South San Francisco Planning Commission Regular Meeting - September 15, 2022
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South San Francisco Planning Commission Regular Meeting - September 15, 2022
The South San Francisco Planning Commission held a regular meeting on September 15, 2022, via teleconference. The meeting covered approval of the consent calendar, a continuance of a public hearing for a 100 East Grand project, and a major discussion and recommendation on the comprehensive update of the General Plan, Climate Action Plan, Zoning Ordinance, and associated Environmental Impact Report (EIR). The commission unanimously approved three resolutions recommending City Council adoption of the update documents.
Consent Calendar
- Master Sign Program and Design Review for a previously approved 139,539-square-foot life science building and parking garage in the Business and Technology Park (BTP) Zoning District, with a determination of categorical CEQA exemption. Approved unanimously.
- Approval of Draft Meeting Minutes for August 18, 2022. Approved unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Public Comment on Item 4 (General Plan Update): Devin Amin, speaking on behalf of property owners of 701 Airport Boulevard, expressed concern that the proposed zoning for the Airport Boulevard corridor (low-density mixed use with up to 60 dwelling units per acre and 2.5 FAR) is a conservative increase from prior zoning and insufficient to incentivize redevelopment. He noted that the previous preferred land use alternative allowed up to 120 dwelling units per acre and 3.5 FAR, and argued that higher density would promote affordable housing and support the city's RHNA goals. He requested further discussion with staff.
Discussion Items
- Item 4: Comprehensive Update of the General Plan (2040), Climate Action Plan, Zoning Ordinance, and EIR – Staff and consultants (Eric Yerkovich of Raimi + Associates, Monica Sidlock of LWC, and Mary Dean of Source Carbon Solutions) presented the documents, summarizing the three-and-a-half-year process that involved over 1,600 participants, 500+ survey responses, and extensive public outreach. Key highlights included a form-based code for change areas, a carbon neutrality goal, and design standards. Commissioners praised the effort and raised questions about implementation, particularly regarding transitions and neighborhood coherence. Commissioner Faria noted transportation challenges. Commissioner DePaz Fernandez appreciated the inclusion of neighborhood outreach meetings. Commissioner Murphy highlighted the living-document nature and the climate action plan's aggressiveness. No public comments other than Devin Amin's.
Key Outcomes
- Continuance: Public Hearing Item 3 (100 East Grand project) was continued to the next regular meeting on October 6, 2022.
- Resolution 4a: The commission unanimously adopted a resolution recommending that the City Council certify the Environmental Impact Report, including adoption of the Statement of Overriding Considerations for the 2040 General Plan Update, Climate Action Plan Update, and Zoning Ordinance Update. (Vote: 7-0)
- Resolution 4b: The commission unanimously adopted a resolution recommending that the City Council adopt the 2040 General Plan Update and Climate Action Plan Update. (Vote: 7-0)
- Resolution 4c: The commission unanimously adopted a resolution recommending that the City Council introduce an ordinance repealing certain sections of Title 20 and adopt the Zoning Ordinance Update, including a new Title 20 and Zoning Map, inclusive of an errata clarifying planning permit definitions. (Vote: 7-0)
Meeting Transcript
All right, Christian. Welcome to the Thursday, September 15, 2022, 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 provisions assembly bill three six one, which allows attendance by members of the planning commission, city staff, and the public to participate and conduct the meeting by teleconference. Teleconference locations are not open to the public. So provide a comment during the meeting. Please use the raise hand function indicating you would like to speak, and you will be unmuted in order during the times reserved for public comment. You will have three minutes to make your comments. Please note that all commission time limits and rules of decorum will apply public comments. This meeting of the Sanskrit Planning Commission is hereby called to order. Will you please stand and join me in the pledge of allegiance? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. May we have roll call, please? Yes, Chair. Commissioner Funes Aster. Here. Commissioner Faria. Here. Commissioner Murphy. Here. Commissioner DePaz Fernandez. Here. Commissioner Evans. I'm sorry. All right, back to you, Chair. Thank you. Are there any changes to the agenda? There are, Chair. Public hearing item number three has requested a continuance to a date certain. So we are continuing item three to the next meeting on October 6th, 2022. Thank you. Does any member of the public wish to address the commission on an item that is not on the agenda tonight at this time? Please you use the raise hand feature to indicate that you would like to provide a comment. At this time, I will ask the clerk if there are any members of the public who would like to provide comments or if there are any comments received by email or voicemail. Except from staff trying to be promoted to panelists, so I'm going to do that. But no other hands raised or comments on items not on the agenda. And you will note an errata and a comment were forwarded to you to you all earlier today. Those are also posted on our website at SSF.net. Backslash planning. Okay, thank you. Next on the agenda is the disclosure of ex parte communications. If any commissioner has had any communications with applicants, did any site or project visits, had interactions with third parties, or has any conflicts regarding any items on the agenda, you may disclose them at this time. Next is a consent. May we have a listing of the consent calendar items, yeah. Absolutely, Chair. Consent calendar item one, master sign program and design review for a previous previously approved 139,539 square foot life science building and parking garage located in the business and technology park BTP zoning district in accordance with Title 20 of the South San Francisco Municipal Code and determination that the project is categorically exempt from CEQA. Item two, consideration of approval of the draft meeting minutes for August 18th, 2022. Does any commissioner wish to pull an item from the consent? Does any member of the public wish to address the commission on an item on the consent calendar at this time? Please use the raised hand feature to indicate that you would like to provide a comment.
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