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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 2020.10.13 @600 MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO GENERAL PLAN UPDATE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE Meeting held at: Teleconference meeting Tuesday, October 13, 2020 6:00 p.m. Call to Order Meeting called to order at 6:02 p.m. Roll Call COMMITTEE PRESENT: Roderick Bovee, Kristy Camacho, Robert Cavalieri, Eddie Flores, Sophie Martin, Sam Shihadeh, John Skerry (7:00), Bill Zemke, Rehman Baig (6:16), Nick Maiden, Steven Yee (6:44 pm) ABSENT: Julie Ann Murphy ALTERNATES PRESENT: Alan Wong, Patricia Murray Public Comment None. Consent Calendar 1. Approval of the Meeting Minutes of August 11, 2020 Committee Member Bill Zemke moved and Committee Member Sophie Martin seconded a motion to approve the meeting minutes of August 11, 2020 as corrected. The motion passed. New Business 2. Review and Discuss the Proposed Preferred Land Use Plan Eric Yurkovich reviewed the planning process conducted to-date including community engagement. He reviewed what we heard during the engagement process and how it was applied to the land use plan. He reviewed the broad themes. He noted the comments received from the community meetings, CAC, Planning Commission and City Council that informed the preparation of the preferred land use plan. Eric Yurkovich reviewed the proposed preferred land use plan and discussed how the big ideas come together with the proposed land uses. Maintain character of downtown, create a mixed-use center at Airport and Linden and vibrant neighborhood around Colma Creek. East of 101- create transit focused mixed-use community near CalTrain station, support biotech expansion and maintain industrial space. In Lindenville area, maintain industrial space and create vibrant neighborhood near Colma Creek. Transition zone between industrial uses and residential uses and support arts. Lower heights in the Chestnut and El Camino Real corridor and create mixed-use area at BART. Eric Yourkovich provided comparisons of the current land use designations and proposed designations. Committee comments:  Alan Wong – does the preferred land use plan follow one of the alternatives more closely? Eric Yurkovich noted that it is a hybrid of maps 2 and 3.  Roderick Bovee asked about transportation plan and Active South City Plan. Eric responded that Fehr and Peers will discuss mobility and transportation networks at the next CAC meeting. Improvements within Active South City will get incorporated into plan. Eric Yurkovich reviewed the land use changes for each sub-area. East of 101 – what we heard; create residential and mixed-use neighborhood near Caltrian station, ensure services to support residential and employment growth; develop housing affordable to people earning a variety of income; improve connections from east/west 101; continue to encourage a mix of life science, biotech, technology and industrial uses. He reviewed the vision station for East of 101 and the Guiding Principles. Eric Yurkovich reviewed the preferred alternative and reviewed the changed land uses compared to the current General Plan. Committee discussion:  Roderick Bovee asked why eastern business park has lower floor area and western business park has a higher floor area. Eric Yurkovich noted the desire to concentrate intensity of uses closer to Caltrain corridor. Billy Gross also noted that the plan shows the range of allowed floor areas and that community benefits and transportation improvements will be required for higher floor areas.  Sam Shihadeh feels housing near Caltrain is on the right track and the biggest challenge will be addressing the transportation gridlock during commute hours. He likes the concept of creating a more cohesive community between downtown and East of 101.  Sophie Martin agrees the plan is moving in the right direction and likes the transit -oriented development near train station and connectivity to the downtown. The amount of housing that could be developed here is substantial. Need to continue to work on transportation solutions, especially for this area. Also significant up zoning in commercial land uses. Need a robust discussion of community benefits that includes input from the CAC. Could include a shared transit system and more quality open space.  Steven Yee asked about water way opportunity to address community benefits and transportation. Eric Yurkovich commented that improvements to Colma Creek should be leveraged to create places around it.  Alan Wong commented that he likes to see the preservation of industrial land uses. Lindenville – what we heard; maintain small and diverse businesses; emphasize quality of life improvements; transform Colma Creek into public amenity, and vibrant, mixed-use neighborhood; consider the impacts of future growth; and maintain industrial uses. He reviewed the revised Vision and Policy statement. Committee discussion:  Steven Yee asked about the Bay Area Ridge Trail. Sharon Ranals noted that it touches parts of SSF, but not Lindenville.  Roderick Bovee asked about transition from industrial to residential uses. He also asked about scale of new development. Eric Yurkovich noted that we can look at development standards to help create pedestrian friendly spaces.  Tony Rozzi commented on potential for maker spaces in this area and on Spruce as opposed to residential. Sam agreed that the Spruce corridor has underperformed with distribution and warehouse uses. Steven Yee noted opportunity for pop up events with existing open space.  Billy Gross also noted we could consider an Arts District here and encourage maker space with a mix of uses including industrial. May want to prepare a more detailed area plan in the future for the areas that are vision as new neighborhoods.  Steven Yee commented that the City needs a good place for youth and young adults.  Rehman Baig noted that this area has the most potential for exciting transformation as a cool hip area. Downtown area – what we heard; celebrate the history, culture and diversity; limit land use change; protect exiting residents and businesses; create new places for recreation and gathering; distribute high-density and mixed-use housing in other areas; maintain small culturally diverse businesses; and better connect with bicycle, pedestrian and public transit. He reviewed the revised vision statement based on community feedback. He reviewed the proposed land use and noted areas of change compared to the current General Plan. Committee discussion:  Rehman Baig noted that he sees an opportunity for change in the downtown. Billy Gross noted that the Downtown Station Area Plan allows for more development in the area and that plan is considered the existing General Plan land use. We are not proposing any changes beyond that Plan.  Eddie Flores appreciated the revised wording of the Vision statement. He noted that change will occur, but with respect to culture. He is supportive of proposed land use for the Downtown.  Sophie Martin asked about the proposed park site. Eric Yurkovich responded that the City is looking at these sites for new open space. Billy Gross noted that one parcel is currently green space and the other is a city parking lot. El Camino Real – what we heard; create three distinct mixed-use centers; allow higher density around BART; create more parks and open space; transform El Camino into a destination; and maintain exiting designation for Country Club Park. Eric Yurkovich reviewed the proposed vision and policy statement. He reviewed the proposed land use map and noted changes compared to the current General Plan. Committee discussion:  Kristy Camacho asked about new Urban Residential land use designation. Eric Yurkovich noted that it allows for residential and does not require commercial as is required now. Billy Gross noted that it allows slightly higher density compared to current land use and not adjacent to single family. Staff noted it is a bit of an increase in housing density.  Roderick Bovee asked about the trailer park rezoning? Currently zoned to allow high density housing, the proposed plan increases density compared to current plan.  Steven Yee asked about high-density housing and how it corresponds to safety, particularly pedestrians.  Roderick Bovee – how are we achieving density with lower heights? Billy Gross responded that projects can achieve the density with lower heights (85’), may be more development footprint and less open space.  Kristy Camacho asked is we were considering raising height limit as close to transit. Eric Yurkovich noted that we did not analyze increasing height, but tested density and what height would be needed to achieve the density. Would be higher closer to BART station, but not necessary at Chestnut area. Public Comment:  Alex Melendrez, Housing Leadership Council, expressed concern with lowering heights from 150’ to 85’ is a significant decrease. Concern lower height will be a barrier to affordable housing in an area that is transit oriented. Committee discussion:  Roderick Bovee, expressed concern with lower heights and want to create opportunities for people to live in the western portion of the City. Eric Yurkovich noted that the plan does include area for new development, although the land area is somewhat limited with smaller parcel sizes. Also included more residential zoning and not mixed-use zoning.  Eric Yurkovich noted housing potential at school sites (Fox Ridge and Sierra Vista) to further fair housing and identify new housing sites throughout the community. There will be additional housing with ADUs in single family neighborhoods.  Pat Murray noted the school is considering workforce housing at the Fox Ridge site. Will need community outreach. In terms of Sierra Vista, there is a school renting this site. May consider workforce housing at that site also. Eddie Flores stated the need to be more flexible and creative with school sites over the long term.  Kristi Camacho noted the CAC provided feedback on school sites. Would like to see higher density near BART. Concern with limiting the density along El Camino Real. Billy Gross noted the map shows an increase in density near BART and no density change in the southern portion of El Camino with residential only (no mixed-use) designation. Urban Residential is the highest residential density designation proposed in the General Plan.  Roderick Bovee asked about policies relating to ADUs. Eric Yurkovich noted that ADU law is largely governed by the State down to the local jurisdiction. Anticipate more ADU construction with new ADU laws. Cities are allowed to count some ADU production in the Housing Element. Billy Gross noted that non-profits are assisting with the ADU process. Eric Yurkovich reviewed the upcoming meetings; Community Workshop on October 20; Planning Commission Study session on October 22 and City Council study session on November 18. That will take us to the next step in the process. He noted the online survey is now active at https://shapeSSF.com/preferredalternative Steven Yee asked if there is an increase in activity at the ShapeSSF website. Eric Yurkovich noted that there was a lot of activity during the last phase of community meetings will conduct outreach to get people re-engaged. Staff Comments None. CAC Member Comments None Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 8:13 p.m. The next meeting is scheduled for November 10, 2020 at 6:00 pm.