HomeMy WebLinkAbout9-15-2020 Final Minutes DESIGN REVIEW BOARD MINUTES
CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO
DATE: September 15, 2020
TIME: 4:00 PM
MEMBERS PRESENT: Chris Mateo, Chair
Sean Winchester, Vice Chair
Michael Nilmeyer
David W. Nelson,
Frank Vieira
MEMBERS ABSENT: none
STAFF PRESENT: Sailesh Mehra, Planning Manager
Tony Rozzi, Principal Planner
Chris Espiritu, Senior Planner
Stephanie Skangos, Associate Planner
Patricia Cotla, Planning Technician
1. Adminstrative Business – Staff Presentation on Single Family Dwellings
• DRB generally recommends approval of the SFD projects that were presented
• A series of future meetings with DRB and Staff are recommended, including but not
limited to: architectural histroric preservation, and planting review with the Parks and
Rec. Department
2. OWNER Rabih Ballout
APPLICANT Abraham Zavala
ADDRESS 508-512 South Airport Blvd
PROJECT NUMBER P20-0051: DR20-0025
PROJECT NAME Exterior Modifications
(Case Planner: Gaspare Annibale )
DESCRPTION Design Review for exterior modifications to a commercial building
at 508-512 South Airport Blvd in the Business Commercial (BC)
Zoning District in accordance with Title 20 of the South San
Francisco Municipal Code and determination that the project is
categorically exempt from CEQA.
Approved as submitted
3. OWNER Frank Adasiewicz TR
APPLICANT Frank Adasiewicz TR
ADDRESS 360/364 Alta Vista Drive
PROJECT NUMBER P19-0028: UP19-0016 & DR19-0040
PROJECT NAME New Residential Development
(Case Planner: Stephanie Skangos)
DESCRIPTION “Resubmittal” - Planned Unit Development to merge 4 parcels and
construct 14 Single Family Homes with ADU units at 360 and 364
Alta Vista Drive in accordance with Title 20 of the South San
Francisco Municipal Code
The Board had the following comments:
1. The Board liked the revised design concept. 2. The added dormers were a nice feature to the design. 3. The applicant listened to and addressed the prior DRB comments.
4. The Board liked the different design element styles - Eyebrow & Craftsman. The
windows on the garage doors added a nice feature to the design. 5. Consider adding a horizontal band to the elevations along Alta Vista Drive to tie all the material finishes together. This will also create a nice shadow line. 6. All detail information was addressed in the resubmittal.
7. The play area was well incorporated into the design.
8. The proposed landscaping plan will work well for the site.
9. Consider changing Cercis canadensis, Eastern Redbud to Cercis canadensis var.
texensis 'Oklahoma', “Oklahoma Redbud”.
10. The one way access into the development will provide a nice safety feature for the
residents and pedestrians.
11. The site is still under-parked for the number of units being proposed.
12. Consider removing the grates with vines along the drive aisle, as this will diminish
fire access.
Recommend Approval with Comments
4. OWNER Jamasbi Firoozeh
APPLICANT Jamasbi Firoozeh
ADDRESS El Camino Real & Hickey Blvd
PROJECT NUMBER P20-0021: DR20-0015
PROJECT NAME New Work Live Units
(Case Planner: Christopher Espiritu)
DESCRIPTION Design Review to construct four work live units on a 10,703 square ft.
lot on the corner of El Camino Real and Hickey Blvd in the
Community Commercial (CC) Zoning District in accordance with
Title 20 of the South San Francisco Municipal Code and determination
that the project is categorically exempt from CEQA.
The Board had the following comments:
1. The Board is concerned with the appearance of the development; consider some
material changes to help break up the massing.
2. The Board is questioning the proposed green roof Provide updated renderings /
elevations of the experience of the green roof from the street level, as you are unable
to see the green roof.
3. The design is very industrial looking and does of fit in with the surrounding
neighborhood.
4. Add some vertical elements to the design.
5. The proposed plans are lacking articulation to the design.
6. The development is lacking a sense of arrival to the site.
7. The applicant needs to hire a Civil Engineer and a Landscape Architect to help with
the redesign and help with the constraints of the site.
8. The Civil Engineer needs to consider an analysis of the site‘s topography and
topographic study of the site is required.
9. The section through the building shows the garage level pushed towards El Camino
Real, constricting the pedestrian walkway and driveway. Consider pushing the garage
floor level back into the hill aligned with the rear of the building to increase the
pedestrian and driveway width for safety.
10. The Board is concerned with the heavy traffic coming off of El Camino Real, and the
safety of the pedestrians using the walkways within the site needs to be addressed.
11. A traffic study should be conducted given that vehicles in this segment of El Camino
Real typically speed and vehicles attempting to access the site may create hazards at
the proposed driveway.
12. The sidewalk across the driveway at the gas station is not shown on the plans.
Crosswalk striping or signage should be considered for safety.
13. The entry drive to the units is very close to the entry drive to the motel parking lot.
Traffic from El Camino Real may make the mistake of using the driveway to the
proposed units to enter the gas station or motel parking lot, which poses a major
safety concern for the pedestrians at the live-work units. Consider a design pattern on
the drive way approach that will distinguish the entrance into the site, as this will help
direct individuals to the existing gas station and motel.
14. Consider changing the paving into and through the site from asphalt to decorative
concrete, stamped concrete or unit paving, to help distinguish the use of this area.
15. Provide signage identifying this entry as “Private Drive” or some other warning to
stop the general public from using this driveway.
16. The rear of the motel backs up against a tall slope, and a concrete drainage channel
captures all this water from the rear and routes it around the south end to the corner of
the new work-live unit building, which is a conflict and needs to be resolved.
17. The sidewalk leading to the adjacent parking lot appears to run into a storage
enclosure on the motel parking lot, which needs to be resolved.
18. The large trees behind the project appear to be California Buckeye, a deciduous
species that drops leaves in late summer.
19. Plant minimum 3 species of tall evergreen/coniferous trees. One at the northeast
corner and two at the southeast corner, near the rear property line at the base of the
slope.
20. These will grow taller than the proposed units and soften the stark boxy appearance of
the project. Consider the following:
• Pinus canariensis, Canary Island Pine
• Cedrus deodara, Deodar Cedar
• Cupressus macrocarpa, Monterey Cypress
21. Design the level landscape area for the residents to use; not just plant trees.
22. The plant species list includes species that may not do well at this location as these
species do not like the wind:
• Hebe
• Princess Flower
23. Consider undergrounding the electrical wires, as there is currently a PG&E pole in the
middle of the development.
Resubmittal required
5. OWNER PS Business Park
APPLICANT The Hanover Company
ADDRESS 124 Airport Blvd & 100 Produce Avenue
PROJECT NUMBER P18-0074: RZ18-0003, GPA18-0004, EIR18-0005, DR18-0038
PROJECT NAME Multi-Family Residential Units
(Case Planner: Tony Rozzi/Chris Espiritu)
DESCRIPTION “Resubmittal” - General Plan Amendment, Rezoning, Conditional
Use Permit, Design Review, and Transportation Demand
Management Plan to redevelop an existing office park development
consisting of two parcels into 480 multi-family residential units at
124 Airport Boulevard and 100 Produce Avenue.
The Board had the following comments:
1. The Board liked the revised architectural updates, articulation is much more
interesting concept.
2. The architectural corner treatments are particularly a nice element.
3. The at grade pedestrian engagement updates are much appreciated.
4. Adding the dog park to the development is a nice added feature.
5. The Hanover team listened to the prior comments and addressed the DRB concerns.
6. The new design incorporated the existing and proposed changes and it was a
beneficial feature to see the before and after appearance.
7. There are six (6) night photos of the tunnel lighting. The upper right photo and the
lower left & lower middle photos do not do as good job creating visibility for persons
in the tunnel so focus on a well-lit tunnel.
8. In selecting the final design, consider the ultimate visibility for safety and to ease the
decision for anyone walking into and through the tunnel.
9. Change the London Plane Tree from the parent Platanus x acerifolia to the variety
Platanus acerifolia 'Columbia'which is more mildew resistant in SSF.
10. Applicant to return with a Master Sign Program for the campus.
Recommend Approval with Conditions.