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Record of Proceedings

South San Francisco Planning Commission Meeting – February 19, 2026: Preschool Expansion Approved, Annual Reorganization

Planning Commission — Thursday, February 19, 2026
BodySouth San Francisco, California
SessionPlanning Commission
DateThursday, February 19, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 54:48

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
1:19

Hello everyone, welcome to the South San Francisco Planning Commission meeting for January, or excuse me, February 19, 2026.

1:27

I call this to order.

1:34

And then to provide a comment during the meeting, please fill a speaker card and give it to this the clerk.

1:44

You will have three minutes to make your comments.

1:46

Please note that all commission time limits and rules of decorum will apply to public comments.

1:54

This meeting of South San Francisco, which is carry call to order.

1:57

Please stand for the pledge of allegiance.

2:02

I pledge allegiance to the public.

2:16

Thank you.

2:17

Roll call, please.

2:20

Commissioner Baker.

2:21

Here.

2:22

Chairperson Funes.

2:24

Here.

2:25

Commissioner Furria.

2:26

Here.

2:27

Commissioner Shahade.

2:29

Here.

2:30

Vice Chair Pomiku.

2:31

Here.

2:32

Commissioner Zhang.

2:34

Here.

2:34

Commissioner Evans is absent.

2:38

Thank you.

2:39

Are there any changes to the agenda?

2:42

No changes to the agenda.

2:45

Thank you.

2:46

Does any member of the public wish to address the commission on any item that is not on the agenda?

2:53

Tonight at this time, please fill out a speaker card and give it to the clerk.

2:58

At this time, I will ask the clerk if there are any members of the public who would like to provide comments.

3:04

We have no members of the public wishing to provide comments.

3:08

Hearing no speakers, we will move on.

3:30

If you would like to recuse yourself for an item, you can also do so at this time.

3:47

Yes, we have one item on the consent calendar.

3:50

Number one is consideration and approval of minutes from the November 20th 2025 planning commission meeting.

4:07

Commissioner Furria.

4:09

Yes.

4:09

Commissioner Shahade.

4:11

Yes.

4:12

Commissioner Baker.

4:13

Yes.

4:14

Chairperson Funes.

4:15

Yes.

4:16

Vice Chair Palmiku.

4:18

Yes.

4:19

Commissioner Zhang.

4:20

Yes.

4:21

Commissioner Evans is absent.

4:27

If the clerk can please read the next agenda item.

4:30

Yes.

4:31

The next item is number two, and it is a report regarding an application for design reviews for the Westboro Preschool Expansion Project, including the construction and operation of an approximately 7,000 square foot child daycare center at 2360 Galway Drive at Westboro Park in the parks and Recreation zoning District in accordance with Title 20 of the South San Francisco Municipal Code and determination that the project is consistent with the 2040 General Plan Environmental Impact Report and that no new environmental document is needed per sequel guidelines 15162, 15168 and 15183.

5:12

And items 2A and 2B are the resolutions.

5:15

And Senior Planner Christy Usher is going to give the staff report.

5:20

Great, thank you so much.

5:22

Thank you.

5:23

Good evening, Chairfunas and Planning Commissioners.

5:26

For your consideration tonight is an application for design review for the Westboro Preschool Expansion Project, including the construction and operation of an approximately 7,000 square foot preschool located at 2360 Galway Drive at Westboro Park.

5:47

The project site has an approximately half acre footprint that is located within the boundaries of the 10-acre city-owned Westboro Park, located at the corner of Westboro Boulevard and Galway Drive.

6:03

The new preschool will be located in the northeastern corner of Westboro Park, where currently a public restroom, maintenance yard, existing lawn, and maintenance road exist.

6:17

Westboro Park also includes a community center, picnic areas, baseball field, walking trails, tennis courts, playgrounds, and basketball courts.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Parks and Recreation███████████████████████████████████████████43%
Youth Programs███████████████████████████27%
Procedural█████████████████████████25%
Community Engagement███3%
Transportation Safety██2%
Summary of Proceedings

South San Francisco Planning Commission Meeting – February 19, 2026

The South San Francisco Planning Commission met on February 19, 2026, to consider a design review application for the Westboro Preschool Expansion Project, approve the consent calendar, and conduct the annual reorganization of the chair and vice chair. The meeting was called to order at 3:00 PM. Commissioners present: Baker, Funes (Chair), Furria, Shahade, Pomiku (Vice Chair), Zhang. Commissioner Evans was absent.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes Approval: Unanimously approved the minutes from the November 20, 2025, planning commission meeting (6-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No members of the public wished to speak on non-agenda items or on the preschool expansion item.

Discussion Items

Westboro Preschool Expansion Project (Design Review DR23-0019)

  • Project Summary: An application for design review to construct and operate an approximately 7,000-square-foot child daycare center at 2360 Galway Drive within Westboro Park (Parks and Recreation Zoning District). The project would replace a public restroom, maintenance yard, and lawn in the park’s northeastern corner, increasing preschool capacity from 59 to 100 children (ages 2.5–5) and adding up to 15 staff. Hours remain 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM, Monday–Friday. The design includes five indoor classrooms, one covered outdoor classroom, administrative space, and outdoor play areas. Materials include stucco, cement fiber siding, wood, and metal fencing. The building is one story, under 18 feet tall, all-electric, and energy-efficient. The Design Review Board recommended approval in October 2025.
  • Community Engagement: The project was presented at the March 2025 District 2 town hall (about 80 attendees) with no concerns raised. Six letters of support were received citing high demand for affordable preschool.
  • Park Improvements: The project funds an accessible path to tennis courts, relocation of restrooms closer to picnic areas, reopening a playground to public use all day, and freeing the Alice Bulos Community Center for expanded senior and community programming.
  • Traffic/Parking: Existing parking is ample; three to five dedicated drop-off spaces are provided. Drop-off and pickup windows are 7:30–9:30 AM and 4:00–6:00 PM.
  • Waitlist: City preschool waitlist has approximately 600 children, though many are served elsewhere. The existing portable classroom may be leased to a private or nonprofit provider to further address demand.
  • Speakers:
    • Jake Gilkrist (Capital Projects Director) highlighted the project’s community benefits and noted the portable classroom reuse.
    • Chris Dorman (Architect) presented design goals of natural light, indoor-outdoor play, secure entry, and mid-century modern aesthetic integrating with the neighborhood.
  • Commissioner Comments: All commissioners expressed strong support, noting personal experiences with the waitlist, the need for affordable child care (73% of county needs met per a study), the thoughtful design, and the value of freeing the community center. Commissioner Furria urged maximizing capacity; staff responded that potions include using the modular building for additional preschool space. Vice Chair Pomiku raised no traffic concerns due to ample parking.
  • Environmental Determination: A Class 32 categorical exemption (CEQA Guidelines Section 15332, infill development) was approved.

Annual Reorganization of Chair and Vice Chair

  • Election of Chair: Vice Chair Pomiku was nominated and unanimously elected as the new Chair (6-0). Chair Funes was thanked for her leadership.
  • Election of Vice Chair: Commissioner Baker was nominated and unanimously elected as the new Vice Chair (6-0).

Key Outcomes

  • Votes:
    1. Motion to approve the consent calendar (minutes) passed 6-0.
    2. Motion to adopt CEQA findings (categorical exemption) passed 6-0.
    3. Motion to adopt findings and approve design review entitlements (P23-0086 / DR23-0019) passed 6-0.
  • Next Steps: The decision may be appealed by any interested party. Project construction will begin after permitting; the modular building will be considered for lease to another provider to expand capacity further.
  • Commissioner Announcements: Commissioner Pomiku will attend the annual Commissioning Academy in Anaheim to enhance knowledge of CEQA and planning practices.

Meeting Transcript

Hello everyone, welcome to the South San Francisco Planning Commission meeting for January, or excuse me, February 19, 2026. I call this to order. And then to provide a comment during the meeting, please fill a speaker card and give it to this the clerk. You will have three minutes to make your comments. Please note that all commission time limits and rules of decorum will apply to public comments. This meeting of South San Francisco, which is carry call to order. Please stand for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the public. Thank you. Roll call, please. Commissioner Baker. Here. Chairperson Funes. Here. Commissioner Furria. Here. Commissioner Shahade. Here. Vice Chair Pomiku. Here. Commissioner Zhang. Here. Commissioner Evans is absent. Thank you. Are there any changes to the agenda? No changes to the agenda. Thank you. Does any member of the public wish to address the commission on any item that is not on the agenda? Tonight at this time, please fill out a speaker card and give it to the clerk. At this time, I will ask the clerk if there are any members of the public who would like to provide comments. We have no members of the public wishing to provide comments. Hearing no speakers, we will move on. If you would like to recuse yourself for an item, you can also do so at this time. Yes, we have one item on the consent calendar. Number one is consideration and approval of minutes from the November 20th 2025 planning commission meeting. Commissioner Furria. Yes. Commissioner Shahade. Yes. Commissioner Baker. Yes. Chairperson Funes. Yes. Vice Chair Palmiku. Yes. Commissioner Zhang. Yes. Commissioner Evans is absent. If the clerk can please read the next agenda item. Yes.

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