South San Francisco Planning Commission Regular Meeting - July 7, 2022

The South San Francisco Planning Commission held a virtual regular meeting on July 7, 2022, at 7:00 PM. The agenda included adoption of prior meeting minutes, a public hearing on the draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the General Plan Update, a recommendation for the Active South City Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan, and a proposal for a new Security Building at the Genentech campus. All agenda items were addressed, with unanimous votes on resolutions for the bicycle/pedestrian plan and the Genentech project.

Consent Calendar

• Adopted draft minutes from the June 16, 2022 regular meeting. Motion passed unanimously (Commissioners Faria, Murphy, Vice Chair Tzang, Chair Shihadeh).

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were received on the consent calendar or items 2 and 4.
• For item 3 (Active South City), Frank McCauley, Chair of the ICL and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, spoke in favor, noting that his committee unanimously approved acceptance of the plan after four years of work, and recommended that the Planning Commission approve it and forward it to City Council.

Discussion Items

Draft EIR for General Plan Update, Zoning Code Amendments, and Climate Action Plan (Item 2)

• Staff (Billy Gross, Principal Planner) and consultant Mary Bean (Director at First Carbon Solutions) presented the Draft Program EIR, released June 24, 2022. The EIR covers three components: the General Plan Update, Amendments to the Zoning Code, and the Climate Action Plan. It projects approximately 14,000+ new housing units and 42,000+ net new employment opportunities by 2040, primarily east of Highway 101 in Lindenville, downtown, and along El Camino Real.
• The Draft EIR identifies significant unavoidable impacts for vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and roadway safety at both project and cumulative levels, as well as conflicts with the Bay Area Clean Air Plan related to VMT and cumulative criteria pollutants. Nine mitigation measures are proposed, covering air quality, greenhouse gas emissions, transportation, protection of species and wetlands, paleontology, noise, airport land use, and intersection queueing.
• The public comment period runs through August 9, 2022 at 5:00 PM. After that, the City will prepare responses to comments, and the Planning Commission and City Council will consider certification of the final EIR and adoption of the General Plan, Zoning Code amendments, and Climate Action Plan.
• Commissioners discussed the program EIR's streamlining and tiering provisions, cultural resource findings, the relationship between program-level analysis and later project-level review, and long-term monitoring of VMT and infrastructure. Staff and consultants clarified that each subsequent project would still undergo site-specific environmental review (e.g., initial study checklists), and that if new or more severe impacts are found, additional CEQA documentation would be required.

Active South City Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan (Item 3)

• Christopher Espiritu (Senior Transportation Planner) presented the plan, which updates the 2011 Bicycle Master Plan and 2014 Pedestrian Master Plan into a single integrated plan. Community outreach conducted between fall 2018 and winter 2021 identified priorities including better connections east of Highway 101, improved trail access, safer biking conditions on arterials (e.g., Chestnut, Orange, Westborough), reduced vehicle speeds around schools, and enhanced pedestrian comfort and amenities.
• The plan identifies a high injury network based on collision data; it also proposes to nearly double the existing bicycle network to about 50 miles, adding over 20 miles of class 4 protected/separated bikeways. For pedestrians, the plan designates priority areas and spot improvements at 40 intersection crossings. Supporting policies include wayfinding, online bike/ped/transit maps, tactical urbanism, bike parking expansion, and pilot projects.
• Environmental review: The plan is statutorily exempt under CEQA Guidelines Section 15262 (feasibility and planning studies), and each resulting project will be individually evaluated under CEQA. Staff recommended adoption of a resolution to determine this exemption and to recommend City Council adoption of the plan.
• Commissioner discussion highlighted funding challenges, prioritization of projects, and safety concerns. Several commissioners expressed strong support for the plan's goals and urged aggressive implementation, particularly for high-injury areas and pedestrian visibility. Frank McCauley's public comment voiced support.

Genentech Security Building (B38) at 380 DNA Way (Item 4)

• Adena Friedman (Principal Planner) presented the proposal to demolish existing Building 39 (approximately 16,000 sq ft) and construct a new 12,600 sq ft security building for Genentech's internal security and safety operations, including an apparatus bay for emergency vehicles. The project requires a Use Permit (consistency with the Genentech Master Plan), Design Review, and a CEQA determination.
• This is the first development project under the updated 2020 Genentech Master Plan. An initial study prepared by environmental consultant Lamphier-Gregory concluded that the project falls within the scope of the certified Master Plan Program EIR (CEQA Guidelines Sections 15162 and 15168), and no new environmental documentation is needed. The Design Review Board reviewed the project in April 2022 and strongly recommended approval.
• Applicant representatives (Sophie Martin, Genentech; Nick from Perkins+Will; David Fletcher from Fletcher Studio) presented detailed design and landscape features: a heavy timber structure, photovoltaic arrays targeting net-zero energy, bioswales receiving rainwater via rain chains, and sustainable materials. Parking on the site will decrease from 934 to 828 spaces. The new building aims for a low carbon footprint and is designed to be a "beacon of safety" with a 24/7 operations center.
• Commissioners praised the design and sustainability. They asked about the decision to demolish and rebuild rather than retrofit; the applicant cited aging systems, seismic deficiencies, and cost-effectiveness as primary reasons.

Key Outcomes

• Unanimously adopted the consent calendar (adoption of June 16, 2022 minutes).
• No formal action taken on the Draft EIR (Item 2); it was informational. The public comment period remains open until August 9, 2022.
• Unanimously adopted a resolution (5-0) recommending that the City Council adopt the Active South City Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan, including the finding of CEQA statutory exemption.
• Unanimously adopted two resolutions (5-0) regarding the Genentech Security Building: (1) a CEQA determination that the project is within the scope of the 2020 Master Plan EIR, and (2) approval of the Use Permit and Design Review, subject to conditions of approval.
• Staff announced a joint Planning Commission/City Council study session on August 9, 2022, to discuss zoning and the housing element, and canceled Planning Commission meetings on July 21 and August 4, 2022.