South San Francisco Planning Commission Regular Meeting – June 17, 2021

The Planning Commission convened remotely at 7:00 PM on June 17, 2021, under the Brown Act and the Governor's COVID-19 executive order. The meeting included a consent calendar, a public hearing on short-term vacation rental regulations, and a discussion on changing the meeting start time. All votes were unanimous.

Consent Calendar

• Approved four items unanimously:
  1. Master Sign Program & Design Review for signage at 80 South Spruce Avenue (Commercial Mixed-Use Zoning District).
  2. Master Sign Program & Design Review for signage at 156-160 South Spruce Avenue (Business Commercial Zoning District).
  3. Master Sign Program & Design Review for the SummerHill Apartment Communities mixed-use residential development at 988 El Camino Real (El Camino Real/Chestnut Mixed-Use High Density Zoning District).
  4. Resolution finding that the proposed Fiscal Year 2021-22 Capital Improvement Program is consistent with the City’s General Plan (Government Code Section 65401).
• All items were determined to be categorically exempt from CEQA. A minor correction was noted by a commissioner to update the title of Item 4 to FY 2021-22 (transcript shows the agenda had a typo: "2010-22" instead of "2021-22").

Public Hearing

• Item 5: Amendment to Short-Term Vacation Rentals and Bed and Breakfast Lodging Regulations
  • Staff presented a zoning text amendment to clarify that accessory dwelling units (ADUs) cannot be used as short-term vacation rentals or bed and breakfasts, consistent with state law aiming to preserve ADUs as permanent housing.
  • The change was described as a cleanup item to ensure internal consistency in the zoning code.
  • No public comments were received. The Commission unanimously approved a resolution recommending the City Council adopt the ordinance.

Administrative Business

• Discussion of Planning Commission Meeting Start Time
  • Staff proposed changing the start time from 7:00 PM to 6:00 PM to align with the City Council.
  • Commissioners shared varied preferences: some favored 7:00 PM due to work schedules (virtual or in-person), others preferred 6:00 PM to end earlier, especially for long meetings expected with upcoming large projects.
  • The consensus was to defer the decision until later in 2021 when return-to-work patterns are clearer.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Olga Perez (member of the public) spoke during the public comment period at the end of the meeting, though she noted she logged in late. She expressed support for maintaining a remote/hybrid participation option for people with disabilities or medical conditions. She also asked about the status of the Shape SSF general plan update and urged the Commission to consider the needs of the Old Town area, especially youth educational resources. Staff responded that a hybrid model for community engagement is planned, and an update on Shape SSF would come in early August.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Calendar: Approved unanimously (7-0).
• Public Hearing (Short-Term Rentals): Resolution recommending City Council adoption approved unanimously (7-0).
• Meeting Start Time: No action taken; discussion deferred to a future meeting.
• Next Meeting: The first meeting in July 2021 was canceled; the next regular meeting is scheduled for the second meeting in July.
• Staff announced a new senior planner, Christy Usher, formerly a consultant, has joined the team.