South San Francisco Planning Commission Regular Meeting - September 17, 2020
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South San Francisco Planning Commission Regular Meeting - September 17, 2020
The Planning Commission met via teleconference on September 17, 2020 at 7:00 PM to consider two major items: a hotel project at 840 El Camino Real and a large residential development at 410 Noor Avenue. The meeting also included approval of a consent calendar with two routine items.
Consent Calendar
- Master Sign Program and Design Review for Altitude Apartments (150-200 Airport Boulevard): Approved unanimously.
- Master Sign Program for Oyster Point Redevelopment Project: Approved unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Item 3 (840 El Camino Real Hotel): Four letters were read into the record. Two were in support from local business owners; one was in opposition from a neighbor at 120 A Street listing concerns about construction damage, noise, privacy, parking, and utility lines; one was from a labor union (Laborers Local 270) arguing that a Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) is insufficient and an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) is required due to noise, air quality, health risk, and indoor air quality impacts. The union's letter claimed that corrected noise levels would exceed the city's limit by 9 dBA, that VOC emissions of 290 lbs/day and NOx of 252 lbs/day exceed thresholds of 54 lbs/day, that excess cancer risks at a nearby sensitive receptor range from 12 to 270 per million (threshold 10 per million), and that indoor air quality risks from formaldehyde exceed thresholds. No live public speakers.
- Item 4 (410 Noor Residential): Three live public speakers expressed support: Alex Melandrez (Housing Leadership Council), Vince Rocha (Silicon Valley Leadership Group), and Aaron Schaezer (lifelong resident citing need for housing). One email from Eric Harmon (San Bruno Planning Commissioner) supported the project and suggested further parking reductions and unbundling. Additionally, Kelsey Baines (Peninsula for Everyone) spoke in support but recommended higher density, less parking, and transit passes.
Discussion Items
- Item 3: 840 El Camino Real Hotel – Conditional Use Permit, Design Review, TDM Plan, and MND for a 5-story, 95-room Fairfield Inn with two levels of below-grade parking (69 spaces). Staff presented findings of no significant environmental impacts after mitigation. The applicant addressed concerns about tree planting (larger initial sizes), window tinting, noise, and privacy. Commissioners asked about financing (given COVID-19), parking, TDM measures for guests, and neighbor relations. The applicant stated 70-75% occupancy expected, financing via equity and SBA, and construction starting in 12-15 months. The Design Review Board had recommended approval after three reviews.
- Item 4: 410 Noor Residential Project – A 338-unit, 3-building development (3-5 stories) with 467 parking spaces (1.4 per unit), 955 sq ft retail, and a community garden on a former theater site near San Bruno BART. The project requires a General Plan Amendment and Zoning Text Amendment for airport noise override (ALUC inconsistency). Staff presented CEQA compliance via the previously certified South El Camino General Plan Amendment Program EIR and categorical exemptions. The applicant (Glenn Cerradano, SIRES Properties) detailed design, unit mix (10% studios, 50% 1BR, 40% 2BR), 10% affordable housing (5% low income, 5% moderate income, spread across unit types and buildings), and community benefits. Commissioners discussed parking ratio, unbundling (up to 50% allowed as of right), affordable housing parking fees, noise mitigation (STC-rated windows, no operable windows, mechanical ventilation), and financing. The ALUC noise override is a City Council matter.
Key Outcomes
- Item 3: Motion to adopt the resolution making findings, adopting the MND, and approving entitlements (P17-0108, UP17-0021, DR17-0069, TDM17-0005) subject to conditions. Passed unanimously (7-0).
- Item 4: Three separate motions, all passed unanimously (7-0):
- 4a: Resolution recommending City Council determine the project is exempt from CEQA under the program EIR and categorical exemptions.
- 4b: Resolution recommending City Council adopt General Plan Amendment and Zoning Text Amendment to reference the Local Agency Override process for airport noise.
- 4c: Resolution recommending City Council approve entitlements (P18-0013, UP18-0006, DR18-0006, TDM18-0003, WM20-0005) for the 410 Noor project.
Note: Both approvals are subject to a 15-day appeal period to the City Council.
Meeting Transcript
All right guys, I got seven o'clock on uh my clock here, so I know we uh get started. Uh I'd like to welcome everybody. It looks like we have a pretty uh packed room and a couple of uh big items, so we'll get started. Uh again, I'll start with a couple of uh comments here. Uh I'd like to welcome everybody to the planning commission meeting for Thursday, September 17th, uh the regular meeting of the South San Francisco Planning Commission. This meeting is being held in accordance with the Brown Act as currently in effect under the State Emergency Service Act, uh the governor's emergency declaration related to COVID 19 and the governor's executive order N2920, issued on March 17th, 2020, that allows attendance by members of the Planning Commission, city staff, and the public to participate in conduct uh the meeting by teleconference. Teleconference locations are not open to the public. Uh to provide a live remote public comment, uh please join the Zoom from your computer or mobile device. The meeting ID number for this meeting is 882138 0027, uh again 882 3138-0027, and the password is 365780. Uh, please note that you may need to install the zoom app on your device prior to joining the meeting to provide comments, use the chat function indicating that you would like to speak, and then please wait for your turn and once staff unmute you, uh state your name and city of residence for the record. Uh you will then have three minutes to make any comments you'd like to make. Uh in addition, you can make uh you can email um at PC Comments at PCC O M M E N T S at SS.net uh or you can call our uh phone number at uh 650 8294669 and we will read into the record emails or message comments that you provide. Uh please note that the at all commission time limits and rules of decorum will apply to public comments. Uh okay, so with that, uh will everybody please join me for the Pledge of Allegiance. The Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation, under guide, indivisible for liberty and justice for all. All right. Commissioner Faria. Commissioner Murphy? Here. Commissioner Bernardo? Here. Commissioner Shahade? Here. Commissioner Zhang. But he's here. Vice Chair Evans? Here. Chair Wong? Here. All are present. All right, thank you. Uh agenda review. Uh is there any changes to tonight's agenda? No changes, Chair Wong. Okay. Uh moving on to oral communications. Uh, is there anyone in the audience that would like to speak on an item that is not on tonight's agenda? And again, if you do, please uh uh submit your questions or comments in the chat function. And I'll give a mandate for anyone that might want to do that. Michelle, do you see anyone that I want to make the comments? No, I do not. Okay. Um moving on to the consent calendar. Uh, Madam McClurk, can you please read the items in the consent calendar? Do you want me to read them both at and then? Yeah, let's read a both. Okay. Uh Master. Okay, master sign program and design review for the Altitude Department's residential development at 150 to 200 Airport Boulevard in the downtown Transit Corps Zoning District in accordance with the Title 20 of the South San Francisco Municipal Code and determination that the project is categorically exempt from CEQA.
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