HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin - PC - 2024.05.13BURLINGAME CITY HALL
501 PRIMROSE ROAD
BURLINGAME, CA 94010
City of Burlingame
Meeting Minutes
Planning Commission
7:00 PM Council Chambers/OnlineMonday, May 13, 2024
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: Community Development Director Kevin
Gardiner, Planning Manager Ruben Hurin, Senior Planner Erika Lewit, and City Attorney Michael Guina.
2. ROLL CALL
Comaroto, Horan, Lowenthal, Pfaff, Schmid, and TsePresent6 -
ShoresAbsent1 -
3. REQUEST FOR AB 2449 REMOTE PARTICIPATION
There were no requests.
4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
a.Draft April 22, 2024 Planning Commission Meeting Minutes
Draft April 22, 2024 Planning Commission Meeting MinutesAttachments:
Commissioner Schmid made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Comaroto, to approve the
meeting minutes. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye:Comaroto, Horan, Lowenthal, Pfaff, Schmid, and Tse6 -
Absent:Shores1 -
5. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
There were no changes to the agenda.
6. PUBLIC COMMENTS, NON-AGENDA
There were no public comments, non-agenda.
7. STUDY ITEMS
There were no Study Items.
8. CONSENT CALENDAR
a.1148 Bernal Avenue, zoned R-1 – Application for Special Permit for a new second floor
deck addition to an existing single -unit dwelling. This project is Categorically Exempt from
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May 13, 2024Planning Commission Meeting Minutes
review pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), per Section 15301
(e)(1) of the CEQA Guidelines. (Tim Raduenz, Form One Design, designer; Stefan and
Seoyoung Fischer, property owners) (55 noticed) Staff Contact: Brittany Xiao
1148 Bernal Ave - Staff Report
1148 Bernal Ave - Attachments
1148 Bernal Ave - Plans
Attachments:
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, and Tse6 -
Absent:Shores1 -
9. REGULAR ACTION ITEMS
a.1522 La Mesa Drive, zoned R -1 - Application for Design Review and Hillside Area
Construction Permit for a first and second story addition to an existing single -unit dwelling
and an expansion of the attached garage (project considered to be substantial
construction). This project is Categorically Exempt from review pursuant to the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), per Section 15301 (e)(2) of the CEQA Guidelines.
(Jeff Guinta, Innovative Concepts, applicant and designer; Steve Seyedin, property
owner) (48 noticed) Staff Contact: 'Amelia Kolokihakaufisi
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. Senior Planner Lewit 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:
>I appreciate the responses to each of the four comments from the last meeting. The project has
evolved nicely over the last three meetings.
>This project has been greatly improved.
Vice-Chair Lowenthal made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Horan, to approve the
application. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye:Comaroto, Horan, Lowenthal, Pfaff, and Schmid5 -
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May 13, 2024Planning Commission Meeting Minutes
Absent:Shores1 -
Recused:Tse1 -
b.1410 Carlos Avenue, zoned R-1 - Application for Design Review for a first and second
story addition to an existing single -unit dwelling. This project is Categorically Exempt from
review pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), per Section 15301
(e)(1) of the CEQA Guidelines. (Joe Sabel, Aero 11 Design, applicant and designer;
Neda Hamadani and Bahram Razani, property owners) (62 noticed) Staff Contact:
'Amelia Kolokihakaufisi
1410 Carlos Ave - Staff Report
1410 Carlos Ave - Attachments
1410 Carlos Ave - Plans
Attachments:
All Commissioners have visited the project site. Senior Planner Lewis provided an overview of the staff
report.
Chair Pfaff opened the public hearing.
Joe Sabel, 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:
>On the left side by the corner of the front entry, may want to consider making a false front and
pushing the window out further to match the other side.
>I like the changes to the front. The door balances the front better and it is not quite as floating as
before. You took the advice and the changes are good.
>The project looks much better and it holds together now.
Commissioner Schmid made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Tse, to approve the
application. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye:Comaroto, Horan, Lowenthal, Pfaff, Schmid, and Tse6 -
Absent:Shores1 -
c.925 Howard Avenue, zoned MMU - Application for Commercial Design Review and Front
Setback Variance for exterior facade changes and a first and second story addition to an
existing commercial building (office use proposed). This project is Categorically Exempt
from review pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), per Section
15301 (a) of the CEQA Guidelines. (Maria Bermudez, Feldman Architecture, applicant
and architect; Copeland Park Properties, property owner) (32 noticed) Staff Contact:
'Amelia Kolokihakaufisi
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May 13, 2024Planning Commission Meeting Minutes
925 Howard Ave - Staff Report
925 Howard Ave - Attachments
925 Howard Ave - Plans
Attachments:
All Commissioners have visited the project site. Commissioner Comaroto noted that she had a
conversation with the applicant. Community Development Director Gardiner provided an overview of the
staff report.
Chair Pfaff opened the public hearing.
Steven Stept, architect, 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:
>Appreciate the detailed description of the changes and what was previously discussed with the
Planning Commission.
>To clarify, there have been no changes made since the November Planning Commission meeting. I
am okay with that and with the original design.
>I was disappointed with the flatness of the fa çade. It will look better with more depth. I appreciate the
explanation of the design and the offer of more planter space. You don ’t want the plants to be so crowded
when they grow that they end up dying and must be replanted all the time.
Chair Pfaff re-opened the public hearing.
>Stept: We are happy to provide an additional 4" to 6" depth to the planter.
Chair Pfaff closed the public hearing.
Chair Pfaff made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Tse, to approve the application with the
following added condition:
>that the landscape planters along the front of the building shall be increased by four to six
inches in depth to provide a larger area for soft landscaping.
Aye:Comaroto, Horan, Lowenthal, Pfaff, Schmid, and Tse6 -
Absent:Shores1 -
10. DESIGN REVIEW STUDY ITEMS
a.124 Bloomfield Road, zoned R-1- Application for Design Review for a new, two -story
single-unit dwelling and detached garage. (James Chu, Chu Design Associates Inc .,
designer; Paul De Zan and Rita Cai, property owners) Staff Contact: Brittany Xiao (66
noticed)
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May 13, 2024Planning Commission Meeting Minutes
124 Bloomfield Rd - Staff Report
124 Bloomfield Rd - Attachments
124 Bloomfield Rd - Plans
124 Bloomfield Rd - Renderings
Attachments:
All Commissioners have visited the project site. Chair Pfaff was recused from this item because she lives
within 500 feet of the subject property. Community Development Director Gardiner provided an overview of
the staff report.
Acting-Chair Lowenthal opened the public hearing.
James Chu, designer, and Paul De Zan, property owner, represented the applicant and answered
questions regarding the application.
Public Comments:
>There were no public comments.
Acting-Chair Lowenthal closed the public hearing.
Commission Discussion/Direction:
>Consider revisiting the size and sill height of the window over the stairs facing the neighbor to the right
to provide privacy since existing trees that currently provide privacy to the neighbor are proposed to be
removed. It seems like a large window, especially when lit at night and with no trees in between, there will
be a lot of light pollution.
>Consider frosting the window in addition to the change in size.
>I like the project. The window that was mentioned is a concern given how many trees are being pulled
out. Suggest having a conversation between the two neighbors to discuss privacy concerns. I’d like to see
it move forward.
>I agree. My only concern is if they decide to go with a generator that is really loud, I don ’t know how
the Building Division can address that if it has already been designed and approved. I can see this moving
forward.
Acting-Chair Lowenthal re-opened the public hearing.
>(De Zan: Based on a recent project in another house that we own, I consider myself an expert on
silencing generators. I can guarantee that this generator at the fence line will be around 70dB, which is
lower than my conversation right now.)
>I appreciate that. The only reason I mentioned this is because as a contractor I ran into this in a
project in San Mateo where we were forced to stop what we were doing and re -apply for a permit for the unit
to go further from the property line, and I don’t want that to happen to you.
>(De Zan: I appreciate that very much. I recently did a project where I took a 90dB generator down to
70dB and I’ll do the same thing here if I must.)
>Consider adding some shrubbery against the fence on that side to help absorb the sound a little bit.
>Director Gardiner: I also want to add that we have standards that regulate outdoor mechanical
equipment. It specifies the placement and the acceptable noise level. It’s good for the applicant to be
proactive and be aware of those standards and they will be expected to conform to them.
Acting Chair Lowenthal closed the public hearing.
>There were no further comments.
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May 13, 2024Planning Commission Meeting Minutes
Commissioner Schmid made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Tse, to place the item on the
Consent Calendar. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye:Comaroto, Horan, Lowenthal, Schmid, and Tse5 -
Absent:Shores1 -
Recused:Pfaff1 -
11. COMMISSIONER’S REPORTS
There were no Commissioner's Reports.
12. DIRECTOR REPORTS
Community Development Director Gardiner noted that at the May 6, 2024 City Council meeting, the
Council voted to deny the appeal and uphold the Planning Commission's approval of the project at 900
Paloma Avenue. The Council also reviewed recommendations for the parklet program beyond June 30,
2024, which included new parklet design standards.
Director Gardiner also noted that this is his last meeting with the Planning Commission before leaving his
position as Community Development Director. He thanked the Planning Commission and noted that it's
been a privilege to work with the Commission and the City of Burlingame.
13. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:05 p.m.
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