At this teleconference meeting held at 7:00 PM due to the COVID-19 emergency, the Planning Commission considered two main agenda items: a use permit for Hometown Bowl to expand operating hours and offer live entertainment, and a resolution finding the proposed FY 2020-21 Capital Improvement Program consistent with the General Plan. The meeting also included oral communications, staff reports, and announcements.
Requirements for Hometown Bowl. Chair, Vice Chair, and Commissioners, good evening. As Stephanie said, my name is Mike Rudis, and I'm your planning sergeant at the police department. The police department has evaluated the planned operation of the applicant's business, Hometown Bowl, and has developed a comprehensive security plan to help ensure the safety of the applicant's customers, employees, and safeguard the business itself. The security plan includes some standard features such as alarms, the camera surveillance system, and no loitering signs that must be posted around the exterior of the business. There are also some notable uh conditions for hometown bowl. A security guard requirement. Not all businesses are required to have security guards. However, with a large venue, availability of alcoholic beverages, and a variety of businesses within the building, such as an arcade, a bar, bowling alley, private room, and a restaurant. Coupled with the business bordering on a residential neighborhood. We felt the security guard was appropriate. The purpose of the security guard will be to be a uniform presence to observe for disturbances in illegal activity and report to the police. A security guard is just set and can't be assigned other duties or tasks within the business, such as uh uh being a doorman or uh ticket taker. There's a provision in the conditions of approval that allows the chief of police to determine the amount of guards required and their operating hours. So the number can be raised or lowered depending on needs. Uh change the slide, please. The business has a semi-private room that can be rented for events. This room is required to have a surveillance camera with a live fee that can be monitored. All doors to the room are required to have one square foot of unobstructed glass for other clear material. To view inside, and none of the doors can have locking mechanisms. This is to ensure that no illicit activity occurs inside. Change slides, please. The exit doors near lane one exit to a small pedestrian alleyway that leads either to El Camino Rio or a lead away. In the past, this alleyway was conducive to loadering and other activities that enjoy being out of view. The security plan requires the glass doors be replaced with solid doors, that they be exit only and sound with an audible alarm if opened. In addition, exit gates or exit only gates will be installed at Elita Way and also at El Camino Rio. It should be noted that the gates will have appropriate fire department access. The purpose is to eliminate the alleyway from being used except for emergency exits from the building. Uh change slides, please. The last notable requirement is the business must obtain a permit from the police department for any special event. A special event is defined in the South San Francisco Municipal Code Section 6.48.010 and consists of any event with more than 75 people in attendance. This process allows the police department to evaluate the safety and security of the event and impose conditions to help improve safety and security. That ends my presentation, and I'm happy to answer any questions that you might have. All right, great. Thank you, Sydney Mike. Thank you, Mike. I do have a little more. Sorry, I'll just wrap up real quick. Um staff just wanted to mention um that there was a neighborhood meeting for the proposal held um at Hometown Bowl on November 12, 2019, and it was to provide information to the public and obtain feedback on their proposal. Um the questions and comments by those in attendance generally centered on point parking and noise concerns and loitering by customers in the residential neighborhood. Additionally, many members of the public expressed concerns regarding the new exterior design of the building. The business owners discussed how they would implement strategies to address these issues, and these strategies have been included as recommended conditions of approval. Staff did receive one letter via email from a representative of 11th Street property, um, owners of 316 Alita Way, which is the residential property directly to the north of the project site. They cited four main concerns, including noise, drunkards, and people nuisances, parking, and rats and rodents. Many of these concerns are directly related to the existing alley that separates the two properties. Draft conditions of approval have been included to address these issues. And since publication of the staff report, staff has received an additional email from the POP from the property owner in support of the use permit request. A copy of that email has been forwarded to the commission. Lastly, staff would just like to mention that also since the publication of the staff report. Staff has drafted new recommended conditions of approval to further address issues that may be caused by the use.