South San Francisco Planning Commission Regular Meeting - October 15, 2020

The South San Francisco Planning Commission held a virtual regular meeting on October 15, 2020, at 7:00 PM via Zoom due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The meeting covered two public hearings: a 45-day comment period for the Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the 751 Gateway development project, and a comprehensive review of the Genentech 2020 Master Plan Update, including its associated EIR, zoning text amendment, and development agreement. The agenda order was reversed to take the 751 Gateway item first.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Oral Communications (non-agenda): Marty Oaks, President of Hello Housing, submitted a written comment (read into the record) advocating for the city's ADU program "Right in Your Own Backyard," funded in part by a Genentech startup grant, as a solution to meet housing element goals, especially for moderate-income households.
• Item 2 – 751 Gateway: No public comments were made during the hearing. One written comment from Darren Cattenhorn, Chief Engineer of Health Plan of San Mateo, was read into the record, raising concerns about bus traffic, air quality, waste burning, construction debris, road signage, and sewer/water impacts.
• Item 1 – Genentech Master Plan Update: Two members of the public spoke:
  • Hermes Bonson raised concerns about public access to the Bay Trail along Genentech's property, noting that access near the demolished building at DNA and Forbes Boulevard is currently closed, and that signage and security presence at 645 East Grand Avenue make public access difficult. He requested preservation and improvement of access, and suggested allocating more than the proposed $100,000 annual community benefit to areas like Old Town.
  • Olga Peraz expressed appreciation for Genentech's generosity and transformation of South San Francisco, but requested that the company support neighborhoods west of 101, particularly Old Town and downtown, which have been impacted. She asked for consideration of a teen center, upgrades to Cypress Park, a senior garden, and improved communication with Spanish-speaking residents.

Discussion Items

• Item 2 – 751 Gateway Draft EIR Public Hearing: Senior Planner Adena Friedman presented the draft EIR for a proposed seven-story R&D and office building at 751 Gateway Boulevard. The project, submitted by Alexandria Real Estate, would add a new building on an underutilized parking lot while retaining the existing 701 Gateway building. The draft EIR identified three potentially significant and unavoidable impacts related to vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and associated greenhouse gas emissions, analyzed under the city's recently adopted VMT thresholds. The comment period runs from September 22 to November 8, 2020. Staff recommended that the commission hold the public hearing and accept comments. Commissioners had no questions or comments, and the hearing was closed without further action.
• Item 1 – Genentech 2020 Master Plan Update: Principal Planner Tony Rozzi, along with Scott Gregory (Lampier Gregory) and Sophie Martin (Genentech Real Estate Strategy), presented the master plan update. Key components include:
  • Increasing the floor area ratio (FAR) from 0.6 to 1.0, allowing up to 9 million square feet of development (an increase of 4.3 million square feet) on the 207-acre campus.
  • A trip cap of 5,216 vehicle trips per day, enforced through a 50% transportation demand management (TDM) program (including shuttles, biking, transit) to reduce single-occupant vehicle trips.
  • A development agreement providing $30 million over 15 years for affordable housing, $10 million for transportation improvements (Mobility 2020), $5 million in lieu of a CFD, $750,000 for the Grand Avenue off-ramp realignment study, $4.7 million for public art, a new public bayfront park, and $100,000 annually for community programs.
  • The EIR found two significant and unavoidable impacts: air quality emissions from manufacturing and temporary construction noise. VMT per employee was projected to be 23% below the regional average, exceeding the CEQA threshold.
  • Commissioners discussed TDM oversight, annual reporting, affordable housing fund flexibility, and the impact of remote work. Commissioner Sam Shihadeh requested more than $100,000 for community benefits and suggested staff consider public concerns. Vice Chair Michele Evans and others praised Genentech's partnership and commitment.

Key Outcomes

• 751 Gateway Draft EIR: The public hearing was closed. No vote was taken; the comment period remains open until November 8, 2020.
• Genentech 2020 Master Plan Update: The Planning Commission took two unanimous votes:
  1. Motion 1 (Resolution 1a): To recommend that the City Council certify the Final Environmental Impact Report, adopt CEQA findings, a Statement of Overriding Considerations, and a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program. Passed 7-0.
  2. Motion 2 (Resolution 1b): To recommend that the City Council adopt the Genentech 2020 Master Plan Update, associated Zoning Text Amendments to Chapter 20.260, and the Development Agreement between the City and Genentech, Inc. Passed 7-0.
  • Both motions will be forwarded to the City Council for final consideration.
• Upcoming Meeting: Staff reminded commissioners of a special meeting on October 22, 2020, to discuss the preferred land use alternative for the General Plan update.