Planning Commission Meeting August 1, 2019: Digital Billboard Conversion Approved
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Planning Commission Regular Meeting – August 1, 2019
The South San Francisco Planning Commission held a regular meeting on August 1, 2019, at 7:00 PM. The main agenda item was a public hearing to consider a proposal to convert an existing double-faced static billboard at 150 Airport Boulevard into a double-faced digital billboard. The Commission also received a staff update about future meetings.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public spoke during Oral Communications or the public hearing.
Discussion Items
- Billboard Conversion (150 Airport Blvd): Senior Planner Billy Gross presented staff's recommendation to approve a Development Agreement, Relocation Agreement, and Sign Permit for the conversion. The billboard would be the third and final digital billboard allowed under the current city ordinance (limit of three). The existing static sign, previously relocated and raised to 114 feet, would be converted to digital. Key features included: removal of the light platform and pole ladder (improving visual quality), addition of a rear screen to block views of the structure, and a one-time in-lieu fee payment of $1,000,000 (resulting from a two-for-one sign removal requirement – the applicant would remove two static faces and pay for two remaining faces). The digital sign would change images every eight seconds minimum, with brightness automatically adjusted by ambient light sensors. The project would use the 2015 IS/MND as the applicable CEQA document, with no further analysis needed.
- Commissioner Questions and Concerns: Commissioner Evans expressed concern about light impacts on future residents of an adjacent housing development (under construction) and potential distraction to drivers. Staff confirmed that light levels would be no greater than the existing static sign and that brightness is regulated. Vice Chair Wong asked about the relationship with the 200 Airport developer; applicant Stephen Berkey noted ongoing negotiations but no final resolution. Commissioner Bernardo inquired about content control (action signs determines content, subject to legal restrictions). Commissioner Faria noted the same $5 million insurance requirement as previous digital billboards but suggested it might be too low.
- Commission Deliberation: Commissioner Evans stated general concerns about distracted driving but would not oppose. Commissioner Zhang supported the project, noting the city's phased approach to digital billboards. Vice Chair Wong noted the improved appearance of digital signs compared to static ones. The applicant clarified that the sign would change images every six to eight seconds, as permitted by ordinance.
Key Outcomes
- Motion to Approve: Commissioner Faria moved to recommend approval of the resolution (including Development Agreement 18-0001, Relocation Agreement, Sign Permit 19-0018) and determination that the 2015 IS/MND remains adequate. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Zhang.
- Vote: The motion passed unanimously (7-0). (Chair Murphy was absent.)
- Staff Announcement: The Planning Commission meeting scheduled for August 15, 2019, was canceled.
- Next Steps: The recommendation will be forwarded to the City Council for final approval.
Meeting Transcript
For August 1st, will you please all rise for the Pledge of Allegiance? One nation undervisible liberty and justice for all. All right. Can we have roll call, please? Commissioner Zhang. Here. Commissioner Shahade. Here. Commissioner Evans. Here. Commissioner Bernardo. Here. Commissioner Furrier. Here. Vice Chair Wong. Here. And Chair Murphy is absent this evening. All right. So as you can see, Vice Chair or Chair Murphy has gone, so I'll try not to uh make as many or make many mistakes. It's been a while since I've chaired, so why don't we go to agenda review? Billy, any changes to the agenda? No changes. All right. Oral communications. Do we have any speaker cards? We do not. All right. Is there anyone in the audience that wants to speak an item not on tonight's agenda? All right. Seeing none, uh, can we go to public hearing and item number one, please? Report recommending approval of a development agreement, a relocation agreement, and sign permit to allow an existing double-face static billboard to be converted to a double-face billboard located at 150 airport boulevard, and determining that the 2015 ISMND continues to serve as the applicable environmental review document pursuant to CEQA. Thank you. I'd like to open up the uh public hearing and uh opening up open it up to staff, please. Good evening, uh Commissioners. Uh Billy Gross with the planning division. I'll be presenting this this evening. So this is an old project coming to you in a slightly uh different form. If you'll recall back in I believe 2017, um the commission as part of uh the project at 150 airport, um which is adjacent to this, we brought forward the relocation of this billboard. I think it was like 75 feet to the north. Um so now the applicant is in front of us asking to convert that static billboard to a digital billboard. Um a little bit of background back in 2015, council approved a journal plan amendment and zoning ordinance zoning text amendments to allow a limited number of digital billboards. Uh the the limit right now in the ordinance is three. So the first one was approved by Clear Channel down by the uh terminal court. The second one was approved at 2018 at 180 South Airport. You can actually see that one going up currently. That's the large pole next to the the Popeyes development. Um, and that one will likely be going live sometime in the next week or two. Um and then this would be the third and final allowed under the existing ordinance. This is a photo of the billboard as it looked as of yesterday. Um it wouldn't change when they moved it and raised the height.
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