HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin - PC - 2023.12.11BURLINGAME CITY HALL
501 PRIMROSE ROAD
BURLINGAME, CA 94010
City of Burlingame
Meeting Minutes
Planning Commission
7:00 PM Council Chambers/OnlineMonday, December 11, 2023
1. CALL TO ORDER - 7:00 p.m. - Council Chambers/Online
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. Staff in attendance: Planning Manager Ruben Hurin and
Assistant City Attorney Scott Spansail.
2. ROLL CALL
Comaroto, Horan, Lowenthal, Pfaff, Schmid, Shores, and TsePresent7 -
3. REQUEST FOR AB 2449 REMOTE PARTICIPATION
There were no requests.
4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
a.Draft November 27, 2023 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes
Draft November 27, 2023 Planning Commission Meeting MinutesAttachments:
Commissioner Schmid made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Horan, to approve the
meeting minutes. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye:Comaroto, Horan, Lowenthal, Pfaff, Schmid, Shores, and Tse7 -
5. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Planning Manager Hurin noted the Item 9a - 900 Paloma Avenue has been continued to a future agenda.
6. PUBLIC COMMENTS, NON-AGENDA
There were no Public Comments.
7. STUDY ITEMS
There were no Study Items.
8. CONSENT CALENDAR
a.Adopt Planning Commission Calendar for 2024 – Staff Contact: Ruben Hurin
Memorandum
2024 Planning Commission Calendar
Draft 2024 City Council Calendar
Attachments:
Page 1City of Burlingame
December 11, 2023Planning Commission Meeting Minutes
Commissioner Tse made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Schmid, to approve the Consent
Calendar. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye:Comaroto, Horan, Lowenthal, Pfaff, Schmid, Shores, and Tse7 -
9. REGULAR ACTION ITEMS
a.900 Paloma Avenue, zoned R-2 - Application for Design Review for a new, two -story
single-unit dwelling and attached garage on a lot that contains an existing single -unit
dwelling (to remain) and a Fence Variance for fence height. This project is Categorically
Exempt from review pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), per
Section 15303 (b) of the CEQA Guidelines. (Tim Raduenz, Form One Design, applicant
and designer; 900 Paloma, LLC, property owner) (71 noticed) Staff Contact: 'Amelia
Kolokihakaufisi
This item was continued to a future agenda.
10. DESIGN REVIEW STUDY ITEMS
a.1522 La Mesa Drive, zoned R-1- Application for Design Review, Special Permit for plate
height, and Hillside Area Construction Permit for a first and second story addition to an
existing single unit dwelling and expansion of the attached garage. (Jeff Guinta, Innovative
Concepts, designer; Steven Seyedin, property owner) Staff Contact: Catherine Keylon
(47 noticed)
1522 La Mesa Dr - Staff Report
1522 La Mesa Dr - Attachments
1522 La Mesa Dr - Plans
Attachments:
All Commissioners have visited the project site. Commissioner Tse was recused from this item because
she lives within 500 feet of the subject property. Planning Manager Hurin provided an overview of the staff
report.
Chair Pfaff opened the public hearing.
Jeff Guinta, designer, represented the applicant and answered questions regarding the application.
Public Comments:
>There were no public comments.
Chair Pfaff closed the public hearing.
Commission Discussion/Direction:
>Consider redesigning the rear deck stairs by adding a landing and wrapping it around the deck so as
not to get in the way of the beautiful doors with the view.
>I don’t find the proposed roof height being in line with the neighborhood. The fact that it is in a hillside
view corridor is not a great thing. Since they are adding more construction on the site, story poles are
warranted so the neighbors can see the change in view.
>I don’t find a lot of charm and detail in the design. Without the window details and other architectural
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December 11, 2023Planning Commission Meeting Minutes
details, I am concerned that it will just be flat. I do not see it as an attractive house. There are no
overhangs, not many trims and it will just be boxy stucco house. Three sides have zero added value to it. I
do not see the design portion of this. The plate height issue can be solved because the areas where the
plate height is an issue are over attic spaces and that plate can be lowered down. It will only be the middle
area that needs to be raised and that will eliminate the plate height issue.
>Please confirm that all the exterior lighting fixtures comply with Burlingame's exterior lighting
regulations so that it will not be bright and cone of light shall shine down. It has a lot of roof, especially
from the La Mesa Drive side. I’m concerned with the design and would like to see what my fellow
commissioners have to say.
>The design seems to be lacking in details and dimensions. It is large and prominent. The design will
be greatly helped if there is some thought given to overhangs and details. The back looks boxy and very
industrial. I would defer to my colleagues about the plate height issue and whether there is a way to make
it work out without asking for a Special Permit.
>I feel that it wants to be a modern home but is not really a modern home; it is at this halfway mark .
There are several modern homes in that area that you can look at. If you really want to go modern, you
must go modern. This is not a classical or modern house, but it is trying to be in between. I would
suggest looking at the other properties within the vicinity for reference. As it stands, story poles are in
order, and I also think that the design needs to be reconsidered.
>In concept, it looks ok. I am worried about the raised roof height; it will require story poles. But if you
keep the house to the same height, it will be an easier approval in a hillside area. The Special Permit for
plate height does not bother me, it is a technicality in the foyer. I don ’t like the rear deck at all. It seems
like it will make all the lower bedrooms dark. It is very deep. The staircase is hanging out, it is very big
and blocks the lower floor windows and doors. I am not a fan of the rear deck. I agree with my fellow
commissioners that it needs more attention to details to give the house more character.
>Based on the existing house, I can understand what they are trying to do here. But as my fellow
commissioner has pointed out, it is really struggling between a modern house, a Tudor house or maybe
even a farmhouse. They need to pick one and go in that direction. I do like the idea of trying to salvage
the existing house, that is always appealing to me. I applaud the applicants for doing that instead of
scraping the lot. It is a huge lot, so I understand why the house is so big. But I also agree with my fellow
commissioners that the big roof that we are going to see from the front is challenging. There are several
things we can do to hide that or maybe another gable roof. I definitely think story poles are in order if we
are going to raise the roof line. I don ’t think we can move forward without doing that. I don ’t disagree with
everything else that has been said.
>The way it is right now, it is treeless and so barren. The house is not set into its environment very well .
It needs some landscaping.
Chair Pfaff re-opened the public hearing.
>Guinta: It is not an issue for us to maintain the existing height of the building; that will certainly reduce
the roof lines. We'll consider adding some dormers on the front, something to break up that roof area. But
in essence, it is the same house. If you look at the house as it was built today, it has a very small front
porch. We introduced that pop -out in the front with the big gable and the windows in the stairwell to try to
get some transitional look to it. The siding across the front is mitered. We can work around something
with the deck. Will discuss with staff before we come back to you and understand your concerns. It is a
fact that we are keeping the existing house, so we must work with the bones that were there and the plane
of roof. We are extending the house laterally. It is tough working with an existing home. It doesn ’t give us
the freedom to do what we would like to do if we could scrape that all over, but that is not what my clients
desire. We’ll go back and do some design work.
>I am appreciative of anybody who works with the existing home. I’m sure you will do better.
Chair Pfaff closed the public hearing.
Commissioner Schmid made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Comaroto, to continue the
application. The motion carried by the following vote:
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December 11, 2023Planning Commission Meeting Minutes
Aye:Comaroto, Horan, Lowenthal, Pfaff, Schmid, and Shores6 -
Recused:Tse1 -
b.234 Victoria Road, zoned R-1- Application for Design Review for a new, two -story
single-unit dwelling and detached garage. (Hector Estipona, HGE Building Design Inc .
designer; Jeffrey Woo and Bingtao Shi, property owners) Staff Contact: Brittany Xiao (38
noticed)
234 Victoria Rd - Staff Report
234 Victoria Rd - Attachments
234 Victoria Rd - Plans
Attachments:
All Commissioners have visited the project site. Planning Manager Hurin provided an overview of the staff
report.
Chair Pfaff opened the public hearing.
Jeffrey Woo, property owner, and Hector Estipona, designer, represented the applicant and answered
questions regarding the application.
Public Comments:
>There were no public comments.
Chair Pfaff closed the public hearing.
Commission Discussion/Direction:
>Consider continuing the stone veneer that is around the porch towards the right to balance the look;
stone veneer should wrap around the right side of the house.
>Consider reducing the window height at the stairs to prevent bright lights shining towards the
neighbor’s house at night.
>It is a really nice design; it is very classic for Burlingame. I do agree with my fellow commissioner that
we should put some stone veneer on the right side at the base of the house. I don ’t know if it must go all
the way around, but at least extend it towards the fence gate or door. The window at the stairwell does not
bother me. Suggests using a frosted window to reduce the light, but either way is fine.
>The stairwell window can be reduced a bit and still get the light. Even a frosted glass window is not a
terrible thing because you are very close to the next door neighbor, and you will be looking into their
windows. You don’t have a view out the stairs, you just want some light in there so the stairwell is not dark .
There are options that sound counter intuitive, but they are pretty good.
>I agree with my fellow commissioners. Continuing the stone veneer is a very good suggestion to make
it look more complete. I also agree with the comment about reducing the height or obscuring the stairwell
window. It is a very pretty house, you have done a nice job, but something doesn ’t feel quite right at the
front. It’s not a deal breaker.
>I agree with my fellow commissioners. It is a nicely designed home.
Commissioner Tse made a motion, seconded by Vice-Chair Lowenthal, to place the item on the
Regular Action Calendar when plans have been revised as directed. The motion carried by the
following vote:
Aye:Comaroto, Horan, Lowenthal, Pfaff, Schmid, Shores, and Tse7 -
Page 4City of Burlingame
December 11, 2023Planning Commission Meeting Minutes
c.1409 Castillo Avenue, zoned R -1- Application for Design Review and Special Permit for
building height for a new, two -story single-unit dwelling and attached garage. (Antonio
Mora, DTA Architecture, applicant and architect; Sean Cafferkey, property owner) (55
noticed) Staff Contact: Catherine Keylon
1409 Castillo Ave - Staff Report
1409 Castillo Ave - Attachments
1409 Castillo Ave - Plans
Attachments:
All Commissioners have visited the project site. Planning Manager Hurin provided an overview of the staff
report.
Chair Pfaff opened the public hearing.
Richard Terrones, designer, represented the applicant and answered questions regarding the application.
Public Comments:
>There were no public comments.
Chair Pfaff closed the public hearing.
Commission Discussion/Direction:
> Please provide 3D rendering.
>Consider adding lights on the sidewall of the stairs and the left side of the garage.
>I was pleasantly surprised, this is a creative design. The front fa çade is different but fits the
neighborhood. It looks great.
>It is beautiful and very well done. It’s got personality but is rooted in traditions. Very interesting and
nice.
>It is not just a copy of the ones in the neighborhood; it is actually a stretch beyond. You did a great
job.
>I was really impressed. The design is going for the early 20th century design, it is pretty evident. I
appreciate all the single -style cues and how the roof pitch works. I am interested in how this might look
because of how high it is from across the street. I visited the site and you can see almost all the fa çade.
But there has been a decent amount of attention given to that side. I especially like the garage dormer; it
is an interesting detail.
>With the beautiful design of the house, it definitely has its own character and interest. When
considering the average front and rear elevation, from that point to the top of the roof ridge looks like
under 30 feet. I can see supporting the Special Permit for height application.
Commissioner Tse made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Comaroto, to place the item on
the Consent Calendar. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye:Comaroto, Horan, Lowenthal, Pfaff, Schmid, Shores, and Tse7 -
11. COMMISSIONER’S REPORTS
There were no Commissioner's Reports.
12. DIRECTOR REPORTS
Planning Manager Hurin noted that at the December 4, 2023 City Council meeting, the Council discussed
the parklet program and will be considering design and structural requirements in future meetings.
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December 11, 2023Planning Commission Meeting Minutes
13. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
No Future Agenda Items were suggested.
14. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:02 p.m.
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