South San Francisco Planning Commission Regular Meeting Summary – April 18, 2024
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South San Francisco Planning Commission Regular Meeting – April 18, 2024
The South San Francisco Planning Commission held its regular in-person meeting on Thursday, April 18, 2024, in the Council Chambers at 901 Civic Campus Way. Chair Norman Faria presided, with Vice Chair Sarah Funes-Ozturk and Commissioners Alex Tzang, Sam Shihadeh, Michele Evans, and John Baker present; Commissioner Aysha Pamukcu was absent. Staff announced a City Council request for a future planning commission presentation to City Council. The Commission voted 6-0 on all items requiring action.
Consent Calendar
- The Commission unanimously approved the March 21, 2024 Planning Commission minutes.
- The Commission unanimously approved the Master Sign Program and Design Review for the existing life science campus at 230 East Grand Avenue, including a determination that the project is categorically exempt from CEQA.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Ten emailed public comments were read into the record. All commenters urged the Planning Commission to direct the City Council to remove the Municipal Services Building (MSB) at 33 Arroyo Drive from the Housing Element and instead designate other city-owned properties for housing. Speakers described the MSB as a structurally sound, code-compliant community gathering place and argued that the Roberta Teglia/Magnolia Center is inadequate for seniors. They requested that the MSB be preserved as a multi-use community and senior center. Commenters included Cynthia Markopolis, Charlene Roosville, Darlene Marsh, Marco Nunziati, Dolores Piper, Aurelia Campbell, Maureen Kelly, Merritt Vetter, Dell Shambari, and Bonnie Morgan.
- During the Genentech annual report item, a public commenter thanked Genentech for its community support and suggested the company create youth programs in Old Town, noting the lack of services for Spanish-speaking immigrant and essential-worker families.
Public Hearing: Title 20 Zoning Text Amendments
- Senior Planner Stephanie Skangos presented proposed amendments to Title 20 of the Municipal Code. The amendments address six areas: correcting typographical errors, section titles, and cross-references; clarifying intent; implementing Housing Element programs, including no-net-loss provisions, permanent supportive housing, and low-barrier navigation centers; updating accessory dwelling unit regulations to comply with state law; renaming taxis and limousine services to fleet-based services; and reorganizing chapters on use-specific standards and definitions. Staff concluded the amendments are categorically exempt from CEQA.
- The ADU amendments would allow detached ADUs up to 18 feet in height, with an additional two feet allowed within a half-mile of public transit; attached ADU height limits remain unchanged.
- Commissioner Baker asked clarifying questions on setbacks, front-yard paving limits, and long-term bicycle parking. He suggested changing the proposed bicycle parking requirement to provide at least 5% of required or maximum permitted vehicular spaces. The Commission agreed to the amendment. Commissioner Tzang asked about correcting a confusing “whichever larger/smaller” setback provision; staff confirmed that the section was cleaned up. No speaker cards or written comments were received during the public hearing.
Administrative Business: 2023 Genentech Annual Report
- Principal Planner Billy Gross introduced the annual report, and Genentech site planning director Sophie Martin presented. Genentech reported no net square footage added to the campus in 2023. A new Security Operations Center (Building 38) is nearing completion. Genentech acquired the Lithotype out-parcel and will pursue a future master plan update. No new leases were executed; the company will occupy 751 Gateway in fall 2024.
- Transportation demand management data showed the drive-alone rate at 60.8%, down from the prior year and close to pre-pandemic levels. Average daily single-occupancy vehicle trips were about 3,600, well below the 5,200 cap. Campus parking inventory is approximately 6,400 spaces, with utilization around 70%. Genentech pays annual community benefit fees split between affordable housing and transportation, and reported 2023 community grant recipients.
Administrative Business: Brown Act Presentation
- Senior Associate City Attorney Alexandra Wolf presented a high-level overview of the Ralph M. Brown Act, Public Records Act, and meeting procedures. Key topics included open meeting requirements, serial meeting prohibitions, agenda posting timelines (72 hours for regular meetings, 24 hours for special meetings), social media restrictions under AB 992, and public records obligations. She also noted that in-person attendance is required and no remote attendance is permitted.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Calendar approved 6-0.
- Resolution recommending City Council adoption of the Title 20 zoning text amendments (Item 3A) was adopted 6-0, including the amendment to clarify that long-term bicycle parking must be at least 5% of required or maximum permitted vehicular spaces.
- The Genentech Annual Report and Brown Act presentation were received as informational items; no votes were taken.
- The Commission took no action on the public comments regarding the MSB.
Meeting Transcript
Regular meeting of the South San Francisco Planning Commission. This meeting is being held in person at the Library Parks Recreation. Council Chambers Room 135. To provide comment during the please flabby speaker card, you will have three minutes to make your comments. Please note that the commission time limits are rules of the quorum will apply to public comments. At this time, I will call a meeting here by call a meeting to order. Please stand for the pledge allegiance. May we have roll call, please? Yes. Chair Faria? Here. Vice Chair Funas Osturk. Here. Commissioner Baker. Here. Commissioner Evans. Here. Commissioner Shahade? Here. Commissioner Zhang? Here. Commissioner Pomaku is absent. Any changes to the agenda? We do not have any changes to the agenda. Any items from staff? I have one item from staff, which is that we have had a recent request through the city manager from City Council. There is a request going out to all the boards and commissions. If a member of the commission would like to come to a city council meeting in the future, member of the planning commission, and just give a brief presentation on the role of the planning commission, the types of projects you see, that type of thing, that would be much appreciated, and I'm happy to work with you to set up a time and develop a presentation. We'll make sure we get representation to honor their request. Great. Thank you so much. We do have several emails that we've received, so I can read them into the record if the chair would like me to do that. Please do. Okay. Okay. Um says an email from Cynthia Markopolis. I'm asking again that you direct the city council to take the municipal services building 33 Arroyo, the MSB, out of the housing element and substitute one of the several city-owned properties in its place. If the MSB were so unsafe over the past seven years, the city would have relocated the police department and its communications division, the fire department, the park and rack offices, and classes for the children and adults, and council chambers and rentals for functions, and allowing residents to socialize. We have one senior center serving one side of the city, the former Magnolia Center, which with few exceptions caters to the adult daycare residents. The MSB is a sound structure passing every code inspection since 1969, has a new roof and a new air conditioning system with all new ducting and millions of dollars in upgrades and maintenance. It is ADA compliant with 112 underground parking spaces. It was the place we were directed to go for safety if there was an emergency. The MSB can house the proposed city child care, the South San Francisco Historical Society's Museum, and the Cultural Arts Commission, where local artists can rent space. It can serve as an overflow for the campus. It is a space where our community socializes. We are the biotech capital of the world, and we should be the model for a senior community as well. Please rope reappropriate the developer impact fees for the unnecessary fire station on Camaritas and open the MSB. We are told that it needs staff and maintenance. And who has been more impacted than the good residents of our fair city? Thank you.
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