South San Francisco Planning Commission Meeting - November 7, 2019

The South San Francisco Planning Commission held a regular meeting on November 7, 2019, at 7:00 PM in the Municipal Services Building, Council Chambers. The commission unanimously approved all items on the agenda, including consent calendar items, a new carwash, a wireless telecommunications facility, a Genentech manufacturing facility, a parking lot, and a design modification for an office/R&D project. No public comments were made on any agenda item.

Consent Calendar

• Item 1: Approval of the regular meeting minutes of October 7, 2019. Commissioner Faria requested a clarification on page 6 regarding Vice Chair Wong's comment about the Oak Avenue extension not being in lieu of the market hall. The change was accepted. Minutes approved unanimously.
• Item 2: Master Sign Program and Design Review for signage at 800-890 Dubuque Avenue. Approved as part of the consent calendar.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public spoke on any agenda item.

Discussion Items

• Item 3 – New Carwash Facility at 246 South Spruce Avenue: The project proposes to demolish an existing building and fueling station to construct a two-story express exterior carwash with self-serve vacuums, an eight-foot rear fence (requiring a minor use permit), and new signage. The project is categorically exempt from CEQA (Class 32 infill). Staff reported that the Design Review Board had concerns about building height and mass, but revisions included color and material changes. The applicant, Cameron Drennan (QuickWack Car Wash), stated the facility will stack up to 14 cars before queuing into vacuum areas, and an additional five cars before reaching the street. Hours of operation are 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Commissioners noted reduced trip generation from removal of fueling station. Commissioner Faria asked about site remediation for underground storage tanks – the applicant confirmed it is in the landowner's scope of work. The commission approved the design review, minor use permit, and sign permit unanimously.
• Item 4 – Wireless Telecommunications Facility at 80 South Spruce Avenue: AT&T proposes a 50-foot monopole with nine antennas, 18 remote radio heads, and equipment cabinet (560 sq ft) disguised as a faux pine tree in the Commercial Mixed-Use District. The facility will fill a service gap (nearest AT&T site ~2-2.5 miles away). The Design Review Board rejected a previous faux palm tree design. The commission praised the pine tree design as more suitable. The project meets development standards, including a 150-foot separation from residential uses (closest is 475 feet). Staff recommended approval. Approved unanimously.
• Item 5 – Genentech B-50 Manufacturing Facility at 680 Forbes Boulevard: A new 50th building on the Genentech campus, a clinical supply manufacturing facility with a unique public tour experience, glassy plinth, floating wood roof, and DNA-sequencing motif on facades. Landscape design includes DNA-patterned pavers and bamboo. The project is within the Genentech Master Plan and is analyzed via a 2019 Addendum to the 2007 Master EIR and 2012 Supplemental EIR. Loading docks for receiving and waste; vehicle movements internal to campus. The commission voted in two parts: first, adopted a resolution finding the project within scope of prior EIRs (unanimous), then approved the Use Permit and Design Review (unanimous).
• Item 6 – Parking Lot at 1 DNA Way (Demolish Building B-4): Genentech proposes to demolish a vacant 100,000+ sq ft building and construct a 566-space surface parking lot (227 existing, 339 new) with 20 EV chargers (expandable to 40). The site will later be redeveloped; the parking lot is temporary but meets campus-wide parking needs. Landscaping and bioretention included. The project is categorically exempt from CEQA (Class 1). Approved unanimously.
• Item 7 – Design Review Modification for 494 Forbes Boulevard: Health Peak Properties (formerly HCP) seeks to refresh a 2012-entitled project for two office/R&D buildings (4 and 5 stories, 326,020 sq ft total) and a 3-level parking structure on 7.48 acres in the Business Technology Park Zone. Changes include repositioning buildings closer to Forbes, creating a central park shielded from wind, pushing back parking garage from Rails-to-Trails, and updating mechanical screens to match architecture. Landscaping improved based on Design Review Board comments. Total square footage and parking unchanged. The project is within the scope of the 2012 Partial Recirculated EIR. Approved unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• All six agenda items (consent and public hearings) were approved by unanimous roll-call votes (7-0) of Commissioners Bernardo, Shihadeh, Tzang, Evans, Faria, Vice Chair Wong, and Chair Murphy.
• No items were pulled from the consent calendar; minor clarification added to October 7 minutes.
• The commission cancelled the November 21, 2019 meeting due to lack of items.