South San Francisco Planning Commission Regular Meeting - May 21, 2026
South San Francisco Planning Commission Regular Meeting - May 21, 2026
The South San Francisco Planning Commission held a regular meeting on May 21, 2026, at the Library Parks and Rec building. The meeting included approval of consent calendar items, public comment on wind impacts from a development, and decisions on three main agenda items: temporary painting of the Hillside sign for the America 250 celebration, zoning text amendments to update beekeeping regulations, and zoning text amendments to update accessory dwelling unit (ADU) regulations to comply with state law. All votes were unanimous with Commissioner Evans absent.
Consent Calendar
- Approved minutes from the April 16, 2026 and April 23, 2026 (special) Planning Commission meetings. Motion passed unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Victor Santeyan (resident near South Line Development on Tanfran Avenue) addressed the commission on a non-agenda item. He reported severe pedestrian-level wind conditions after construction, including a fall by an elderly resident. He requested the commission formally recognize wind impacts, require further investigation, and pursue mitigation measures. No action taken as it was not agendized.
Discussion Items
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Item 3: Certificate of Alteration for Temporary Painting of South San Francisco Hillside Sign (America 250)
- Deputy City Manager Megan Woolley Osdoll presented the city's request to temporarily paint the letters red, white, and blue for the nation's 250th anniversary. The sign is a historic resource. The design review board suggested an alternate design but staff chose the preferred design for legibility. The project is CEQA exempt under Class 31. Painting would be done by volunteers in June 2026 and repainted white in fall 2026. Two public comments were received: one opposed (gaudy), one asked about funding. Commissioners discussed precedent concerns, but staff clarified this is a one-time event due to historic nature. Motion to approve CEQA exemption and issue certificate of alteration passed 6-0.
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Item 4: Zoning Text Amendments for Beekeeping Regulations
- Associate Planner Cecilia Mariscal presented proposed amendments to expand beekeeping as an accessory use citywide, increase hive maximums on larger lots, and add performance standards. Public comments included support from a resident (Andrew Hernandez) and a child (Emmett Gossted), a request to distinguish honey bees from native bees (Margaret Gossted), and a request to maintain 25-foot setbacks (Anna). Commissioners discussed liability, lot size minimums, and educational resources. Motion to approve CEQA exemption (15308) and adopt resolution recommending city council adopt the ordinance. Both passed 6-0.
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Item 5: Zoning Text Amendments for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)
- Senior Planner Stephanie Skangis presented updates to bring the ADU ordinance into compliance with state law, including increasing maximum number of units on single-family lots from two to three, allowing up to eight detached ADUs on multi-unit lots, adjusting square footage definition, and relaxing owner occupancy and fire sprinkler requirements. No public comments. Commissioners asked clarifying questions and praised staff. Motion to approve CEQA exemption and adopt resolution recommending city council adoption passed 6-0.
Key Outcomes
- Approved consent calendar minutes from April 2026 meetings.
- Approved CEQA exemption and certificate of alteration for Hillside sign temporary painting (6-0).
- Approved CEQA exemption and resolution for beekeeping ordinance amendments (6-0).
- Approved CEQA exemption and resolution for ADU ordinance amendments (6-0).
- Noted public comment on wind conditions; staff to follow up.
Meeting Transcript
All right. Hello, everybody. Welcome to the Thursday, May 21st regular meeting of the South San Francisco Planning Commission. This meeting is being held in person at the Library Parks and Rec building in council chambers. To provide comment during the meeting, please fill out a speaker card and give it to the clerk. You'll have three minutes to make your comments. Please note that all the commission time limits and rules of decorum will apply to public comments. Will you please stand and join in the Pledge of Allegiance? Thank you. May we please have a roll call? Commissioner Funes. Here. Vice Chairperson Baker. Here. Commissioner Faria. Here. Commissioner Shahade. Here. Chairperson Pomiku. Here. Commissioner Zhang. Here. Commissioner Evans is absent. Thank you. Do we have any changes to the agenda? We have no changes to the agenda. Any items or announcements from staff? No items or announcements from staff. All right. 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 so, please fill out a speaker card and give it to the clerk. We have one member of the public who would like to provide public comment. Good evening, Commissioners and Council members. My name is Victor Santeyan, and I live near the South Line Development on Tanfran Avenue. I'm here because residents near this project have been dealing with severe pedestrian level wind conditions after the development was constructed. These are not normal windy days. Residents are experiencing concentrated wind tunnel effects between structures that make it difficult to walk, open doors, safely move outdoors, and even enjoy their own yards. Elderly residents and people with mobility limitations have been especially affected. One nearby elderly resident reportedly fell during severe wind conditions, and her husband reportedly struggled to move through the wind with his walker while trying to seek assistance. Representatives connected to the project have acknowledged that there is a problem and that mitigation may be necessary, but have decided not to do anything. So tonight I respectfully ask the planning commission and city council to formally recognize the wind impacts affecting the residents, require further investigation into the pedestrian level wind conditions and pursue meaningful mitigation measures to protect public safety and quality of life. Development should not come at the expense of resident safety, especially for our seniors and vulnerable members of the community. Thank you. Thank you. Do we have any other speakers? We have no other speakers. Okay, hearing no additional speakers, then we will move on. Next on the agenda is the disclosure of experte communications. If any commissioner has 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'd like to recuse yourself for an item, you can also do that at this time.
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