HomeMy WebLinkAbout2-21-23 Final MinutesDESIGN REVIEW BOARD MINUTES
CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO
DATE: February 21, 2023
TIME: 4:00 PM
MEMBERS PRESENT: David W. Nelson – Chairperson
Michael Nilmeyer – Vice Chairperson
Chris Mateo, Frank Vieira & Sean Winchester
MEMBERS ABSENT: None
STAFF PRESENT: Adena Friedman, Principal Planner
Christy Usher, Senior Planner
Stephanie Skangos, Associate Planner
Patricia Cotla, Planning Technician
1. Adminstrative Business – None
2. OWNER Healthpeak Properties, Inc.
APPLICANT Flad Architects
ADDRESS 470 Forbes Blvd
PROJECT NUMBER P22-0117 (Master Plan) and P22-0138 (Precise Plan)
DR22-0042, ND22-0002, TDM22-0009 & UP22-0013
PROJECT NAME Vantage Master Plan & Phase 2 Precise Plan
(Case Planner: Christy Usher )
DESCRIPTION “Resubmittal” - Master Plan and Precise Plan, Use Permit,
Design Review, Transportation Demand Management, and
Development Agreement to redevelop an existing R&D Campus
at 470 Forbes Blvd in the Business Technology Park-High
(BTP-H) 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 revised plan submittal. The applicant responded to the prior
DRB comments and returned with a quality design.
2. Continue to review your landscaping plant palette, as certain species will not
survive the SSF elements out on the East of 101.
3. Consider adding additional street trees along Forbes Blvd.
Recommend Approval with Conditions and proceed to Planning Commission for a
future meeting.
3. OWNER ARE-SF No. 33 LLC
APPLICANT ARE-SF No. 33 LLC – Howard Yao
ADDRESS 600 Gateway Blvd
PROJECT NUMBER P23-0002: SIGNS23-0002
PROJECT NAME Master Sign Program Amendment
(Case Planner: Victoria Kim)
DESCRIPTION Design Review to amend the approved Master Sign Program for
600-650 Gateway Blvd in the Business Technology Park-High
(BTP-H) 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 sign concept and recommeds using the Halo option.
2. The proposed signs are in scale with the building.
3. Add the additional dimensions on the plans to define the perimeter border
around the sign.
Recommend Approval with Conditions
4. OWNER Prologis – Jim Jeary
APPLICANT Prologis – Jim Jeary
ADDRESS 212 Shaw Road
PROJECT NUMBER P23-0009: DR23-0004
PROJECT NAME Exterior Modifications to an existing building
(Case Planner: Victoria Kim)
DESCRIPTION Design Review for exterior modifications to a commercial
building at 212 Shaw Road in the Mixed Industrial High (MXH)
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 proposed plan submittal with the gray color palette.
2. The metal material finishes around the windows enhances the design.
3. Contiue the gray band around all the elevations and use the same material finish
and color around the loading dock doors to be consistent with the proposed
design.
4. Be cautious on the tall metal mesh panel, as you may have issues with birds
forming nest in the open areas or invididuals climbing the element.
5. On the rear elevation, maintain the vertical landscaping plan.
6. Check with the Building Department if you will be required to have EV
charging stations.
7. Check with the Building Department if the proposed handrails will meet code.
8. Add the ADA stall details and dimensions on the plans.
9. Review the proposed landscaping plant list, as some of the species called out
will not survive the SSF elements.
10. Consider Muhlenbergia capillaris, Pink Muhley Grass instead of Deer Grass and
Ceanothus gloriosis, Anchor Bay instead of Artcostaphyllos and Coyote Bush as
more successful groundcover species to the plant list.
11. In the parking lot, plant a species that will reach the height of a parked cars like
Arubuts undedo ‘Compacta’, Dwarf Strawberry Tree or other species to grow 4’
or more to screen the cars, and be visible across the parking lot.
12. Consider adding solar panels to the design.
Recommend Approval with Conditions.
5. OWNER Karen T. O’Connell Golding
APPLICANT Christian & Karen Golding
ADDRESS 132 B Street
PROJECT NUMBER P22-0139: DR22-0041
PROJECT NAME 2nd Story Addition
(Case Planner: Stephanie Skangos)
DESCRIPTION Design Review to construct a 2nd story addition at 132 B Street
in the Medium Density Residential (RM-22) Zoning District in
accordance with Title 20 of the South San Francisco Zoning
District, and determination that the project is categorically
exempt from CEQA.
The Board had the following comments:
1. The Board was not in favor of the design concept, as the design is lacking
architectural articulation.
2. The west and east elevations are lacking articulation with long blank walls.
Consider incorporating material and/or color changes or a belly band to help
break-up the overall massing between the two stories.
3. On the front elevation, consider enlarging the windons or bringing the windows
closer together to create a better balanced design. Also, consider creating a more
pronunced entrance into the dwelling unit.
4. Consider incorporating more decorative accents into the design, such as shutters
around the windows and decorative lights around the garage door, to create
more architectural interest and articulation.
5. Redesign the roof line plan, as the proposed plan is out of character with the
design.
6. Add an upright narrow street tree in the front yard. Consider Ginkgo biloba,
Autumn Gold tree.
7. The Board recommends a resubmittal for a future DRB meeting with an updated
plan set
Resubmittal required.
6. OWNER SMPO ELS LLC
APPLICANT Sanfo Group
ADDRESS 101 Gull Avenue
PROJECT NUMBER P21-0006: DR22-0045, EIR22-0007, TDM22-0010
PROJECT NAME New Office/R&D Campus
(Case Planner: Stephanie Skangos)
DESCRIPTION Design Review and Transportation Demand Management Plan
to construct a 9-story Office/R&D Building with attached
parking garage at 101 Gull Avenue in the Business Technology
Park-High (BTP-H) 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 revised design for an additional 2 stories to the original 7-
story building design that had previously been approved in 2021 and found the
overall design revisions for the entire building to be well-considered
improvements.
2. The new balconies design adds a bold statement and nice balance to the
structure.
3. The Board would like to see an increase in the usability of the revised courtyard
for pedestrians. Consider incorporating some specialty and/or enhanced
pavement treatments to make the area more pedestrian-friendly and less
vehicular oriented, while also maintaining a drivable path for emergency
vehicles.
4. Consider revising the proposed landscaping plan to eliminate medium water
species and incorporate more very low and/or low water plant species along the
bluff, such as Heteromeles arbutifolia, Toyon, Echium fastuosum, Pride-of-
Madera.
5. Revise the proposed landscaping list for the project to include plant species that
would fare better with the City’s climate. Westringia is subject to failure from
frost and Cistus requires fast draining sandy soil, Arctostaphylos doesn’t like the
cool windy weather.
6. Acer rubrum, Maple is medium water and does poorly in wind. Gleditsia
triacanthos does poorly in the wind as well.
7. Yarrow groundcover causes allergic reaction in some. Replace with no allergic
species.
Recommend Approval with Conditions and can proceed to Planning Commission.
7. Miscellaneous - none