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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-06-21MINUTES lure 21, 2007 CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION TAPE 1 CALL TO ORDER /PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 7:30 p.m. ROLL CALL PRESENT: Commissioner Honan, Commissioner Moore, Commissioner Sim, Commissioner Teglia, Commissioner Zemke and Chairperson Prouty ABSENT: STAFF PRESENT: Vice Chairperson Giusti Planning Division: City Attorney: Engineering Division City Manager: Susy Kalkin, Chief Planner Steve Carlson, Senior Planner Chadrick Smalley, Associate Planner Patricia Cotla, Planning Technician Sky Woodruff, Assistant City Attorney Sam Bautista, Senior Civil Engineer Marty Van Duyn, Assistant City Manager CHAIR COMMENTS AGENDA REVIEW Chief Planner Kalkin noted the following changes • Item # 1 -Minutes of March 1, 2007 were not distributed to the Commission and they would not be voting on those until the next meeting. • Item #4 - Starbucks requested that the review be continued to the July 19t" meeting. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS CONSENT CALENDAR None 1. Approval of regular meeting minutes of March 1St, March 15t", special meeting minutes of April 5t", regular meeting minutes of April 5t" and April 19t" 2007. Motion Teglia /Second Zemke to approve the Consent Calendar with the exception of March 1St minutes as noted under Agenda Review. Approved by unanimous voice vote. Vice Chairperson Giusti -absent. PUBLIC HEARING 2. Cal Com Systems/Applicant City of South San Francisco/Owner 1121 South San Francisco Drive P06-0143: UP06-0033 & DR06-0105 Use Permit and Design Review allowing a wireless communication facility comprised of a 35 foot tall monopole with three 4 foot tall panel antennas and an underground equipment vault with several cabinets, situated at 1121 South San Francisco Drive in the Terrabay Specific Plan District, in accordance with SSFMC Chapters 20.63, 20.81, 20.85 & 20.105. Planning Commission Meeting of June 21, 2007 Public Hearing opened. Senior Planner Carlson presented the staff report. Commissioner Teglia asked for a description of the location of the stone wall. Senior Planner Carlson reviewed page L1 in the plans and clarified the stone wall's location. James Singleton, Verizon Wireless, was available for questions and distributed a photograph which had more detail on the stone wall. He expanded on the landscaping, screening and wall details. Chairperson Prouty asked for the length of the antenna pole from the fence line to the top. Mr. Singleton replied that it is 23 feet. Public Hearing closed. Commissioner Teglia noted that this is a larger facility and asked if it was larger than most. Senior Planner Carlson noted that the current applications are installing vaults with additional capacity to accommodate more cabinets or generators. Mr. Singleton added that a backup generator is being proposed for this facility which also increases the size of the pad area. Commissioner Teglia noted that there is a policy that does not allow cell towers to have backup generators in residential neighborhoods. Senior Planner Carlson stated that the Commission has had concerns with emergency generators and how they are going to be powered. Commissioner Teglia pointed out that the pole is not stealthed and because of its height it protrudes above the trees. He suggested lowering it by five feet or making it appear as a tree. Mr. Singleton noted that a tree style pole would add additional height to the facility and most of the trees at the site will reach the height of the pole. He noted that the span on a faux tree would impact the adjacent tree's vegetation. Commissioner Teglia noted that his concern is the removal of the existing trees. Senior Planner Carlson added that the Design Review Board (DRB) was concerned with the existing tree varieties being susceptible to diseases or root damage. Commissioner Teglia noted that tower is needed for line of sight on Sister Cities Boulevard and asked if it could be lowered in height. He stated that the cell tower is clearly visible over the trees and the ordinance calls for all cell towers to be stealthed. Mr. Singleton stated that in working with staff they concentrated on staying behind the existing vegetation that is maturing. He noted that he is open to incorporating additional landscaping to screen the tower. Commissioner Sim asked how much more the coverage will improve reception. Radio Frequency (RF) Engineer Russ Benson stated that the site is low compared to other sites in the City. He added that it covers up and down Sister Cities Boulevard which is heavily traveled. He noted that the site will cover this road and the neighborhoods on either side of the road. He suggested installing a street light type pole. He pointed out that this pole is small in comparison to others which are 45- 60 foot poles. Commissioner Honan asked why the pole needed to be pulled out 16 feet. Mr. Singleton replied that if the pole is set further back it will be much more noticeable from the parking lot area. He added that by moving the pole towards the trees it provides more screening. Commissioner Honan added that the pictures the Commission received are 8 months old and noted that current photographs need to be submitted to the Commission. She expressed her dislike of the large pole without it being stealthed. She noted that if stealthing will be part of the final product a continuation is required for this project. Commissioner Moore noted his concern with the proposal. He stepped down from the dais to take a family related phone call at 8:00 p.m. and returned to the dais at 8:05 p.m. Commissioner Zemke noted that the a street light should not be placed only for the pole because it is in an s:\MCv~.utes\~%wAlLzed rttwutes\2oo~\o~-2r-off Rpc r~twutes.doc page 2 o-f s Planning Commission Meeting of June 21, 2007 odd location for a light. Commissioner Teglia noted that the light could be directed towards the parking lot and added that there are other options other than a light fixture on the pole. He added that the pole can be lowered by 15 feet, as seen in other parts of the City. Chairperson Prouty noted that the impact would be on the residents at Terrabay. Mr. Singleton noted that the pole would fall in line with the vegetation because of its color. He added that they can put a can directly over the pole so that everything is flush and it's a single pole with a light. He noted that the pole is 18 inches in diameter and 24 inches at the top. Chairperson Prouty questioned if the pole could be lowered. Mr. Benson noted that by lowering the pole coverage will be affected due to the elementary school at the top of the hill. Mr. Singleton noted that the pole is short and could not go any lower. Chairperson Prouty asked if the vegetation interferes with the signal. Mr. Benson noted that in the dry season the functionality of the pole is fine but during the wet season the vegetation absorbs the energy like sponges. He was concerned that by shortening the pole the antennas are closer to the ground and may have an RF safety effect which would require a taller fence. Commissioner Teglia asked if they looked at incorporating the antennae and equipment into the gym structure. Senior Planner Carlson noted that this was the first concept but were advised by the City's core group to stay in this area. Commissioner Teglia noted that a condition of approval can be added requiring the applicant to maintain and replace the trees. He added that the applicant can then return to the Commission with options on further stealthing the pole. Motion Teglia to continue to July 19t" to allow the applicant to explore stealthing options. Mr. Singleton noted that there are other options such as a light fixture and Italian cypress tree. He added that they could return with some of these options and have updated pictures by the meeting of the 19t". He asked if the Commission was comfortable with the wall or if they would require any changes. Commissioner Honan asked how the wall would look with the different stealthing. Mr. Singleton noted that the wall would not change and the only changing would be the stealthing of the pole. Second Honan. Approved by majority voice vote. Vice Chairperson Giusti -absent. 3. Dolores & lames Tozer/ Applicant Dolores & lames Tozer/ Owner 251 Michelle Ct P07-0038: UP07-0005 & DR07-0025 Use Permit and Design Review allowing the conversion of a single tenant building into amulti-tenant building at 251 Michelle Court in the Planned Industrial (P-I) Zone District in accordance with SSFMC Chapters 20.32, 20.81 & 20.85 Public Hearing opened. Senior Planner Carlson presented the staff report. Kim Tozer gave a brief presentation of the proposed project. She noted that they are not planning on expanding the building and the majority of the upgrades are for landscaping and design aspects. Public Hearing closed. The Commission was pleased with the proposed design, landscape and parking improvements. Motion Zemke /Second Moore to approve. Approved by majority voice vote. Vice Chairperson Giusti - s:Vvt%wutPS\~%wAl%zed Mtwutes\2oo~\o6-2i-off Ric MLwutes.doc gage s o f s Planning Commission Meeting of June 21, 2007 absent. ADMINISTRATIVE BUSINESS 4. Starbucks Armanino, Rosemary/Owner Starbucks (Zeden ]ones)/Applicant 329 Grand Ave. P05-0012: UP05-0003 & DR05-0010 6 month review -Use Permit to allow a 1,776 sq. ft. coffee shop with an approximately 192 square-foot outdoor seating area in an existing building at 329 Grand Avenue in the Downtown Commercial (D-C-L) Zoning District in accordance with SSFMC Chapters 20.26 & 20.81. Motion Teglia /Second Moore to continue to July 19, 2007. Approved by majority voice vote. Vice Chairperson Giusti -absent. 5. Peet's Coffee & Tea John LFerrari/Owner Peet's Coffee & Tea/Applicant 102 Grand Ave P06-0092: DR06-0075 UP06-0022 & SIGNS06-0025 6 month review -Use Permit and Design Review to allow a 1,921 sq. ft. coffee shop in an existing building at 102 Grand Avenue in the Downtown Commercial (D-C-L) Zoning District in accordance with SSFMC Chapters 20.26, 20.85 & 20.81 Associate Planner Smalley presented the staff report. The Commission noted that the changes made to the corner improved the aesthetics of the area. Motion Zemke/ Second Teglia to accept the 6 month review. Approved by majority voice vote. Vice Chairperson Giusti -absent. ITEMS FROM STAFF Chief Planner Kalkin recommended that the Commission cancel the July 5, 2007 regular meeting. Motion Teglia /Second Zemke to cancel the meeting. Approved by majority voice vote. Vice Chairperson Giusti -absent. Chief Planner Kalkin added that the City Council has invited the Planning Commission to a joint meeting to kick off the Zoning Ordinance Update scheduled for July 10th at 7 p.m. Commissioner Teglia, Commissioner Honan and Commissioner Zemke noted that they would not be in town on the scheduled date for the meeting. ITEMS FROM COMMISSION Commissioner Zemke noted he would not be able to attend the July 19th meeting. Genentech (B50) Subcommittee resort Commissioner Teglia noted that he and Commissioner Sim as the Genentech Subcommittee met with them s:\M%wutes\~twalCzed Mi,wutes\2oo~\o6-2i-off Rpc n~Cwutes.doc Page ~ of s Planning Commission Meeting of June 21, 2007 and were impressed with the direction Genentech was going in their redesign of Building 50. He added that they provided additional comments and recommended that it go to the Commission at their regular meeting. Commissioner Honan asked that Genentech be reminded to have a PowerPoint presentation for the benefit of the television audience. So/sire Deve%ament Commissioner Sim noted that a color pattern was approved for the plaza and felt that it looks too flat at the moment. He asked if staff could look into what was approved in terms of color, tree lines and outdoor amenities. Chairperson Prouty noted that the corners were to have stamped concrete. Commissioner Teglia noted that some of the improvements the subcommittee worked on were window designs, curbed balconies and corner fenestration. ITEMS FROM THE PUBLIC ADJOURNMENT None 8:48 P.M. Motion Teglia /Second Moore to adjourn the meeting. Approved by majority voice vote. Vice Chairperson Giusti -absent r' Susy Kalkin / " Secretary to the Planning Commission City of South San Francisco SK/bla s:~r~twutes\~twalized rntwutes~:zoo~~o6-2i-off RPC MLwutes.doc Page s o f s