South San Francisco Planning Commission Regular Meeting - March 6, 2025
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South San Francisco Planning Commission Regular Meeting - March 6, 2025
The South San Francisco Planning Commission held its regular meeting on March 6, 2025, at 7:00 PM in the Council Chambers of the Library Parks & Recreation Building. Chair Sarah Funes-Ozturk presided. Commissioners Evans and Faria were absent. The meeting began with roll call, pledge of allegiance, announcements, and a public comment period (one written comment on a non-agenda item was received and included in the record).
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes from February 20, 2025: Commissioner Baker moved, Commissioner Shihadeh seconded. The minutes were unanimously approved by the commissioners present: Baker, Shihadeh, Tzang, Vice Chair Pamukcu, and Chair Funes-Ozturk.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Non-Agenda Item Comment: A written comment on a matter not listed on the agenda was submitted prior to the meeting; no speakers came forward.
- Genentech Annual Report: No public comment was offered during the hearing.
Discussion Items
- 2024 Genentech Annual Report: Principal Planner Billy Gross introduced the report, and Will Heon, Genentech Site Planning Manager, presented the annual update. Key points:
- Development: Genentech remains well below the 9 million square-foot maximum; a property at 525 DNA Way was acquired and a new state-of-the-art security building was constructed, resulting in a slight overall decrease in square footage.
- Future Plans: An ongoing campus visioning process and a forthcoming proposal to privatize remaining public streets on campus and rezone acquired properties into the Genentech Master Plan District (no new development proposed at this time).
- Transportation: 2024 mode share: 36% alternative modes, 64% drive-alone. Genentech policy requires employees to spend at least 50% of time on campus. Genenbus provided over 75,000 rides; shared transit connectors provided over 160,000 rides. A new seated scooter share program (with VAO) recorded over 20,000 rides in five months, with over 2,000 signed-up users.
- Trip Cap: Peak-hour single-occupancy vehicle trips were approximately 3,500, well below the mandated 5,200 trip cap. Parking occupancy was 61%.
- Community Investment: $1.5 million pre-payment of housing linkage fees in 2024; community fund grants of $200,000 to 17 recipients (double the typical amount).
- No changes to development standards, design guidelines, or other programs.
- Commissioners asked questions about the proposed road privatization, public access to trails, and transportation coordination with other companies. Will Heon stated that Genentech would take over maintenance and is committed to maintaining access to the wind harp, shoreline, and bay trail. The privatization and rezoning proposal is expected to return as a standalone item, likely in April. Commissioners expressed appreciation and requested detailed information at that time.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Calendar: Minutes from February 20, 2025 approved unanimously.
- Genentech Annual Report: The commission received and acknowledged the report; no formal action was taken. The presentation was informational, with a request for more details on future proposals.
- The meeting was adjourned following the discussion.
Meeting Transcript
Welcome everyone to the March sixth meeting of the planning commissioner. I'm your chair, Sarah Osterk. Funis Osterick. To provide a comment during the meeting, please fill out the speaker card and give it to the clerk. You have three minutes to make your comments. Please note that commission time limits and rules of decorum will apply to public comment. This meeting of the South San Francisco Planning Commission is hereby called to order. May we please have a roll call. Commissioner Baker. Here commissioner Shahade. Here. Commissioner Zing. Here. Vice Chair Pomaco. Here. Chair Punis Ostart. Here. Commissioners Evan and uh Faria are absent today. Are there any changes to the agenda? No changes to the agenda. Oh, sorry, my apologies. Can we do the Pledge of Allegiance, please? I've pledged allegiance to the clock. Thank you so much. Are there any items or announcements from staff? We do not have any announcements from staff. Okay. And then um does any member of the public wish to address the commission on an item that is not on the agenda at this time. Please fill out a speaker card card and give it to the clerk. Seeing none at this time, I will ask the clerk if there are any members of the public who would like to provide comments. We have not received any speaker cards. We did receive a public comment on an item not on the agenda, which I have forwarded to all the planning commissioners and we will uh include in the final agenda packet. Excellent. Thank you. And then um next on the agenda is the disclosure of ex parte communications. If any commissioner has had any communication with applicants, did any site or project visit visit the visits had interactions with any third parties or has any conflicts regarding any items on the agenda? You may disclose them at this time if you would like to accuse yourself on an item. You can do so at this time. Hearing none, we will move on to the next item. Item number one is under the consent calendar. It's consideration and approval of minutes from the February 20th, 2025 Planning Commission. Madam Chair, I move the minutes. I second. Commissioner Baker. Yes. Commissioner Shahade. Yes. Commissioner Zhang. Yes. Vice Chair Pomaku.
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