South San Francisco Planning Commission Regular Meeting - April 6, 2023
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South San Francisco Planning Commission Regular Meeting - April 6, 2023
The South San Francisco Planning Commission held a hybrid regular meeting on Thursday, April 6, 2023, at 7:00 PM in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Services Building. The Commission unanimously approved the consent calendar, two use permits for indoor entertainment and light fleet‑based services, and welcomed two new commissioners.
Consent Calendar
- Item 1: Approved the draft minutes from the March 16, 2023 Planning Commission meeting.
- Item 2: Approved an amendment to the Master Sign Program and Design Review for signage at 600‑650 Gateway Boulevard (BTP‑H Zoning District) and determined the project categorically exempt from CEQA.
Public Hearing – Item 3: Use Permit for Indoor Entertainment at 359 Grand Avenue
The Commission considered a use permit to allow indoor entertainment (e.g., live music, dancing) ancillary to the existing Grand Palace restaurant in the Grand Avenue Core Zoning District. The proposal involved no physical changes to the building; entertainment would occur between 5 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., primarily on weekends, with up to 200 customers (below the existing occupancy of 299). Staff recommended approval with an added Condition #6 requiring a designated pickup/drop‑off area for ride‑share and restaurant visitors to avoid queuing on Grand Avenue.
- Discussion: Commissioners questioned the practicality of enforcing the drop‑off area, suggesting the use of the rear third‑lane or temporarily reserving parking spaces in front. The applicant clarified that the condition is intended for equipment deliveries and occasional senior‑citizen drop‑offs; they already provide parking maps and direct patrons to the Miller lot. Staff confirmed the rear lot remains available.
- Public Comment: None.
- Action: The Commission unanimously approved the use permit subject to the findings and conditions of approval, including the added Condition #6.
Public Hearing – Item 4: Use Permit for Light Fleet‑Based Services (Limousine) at 1098 San Mateo Avenue
The Commission considered a use permit for Carrie Limousines to relocate its existing limousine fleet operation from 405 Victory Avenue to Unit 7 at 1098 San Mateo Avenue (Mixed Industrial High Zoning District). The operation would be 24 hours, with 45 staff and 15 fleet vehicles. The site has 29 parking spaces; only 13 drivers commute during peak hours, leaving adequate parking. The applicant stated the business has operated in South San Francisco for 30 years without incident; the move was necessitated by eviction after the pandemic.
- Discussion: Commissioners noted the business is merely changing locations within the same city and that the zoning allows the use. No concerns were raised.
- Public Comment: None.
- Action: The Commission unanimously approved the use permit, finding the project categorically exempt under CEQA Class 1.
Administrative Business
The Commission welcomed two new members: Commissioner John Baker, who was sworn in earlier that day, and Commissioner Aisha Pamaku, who would be sworn in the following day and would attend the next meeting. Both gave brief introductions.
Key Outcomes
- Approved consent calendar (Items 1 and 2) unanimously.
- Approved Use Permit for indoor entertainment at 359 Grand Avenue (Item 3) unanimously, with an added Condition #6.
- Approved Use Permit for light fleet‑based services at 1098 San Mateo Avenue (Item 4) unanimously.
- Welcomed new Commissioners John Baker and Aisha Pamaku.
Meeting Transcript
If we are ready to go. Great. Thank you. Mike check. I can hear me. So welcome to the Thursday, April 6th, regular meeting of the South San Francisco Planning Commission. This meeting is being held in person at the Municipal Services Building, but online participation is available to the public. To provide a comment during the meeting, please fill out a speaker card if you are in the meeting chambers, or use the raise hand function if you are online. You will have three minutes recording in progress. Please note that all commission time limits and rules of decorum will apply to public comments. This meeting of the South San Francisco Planning Commission is hereby called to order. Will you please stand and join in the pledge of allegiance? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to do the report for which it stands. One nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. May we have a roll call, please. Definitely. Commissioner Baker. Present. Commissioner Evans. Commissioner Funes. Here. Commissioner Shahade. Here. Vice Chair Faria? Here. Chair Zhang. Here. Are there any changes to the agenda? No changes, Chair. Thank you. The oral communications. Does any member of the public wish to address the commission on an item that is not on the agenda tonight at this time? If you are attending in person, please fill out a speaker card. If you are attending online, please use the raise hand feature. Clerk, please let me know if there's any speaker card or raise hand. At this moment, there is no speaker cards and no raise hands. Thank you. So hearing no speaker, we'll move on. Disclosure of exparted communications. If any commissioner had any communication 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. If you would like to risk recuse yourself for any item, you can also do this at this time. Okay, hearing none, we'll move on to the next item. The consent calendar. Certainly. Item number one is consideration and approval of draft minutes from the March 16th, 2023 Planning Commission meeting. Item number two is an amendment to master sign program and design review for signage at 600 to 650 Gateway Boulevard in the Business and Technology Park High Zoning District in accordance with Title 20 of the South San Francisco Municipal Code and determination that the project is categorically exempt from California Environmental Quality Act. Thank you, Billy. Does any commissioner wish to pull any 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?
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