music starts. Commissioner Giusti asked if the entertainment would be nightly or on a weekend basis. Sergeant Normandy noted that it could be on weekends but asked that the applicant submit a detailed proposal for the City to review. Commissioner Romero asked if there were any problems at EI Meson del Mariachi on Spruce Avenue. Sergeant Normandy noted that there were occasional problems but stated that EI Meson del Mariachi did not have the same draw of clientele that the Downtown bars had. He noted that he did not have any records present for that site. Commissioner Romero questioned what the trend was on the live entertainment uses in the past. Sergeant Normandy noted that there were several dance halls and ABC licenses along a 3-block area of Grand, which was a busy area. Peace and quality of live have improved in the area since the closure of those businesses. Commissioner Sim asked if the residents have been notified of the live entertainment and requested that there be a monitoring program for the bar. Chairperson Ochsenhirt asked if the security officer would help mitigate the safety concerns the Police Department has. Sergeant Normandy noted that a uniformed security officer would help implement noise reduction because the guard would enforce keeping doors and windows closed. He added that the guard would also serve as a witness for incidents occurring inside or outside the bar. Commissioner Honan asked if there would be finger foods and Commissioner Romero questioned what the exact hours of operation would be. Efrain Rodriguez noted that the finger foods would be served upon request and they are planning to have the live music Thursday thru Sunday from 9: p.m. through 1:30 a.m. Commissioner Giusti asked if the card room activities would still be taking place and if there would be a scheduling conflict. Mr. Rodriguez noted that there would not be any card room activities. Commissioner Romero suggested changing the hours of operation and continuing the item until these are determined. The Commission concurred with Commissioner Romero's comments and felt that another community meeting would be beneficial. Mrs. Rodriguez noted that they are open to any suggestions. Mr. Rodriguez noted S;\M[V\.ute.s\F[V\.ClL[zecl M[V\.ute.s\::2004 \04-01.-04 RPc.cloc' PClge 3 of 5 Planning Commission Meeting of April 1, 2004 that this type of music and dancing is not what has been offered in South San Francisco before. Commissioner Honan added that another community meeting needs to be scheduled and the mailing list needs to be expanded. Assistant City Attorney Johnson noted that the Commission has the option to continue the item to allow the applicant and staff to provide the information being requested, or have built in review periods in the Conditions of Approval with a limit on the hours of operation. The Commission felt that the first community meeting did not reach the desired number of neighbors and was not held in the appropriate location, therefore, another community meeting targeting a larger area was needed. Chief Planner Sparks noted that the legal requirement is a 300 feet radius and it has been the practice of the Planning Division to notice above and beyond that requirement to a 500 foot radius of owners and residents. He felt that this met the needs of the Commission. Commissioner Honan asked Sergeant Normandy how he felt about holding another community meeting. Sergeant Normandy noted that the Police Department would be interested in conducting a neighborhood canvas to survey the neighbors' opinions. Motion Honan / Second Sim to continue the item May 6, 2004 to allow the applicant to conduct a community meeting at a different location with an expanded notification to old town SSF and provide the Commission with exact hours of operation for the live entertainment. Approved by unanimous voice vote. 5. Project 101/Huntsman Architectural Group-Applicant Elbert Bressie/David Bressie-Owner 600-790 Dubuque Ave. (APN 015-021-090 and SBE 135-41-14 PAR 1) UP, VAR, TDMP, DR-00-024 and MND-00-024 (Recommend continuance Off-Calendar) Mitigated Negative Declaration assessing environmental impacts associated with the proposed project, in accordance CEQA. Use Permit aI/owing a multi-tenant mixed-use commercial center comprised principally of office and R&D with commercial uses generating in excess of 100 average daily vehicle trips, with 24 hour operation and off-site parking, in accordance with SSFMC Sections 20.24.060, 20.74.120 and Chapter 20.81. Variance allowing a reduction in parking from the required parking rate of 3.3 spaces per 1,000 square feet to a rate of 2.64 spaces per 1,000 square feet in conjunction with a TDM Plan in accordance with SSFMC Chapters 20.82 and 20.120. Transportation Demand Management Plan reducing traffic impacts, in accordance with SSFMC Chapter 20.120. Design Review of a conversion of an existing commercial development from a multi- tenant mixed-use facility comprised primarily of warehouse, distribution, office and retail to a multi-tenant mixed- use facility comprised primarily of office and R&D with commercial, in accordance with SSFMC Chapter 20.85 in the Zone District: Planned Commercial (P-C) Zone District. Chief Planner Sparks noted that the applicant has requested that the Master Plan for Project 101 be continued to May 6, 2004 rather than off-calendar. Motion Sim / Second Giusti to continue the item to May 6, 2004 ADMINISTRATIVE BUSINESS 6. Items from Staff None Chief Planner Sparks presented a Design Review application that was approved but looks different from the other homes. He explained that the Chief Planners approval can be appealed at this time and if the Commission wished to do so they could appeal the decision. Some Commissioners felt that there were other homes around the City being built that do not fit with the surrounding neighborhood. Others felt that the design needed more detail. S:\M[V\.ute.c;\F[V\.ClL[zecl M[V\.ute.s\200-4- \0-4--01. -0-4- RPc.cloc' PClge -4- of 5 Planning Commission Meeting of April 1, 2004 Motion Romero / Second Sim to appeal the approval of the Chief Planner on P04-0040 & DR04-0024. Roll Call vote: Ayes: Commissioner Zemke, Commissioner Sim and Commissioner Romero Noes: Commissioner Honan, Commissioner Giusti, Chairperson Ochsenhirt Abstain: None Absent: Vice Chairperson Teglia Motion failed due to a 3-3 vote. 7. Items from Commission None 8. Items from the Public None 9. Adjournment 10:00 P.M. ~~o~ Ric Ochsenhirt, Chairperson Planning Commission City of South San Francisco NEXT MEETING: Regular Meeting April 15, 2004, Municipal Services Building, 33 Arroyo Drive, South San Francisco, CA TCS/bla S:\M[V\.ute.s\F[V\.ClL[zecl M[V\.ute.s\::2004 \04-01. -04 RPc.cloc' PClge 5 of 5