HomeMy WebLinkAbout1-19-2021 Final Minutes DESIGN REVIEW BOARD MINUTES
CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO
DATE: January 19, 2021
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, Planning Manager
Gaspare Annibale Associate Planner
Stephanie Skangos, Associate Planner
Patricia Cotla, Planning Technician
1. Adminstrative Business - none
2. OWNER 235 Armour Avenue LLC
APPLICANT BBJ Electric
ADDRESS 1103 Airport Blvd
PROJECT NUMBER P20-0026: MUP21-0001 & DR20-0017
PROJECT NAME 2nd Story Office Building
(Case Planner: Stephanie Skangos )
DESCRIPTION Minor Use Permit and Design Review to add a second-story to an
existing office building and a new 8-foot perimeter fence at 1103
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.
The Board had the following comments:
1. The Board liked the project as a whole, but had some concerns on the massing of the
new second-story addition and felt that the addition needs to be better integrated with
the existing building, especially along the Airport Boulevard façade. .
2. The addition looks like a big box atop of a little building.
3. The design is lacking articulation. . The proposed material choices between the
existing building and the addition are not very complementary. Consider different
materials and/or colors – either starker contrast or more harmonious – for the second
story to better tie both existing and new together.
4. The entry porch on the lower level is out of character with the overall design of the
building. Consider adding some architectural features to create a more formal entry to
the building. Additionally, this front entrance may be required to be upgraded to allow
for ADA accessibility.
5. Check with the Building Division on the following items:
Requirements for an accessible van parking space.
Requirements for an accessible path of travel in the rear parking lot.
Consider relocating the ADA parking stalls to be closer to the building with an
appropriate path to the building.
Requirements for winder stairs. It appears on the plans that the landing is
incorrectly drawn and will not meet code.
The ADA bathrooms on the second floor may need to be relabeled to meet
code.
Requirements for the proposed shower on the second floor to be ADA-
compliant.
6. Review the landscaping plant list, as most of the species will not work for this
location. The area is too cold and the site needs to have excellent soil with proper
drainage to support the species shown.
7. The proposed trees on the landscaping plan at the front of the building will not work
for the site. Consider planting trees, such as the Columbia London Plane tree, that will
reach 40 ft. in height that will help scale the height of the building.
8. The site had London Plane trees along Airport Blvd. and Butler Ave. that are now
missing from the site.
9. Consider adding taller and/or larger hedges along the interior fence facing Airport
Blvd to soften the continuous view of the fence and to help frame out the area, as the
proposed shrubs are too small and will not grow too slowly.
10. Consider incorporating some landscaping in-between the parking stalls by adding cut-
out diamond/triangular curbs at the front and between the stalls in line with the stripe,
and planting some smaller sized narrow trees, columnar hedge plants or bamboo
clumps.
11. Consider adding Boston Ivy or Evergreen Ficus vines along the perimeter wall facing
Butler Avenue.
12. Check with a Civil Engineer on the requirements for stormwater retention for the site.
Resubmittal required.
3. OWNER Liu Kam Ying
APPLICANT Alex Tzang
ADDRESS 828 Baden Avenue
PROJECT NUMBER P20-0078: DR20-0035
PROJECT NAME New SFD with an ADU
(Case Planner: Gaspare Annibale)
DESCRIPTION Design Review to construct a new single family dwelling with an
ADU at 828 Baden Avenue in the Downtown Residential Low (DRL)
Zoning District in accordance with SSF Municipal Code and
determination that the project is categorically exempt from CEQA.
The Board had the following comments:
1. The Board like the design concept.
2. The window trim should match with the existing dwelling unit.
3. The exterior staircase does not meet the code and consider making the doorway wider
for better access into the building.
4. The frame entrance is too narrow for someone to enter the building. The walkway on
the left side of the structure should be widened.
5. Check with the Buildng Department on the clearance on the stairwell.
6. Consider having an open stairwell, as this would also help with security in the area.
7. The interior door in the garage should swing outward.
8. The small concrete wall on the front elevation should be painted with a warm color to
match the dwelling unit.
9. Change the tree species to read “Olea europaea 'Swan Hill', Swan Hill Olive Tree” not
“Swan Hill Oliver Tree” and plant 24 inch box size.
10. Check your landscaping plant list, as Purple Rock Rose will not survive on this site
and select species that will thrive with the existing slower drainage and heavier
(clayey) soil.
Recommend Approval with Comments
11. Miscellaneous:
Design Review Board / Re-Organization
New Chair Sean Winchester
New Vice-Chairperson David W. Nelson