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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-17-2020 Final Minutes DESIGN REVIEW BOARD MINUTES  CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO DATE: November 17, 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: Tony Rozzi, Acting Planning Manager Billy Gross, Senior Planner Stephanie Skangos, Associate Planner Gaspare Annibale, Associate Planner Patricia Cotla, Planning Technician 1. Adminstrative Business – None 2. OWNER SFO Hospitality Ventures LLC APPLICANT All Sign Services – David Ford ADDRESS 127 West Harris Avenue PROJECT NUMBER P20-0068: DR20-0031 & Sign20-0019 PROJECT NAME Master Sign Program (Case Planner: Billy Gross) DESCRIPTION Design Review for a Master Sign Program for a commercial hotel at 127 West Harris Avenue in the Freeway Commercial (FC) 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. Revise the project plans to include a maximum of two wall signs on the upper portions of the building. 2. Revise the base of the monument sign to include a masonry finish that is coordinated with the building architecture.  Recommend Approval with Conditions. 3. OWNER Lotus Hospitality Inc. APPLICANT Vikash Patel ADDRESS 275 South Airport Blvd PROJECT NUMBER P20-0069: DR20-0029 & SIGNS20-0020 PROJECT NAME Exterior Modifications with new Sigage (Case Planner: Gaspare Annibale) DESCRIPTION Design Review for exterior modifications and a Type "B" Sign Permit for a commercial building at 275 South Airport Blvd in the Freeway Commercial Zone (FC) Zone District in accordance with Title 20 of the South San Francisco Municipal Code and determination that the project is categorically exempt from CEQA. 1. The Board liked the proposed sign design. 2. The new material finishes gives the hotel a new visual appearance. 3. The Board is concerned with the emergency exit coming out of the Houlihans restaurant area. The area is dark and gloomy. 4. Consider masking the emergency exit or mitigating the appearance by adding some planter boxes with 12” ground species. 5. Consider adding a concrete base around the new monument sign to protect the sign. 6. Incorporate into your landscaping plan some New Zealand Christmas trees along the façade of the building to help soften the corner of the building. Sky Pencil Holly or other narrow columnar evergreen shrub could be planted against the large blank walls to soften the appearance. Recommend Approval with Conditions 4. OWNER David F. Gong APPLICANT Sharon Peng ADDRESS 547 Miller Avenue/548 4th Lane PROJECT NUMBER P20-0008: DR20-0008 PROJECT NAME New Single Family Dwelling (Case Planner: Stephanie Skangos) DESCRIPTION Design Review to demo an existing structure and construct a new single family dwelling unit at 547 Miller Avenue/548 4th Lane in the Downtown Residential Medium (DRM) Zoning District in accordance with Title 20 of the South San Francisco Municipal Code (SSFMC), and determination that the project is categorically exempt from CEQA, per Class 3, Section 15303. The Board had the following comments: 1. The Board overall liked the design concept. 2. The entry porch is out of character with the overall design style of the residence and should be redesigned to be more modern, contemporary, and compatible with the house and the surrounding neighborhood. Consider simple geometric columns and a nice sturdy base. 3. The revised plans need to include a revised civil grading plan with elevations showing existing and proposed conditions, including all existing retaining walls along the adjacent properties. 4. Include details of the proposed rear yard stairwell in the plan set. 5. The site is lacking open space for the residents to utilize. Consider revising the landscaping plan to include more trees and larger shrubs, as well as minimizing the amount of concrete in the rear yard to allow for a more child-friendly backyard. 6. A street tree should be included in the plans; however, research should be conducted to determine an appropriate species of street tree that will fit the space. Some properties farther down the lane have trees. Justification should be provided in the plan set. 7. Consider incorporating solar panels into the project. 8. Consider a different material finish around the upper deck railings. Open- railings may be an issue with wind and the actual use of the balconies. Consider enclosing the railings with a glass wall. Resubmittal required 5. OWNER Roalto Corporation APPLICANT Fractured 9 Inc. ADDRESS 455-463 Grand Avenue PROJECT NUMBER P19-0066: UP20-0005 & DR20-0021 PROJECT NAME New Mixed Use Development (Case Planner: Stephanie Skangos) DESCRIPTION Use Permit and Design Review to construct a Mixed-Use Development, consisting of 27 residential units and 2,865 SF of retail, at 455-463 Grand Avenue in the Grand Avenue Core (GAC) Zoning District in accordance with Title 20 of the South San Francisco Municipal Code (SSFMC), and determination that the project is consistent with the Downtown Station Area Specific Plan (DSASP) Environmental Impact Report (EIR), per the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The Board had the following comments: 1. The Board liked the overall design concept, character, sophisticated palette, and marriage between modernization and existing surroundings of the building, but had some concerns with the proposed material finishes. The material finishes should be consistent throughout the building and on all stories. 2. The proposed façade of the building needs some treatment. 3. The Board would like to see more historic features incorporated into the design to better complement the Downtown district. 4. A minority opinion is that the proposed design makes the building look like a warehouse and out of character with the surrounding structures. 5. The Board would like to see more detail information regarding the gate on the ground floor entrance area. 6. The white line band on top of the building is out of character and does not add any enhancement to the design. Rework the parapet of the building, and consider removing it completely or changing to a slightly thicker cap more reminiscent of historic parapets. 7. The Board recommends framing out the upper floor windows to create more 3- dimensional imagery, depth, and shadow lines. Consider recessing the windows more and framing the windows with the darker color used on the base, as this will add more articulation to the design. 8. Consider matching the upper-level window trim color to the ground floor window trim color. 9. The Board recommends that the applicant submit a wind study, as the proposed north end of the courtyard will have some wind issues. Consider incorporating wind attenuation/mitigation measures, such as a wall/fence or heavier landscaping to make the area more usable for residents. 10. In reviewing the landscaping plan, there are a number of species that will not work with the microclimate of SSF. The proposed groundcover (Blue oat grass) will not survive in this microclimate. Select another clumping grass that will work better in this area. 11. Consider a more vertically-narrow tree species for the proposed street trees that will help scale the height of the building. While the London plane tree species have worked well in the area, Brisbane Box, Armstrong Maple, or an upright flowering tree will work better as street trees for this project. 12. Consider incorporating solar panels into the project. Resubmittal required.