HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-09-21 SpecialSPECIAL MEETING
PLANNING COMMISSION
MINUTES
September 21, 2006
CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO
REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION
1. CALL TO ORDER 6:00 p.m.
TAPE 1
2. ROLL CALL:
Planning Commissioners Commissioner Giusti, Commissioner Prouty, Commissioner Sim,
Present: Commissioner Romero, Commissioner Teglia*, Vice Chairperson Honan and
Chairperson Zemke
Planning Commissioners None
Absent:
Staff Present: Acting Chief Planner Kalkin, Senior Planner Lappen, Admin. Asst. II Aguilar,
Planning Liaison -Sergeant Normandy, Senior Civil Engineer Bautista and
Assistant City Manager Van Duyn
3. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS- comments are limited to items on the Special Meeting Agenda
4. Study Session on the Genentech Master Plan
P05-0141: MP05-0001, DA05-0003, RZ05-0003, ZA05-0001
Senior Planner Lappen gave a PowerPoint presentation.
Lisa Sullivan, Director of Strategic Facilities Planning, began by noting changes in the signs and parking
for the Bay Trail and added that they will be providing a public amenities building with restrooms.
Bay Trail comments
Commissioner Prouty noted the importance of properly identifying the Bay Trail parking to avoid confusion
and security will now that those individuals are allowed to be there. Ms. Sullivan noted that they will be
properly identified.
Commissioner Teglia arrived at 6:31 p.m.
Commissioner Prouty asked where the signs would begin to direct the public to the bay trail access points
and parking. Ms. Sullivan noted that bay trail users would access the area via the public streets through
the campus and see the signs for Bay Trail access. Commissioner Prouty suggested that the signs be
consistent from the freeway to the Genentech site. Acting Chief Planner Kalkin noted that there are
standard Bay Trail signs that BCDC uses and they can conform to those.
Commissioner Teglia noted that at the fishing point on Forbes the road curves and goes up the street
towards a parking lot, and pointed out that the entrance to the Bay Trail at that point need to be more
inviting because it appears to be a Genentech Parking lot. He suggested increasing the park amenities
because currently only the Wind Harp and the Bay Trail are the only public areas on the Genentech
campus. He noted that one of the parking lots could be converted to a park. Ms. Sullivan replied by
Planning Commission Meeting of September 21, 2006
pointing out the amenities building that will be included as part of the Master Plan. Commissioner Teglia
was concerned with site lines for Wind Harp Park and suggested that Genentech be sensitive to
maintaining views around the Wind Harp by minimizing the height of the buildings surrounding it.
Shuttle stop comments
Ms. Sullivan stated that at Grandview and East Grand they have the opportunity of including a more
inviting campus entry with a combination of hardscape, landscape and a water feature. She noted that at
the end of Forbes, adjacent to the Bay Trail, they have the opportunity to define a plaza and have a plan
for a Genentech History Hall. She noted that they propose to rework Grandview to allow a three lane
street; one would be dedicated to the shuttle and on the other side of the street where there is another
shuttle stop the curb would be recessed to allow the shuttle to get off the road. They also propose to
enhance Forbes by creating a bicycle lane.
Commissioner Teglia noted that the bike lanes are a good idea, but will require working with the medians
on Forbes. He pointed out that the wide lanes are needed because large vehicles travel on Forbes. He
stated that the extra lane in the direction of the shuttle is a good idea but does not want it used as a
parking lane. He noted that curb cutouts are encouraged for the shuttles to pull off the road.
Commissioner Romero stated that the drop-offs should be retained as close to the buildings as possible
rather than on the street to make it more convenient for their employees. He pointed out that the
circulation needs to be improved within the site including shuttles. Ms. Sullivan noted that the shuttle
stops shown are only the on street stops.
Landscanin_g comments
Commissioner Sim suggested creating a buffer of trees on the edge of the sidewalk with a curb cut for the
shuttle stop. He questioned if there was a plan to create parking structures as Genentech continues to
grow.
Commissioner Romero encouraged elevating or pushing back the buildings to maintain the open space on
their campus particularly along the bayfront. Commissioner Teglia noted that he was envisioning a bolder
green space where the amenities building will be going and a large green impact for the entryway of the
campus.
Circulation comments
Commissioner Prouty noted that most of the employee traffic goes through Gull Road which is very busy.
He suggested that a flyover could take the traffic off of Oyster Point Boulevard. Acting Chief Planner
Kalkin noted that this will be looked at with the East of 101 area plan with the rest of the mitigations in the
area. Commissioner Prouty was concerned with traffic increasing due to Genentech's employee numbers
doubling.
Banner comments
Ms. Sullivan noted that Genentech has banners in key areas of the campuses as a motivational program
for their employees. Genentech and proposes grandfathering the existing banners and allowing planning
staff to administratively approve any new banner locations with a limit of 3 for each of the 4
neighborhoods. Acting Chief Planner Kalkin noted that staff does not have issue with the content of the
banners but is concerned with having them directed towards the public right-of way and would prefer them
to be appropriately located on interior areas of the campus.
Commissioner Prouty noted that the motivational messages are not an issue for him but is concerned with
the banners facing onto the public street and agreed with staff by having them put inside the campus.
Commissioner Teglia also agreed with staff and noted that the approvals could be on a case by case
basis. He pointed out that the banners should be changed out every four to five months.
Acting Chief Planner Kalkin noted that another concern is that some can be seen from Oyster Point
Marina, so any siting criteria needs to minimize the impact on the view corridors. Commissioner Romero
noted that the size is too large and suggested that Genentech find a better alternative without impacting
the public view corridor. Jim Harnish, Genentech Consultant, suggested smaller signs for the public right-
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Planning Commission Meeting of September 21, 2006
of-way. Commissioner Romero noted that it would mitigate this a little but believed there is a better way to
make it work for Genentech and the City.
Commissioner Sim questioned if there was a way of continuing the integrity of Genentech's message on a
case by case basis by showing the Commission the buildings they are proposing to put the banners on.
He suggested making the banners an artistic endeavor rather than a sheet of paper on the skin of the
building. Commissioner Romero noted that he would like to see internal and external drop-offs for the bus
routes. He also suggested that an inter-campus drop off can have a shelter with a motivational sign
incorporated into the structure.
Commissioner Teglia noted that the stops on the public street should be elegant looking and pointed out
that the bus stop on South San Francisco Drive and Hillside as an example. Commissioner Sim noted
that the motivational sign could be designed behind the building skin and still allow for light to go into the
building.
LED sign comments
Ms. Sullivan noted that the purpose of the LED signs was to notify their employees of when the parking
structure is full to prevent anyone from going into an already full garage.
Commissioner Teglia noted that there is an LED sign on Forbes which is out of place. Senior Planner
Lappen stated that the ordinance and design guidelines will have specific locations designated for the
LED sign and added that the Forbes sign is not acceptable to City standards.
Senior Planner Lappen noted that although the discussion on architectural, primary and secondary
pedestrian details is still pending, the Commission has covered land use, open space, pedestrian details,
and streetscapes. Engineering will cover the feasibility of the shuttle stops on the street, as well as the
street lighting system. He added that the TDM plan will be discussed in detail at a future study session.
Mr. Harnish noted that the connectivity issues were not addressed at the meeting and encouraged the
Commission to review the handout that was given to them that shows the Commission's concerns.
There being no further comments, the discussion was concluded.
5. Adjournment
Consensus of the Commission to adjourn the meeting at 7:16 p.m.
Susy Kalkin
Acting Secretary to the Planning Commission
City of South San Francisco
SK/bla
William Zemke, Chairperson
Planning Commission
City of South San Francisco
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