HomeMy WebLinkAbout9-17-24 Final MinutesDESIGN REVIEW BOARD MINUTES
CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO
DATE: September 17, 2024
TIME: 4:00 PM
MEMBERS PRESENT: Sean Winchester– Vice Chairperson
Michael Nilmeyer& David W. Nelson
MEMBERS ABSENT: Chris Mateo - Chairperson
STAFF PRESENT: Adena Friedman, Chief Planner
Billy Gross, Principal Planner
Megan Wooley-Ousdahl, Principal Planner
Victoria Kim, Associate Planner
Patricia Cotla, Planning Technician
1. Adminstrative Business- None
2. OWNER Omar Hernandez TR. APPLICANT Francisco Toca ADDRESS 828 Hemlock Avenue PROJECT NUMBER P24-0041: DR24-0007
PROJECT NAME 2nd Story-Addition
(Case Planner: Megan Wooley-Ousdahl) DESCRIPTION Design Review for a 2nd story addition at 828 Hemlock
Avenue in the Low Density Residential (RL-8) Zoning
District in accordance with Title 20 of the South San Franisco Zoning District and determination that the project is categorically exempt from CEQA
The Board had the following comments:
1. The Board liked the design concept and the roof articulation.
2. The Board recommends adding a window or adding a different material finish
above the garage door or lower the garage roofline to help breakup the overall
massing.
3. The Board recommends vaulting the second-story windows so that the top of
each window is parallel with the roofline.
4. The Board suggests the applicant consider planting Syagrus romanzoffiana,
Queen Palm in the front yard and the rear yard were shown on the landscape
plan. This species can grow to 30 ft in height that will complement the scale
of the second-story addition.
Recommend Approval with Comments.
5. OWNER Vijay Kumar
APPLICANT Ritvik Kumar ADDRESS 842 Commercial Avenue PROJECT NUMBER P24-0053: DR24-0014 PROJECT NAME New Single Family Dwelling Unit
(Case Planner: Victoria Kim) DESCRIPTION Design Review to construct a new single-family residential dwelling unit behind 842 Commercial Avenue in the Downtown Residential Low (DRL) 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 design concept with the material finishes. 2. Review the landscaping plans, as certain species will not survive the SSF elements. Consider adding Lagerstroemia indica x fauriei ‘Tuscarora’ (pink) or ‘Natchez’ (white) Crape Myrtle, as this species grows 25’-30’, is a low-
water use plant and mildew resistant. Recommend Approval with Comments.
6. OWNER Newlife Investment LLC APPLICANT Ken Cui ADDRESS 500 Railroad Avenue PROJECT NUMBER P23-0061: DR23-0024, TDM23-0007, PUD24-0001 &
EIR24-0002 PROJECT NAME New Residential Townhomes (Case Planner: Victoria Kim)
DESCRIPTION Design Review, Transportation Demand Management Plan, Planned Unit Development and Environmental Review to construct a new residential campus on Railroad Avenue in the Transect 4 Lindenville (T4L) Zoning District in accordance
with Title 20 of the South San Francisco Municipal Code.
The Board had the following comments: 1. The Board liked the overall design concept for this challenging railroad
parcel. The model that was presented at the meeting was extremely helpful in
explaining the site.
2. Consider redesigning the public open space at Maple Avenue to create a more useable and leveled space adjacent to Railroad Avenue, with an accessible path located at the rear for possible integration with future bike/pedestrian connections envisioned in the Lindenville Specific Plan .
3. Revise the landscaping plans as follows:
a. Replace the proposed clumping grass species ( Festuca californica) which will grows poorly in the SSF elements, with another species such as Muhlenbergia capillaris, Pink Muhly Grass, which does very well in the SSF elements.
b. Consider not including the Achillea millifolium species that is high in
allergens. c. If using Arbutus unedo, Strawberry Tree (‘Marina’) place the species within the proposed planters to slippery berries dropping into the walking area.
d. Provide a range of landscape species that will give a sense of seasons.
e. Preserve existing large Eucupluyus trees at the southern property boundary to the maximum extent feasible. f. Add vine pockets on the retaining wall at the common open space area between Buildings 1 and 2. Plant evergreen vines such as Ficus pumila
‘Minima’, Miniature Creeping Fig, which will cover the walls a soften the
limited pedestrian experience. g. Consider species which will grow tall and narrow such as the Ginkgo biloba ‘Autumn Gold’ shown on L5 or the evergreen Tristania conferta (Lophostemon), Brisbane box that will grow in a vertical pattern along
Railroad Avenue.
4. Forward the revised landscaping plan to the DRB to review prior to Planning Commission entitlement review.
Recommend Approval with Comments; Applicant can proceed to a future Planning Commission hearing.