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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin - PC - 1971.06.14THE CITY OF BURLINGAME PLANNING COMMISSION June 14, 1971 COMMISSIONERS PRESENT C01 MISSIONERS ABSENT OTHERS PRESENT Cistuili None City Attorney Karmel Jacobs City Planner Mann Kindig City Engineer Marr Mink Norberg Sine Taylor CALL TO O RDE R The monthly study meeting of the Burlingame Planning Commission was called to order on the above date at 8:00 p.m., Chairman Sine presiding. ROLL CALL All members present. APPLICATIONS 1. APPLICATION FOR VARIANCE, ARCHIE OFFIELD, REMODEL OFFICE AREA AT 1214 BURLINGAME AVENUE INTO APART14ENTS A letter was read from Archie Offield of 1214 Burlingame Avenue, requesting permission to remodel an office area at this location into apartments. He stated that for the past 42 years it had become extremely difficult to rent these 2nd floor offices, and very little income has been derived from them. The prospects for their future rental are very poor. He stated that originally the second floor had been occupied as apartments for many years and that the original architectural plans show their design in the building. In 1956 two apartments were remodeled for office occupancy and have remained as such. In response to questions from the Commission, Mr. Offield stated that there is already one apartment unit; and that there was adequate private parking for 8 - 9 cars at the back of the building. He said that these would be one -bedroom units. The City Planner commented that the law does allow residential usages in business areas, but the conditions are that they have front, rear and side yards. He explained that the variance procedure must be gone through for this reason. He added that the building was built in 1914= Commissioner Mink commented there was no way to make the building conform to present day rules regarding yards. He mentioned that it is now very difficult to rent second and third floor offices, especially those of a walk-up type, and asked about fire and safety codes. The City planner replied that any conversions would be under the building and fire codes and suggested that this be a condition of the granting of the variance. Chairman Sine informed the applicant that the matter would be scheduled for a public hearing on June 28 in the Council Chambers. 2. APPLICATION FOR USE PERMIT, TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH FOR RESIDENCE AT 1248 BALBOA Trinity Lutheran Church, represented by George H. Kelly, Treasurer, by their letter made a request for a special permit to use a residence at 1248 Balboa as a Sunday School building. This building has been used as a Sunday School facility, but they wish to upgrade it and convert it to a code -conforming school structure. This involves some slight structural wall change. They stated that their Sunday School enrollment had increased by 40/ in the past two years, necessitating the complete use of this building. Plans were distributed and Mr. Kelly informed the Commission that the main usage of the building "ould be for Sunday, when four school rooms are used, and two rooms for high school students on weekends for occasional evening use. He mentioned that a tree on the property would be taken out for parking, and explained that there was a parking space with the alley coming in there. He had no idea of how many cars could be parked. In reply to another question he stated that the building would not be rented or hired to groups and it would not be used for parties or receptions. He stated the Church's main objective was to furnish a place for high school youngsters away from other age q roups so that they miaht be induced to stay in the church. Chairman Sine announced that this matter would be scheduled for a public hearing in the Council Chambers on June 28. 3. APPLICATION FOR SPECIAL PERMIT, SANTA FE AIR FREIGHT, 825 HTNCKLEY ROAD Santa Fe Air Freight, represented by District Manager Gary Heller, presented an application for a special permit to conduct an air freight forwarding business at 825 Hinckley Road. A letter received with the application stated that their pickup and delivery service was contracted to the Pacific Delivery Service of San Bruno, thus eliminating congestion around their own freight operation. The one truck which they do have is parked inside the building. The warehouse is large enough so that trucks can be parked inside should it become necessary to transfer freight from one truck to another. The City Planner informed the Commission that the City Code provides that each trucker must have a use permit and it does not specify the number of trucks; that these businesses change rapidly in their growth. Therefore, a permit is required for one truck as it is for ten. If the number of trucks is increased or parking space is taken away, it gives grounds for a policing action. In response to a question about the number of trucks, Mr. Heller stated that they would require the minimum amount, and if the - 2 - operation grew, the business would have to move to a larger terminal. He stated that possibly they would have need for one more truck. Chairman Sine informed him that his application would come up for public hearing the night of June 28th at 8:00 p.m. 4. APPLICATION FOR SPECIAL PERMIT, A14ERFORD INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION, 1342 MARSTEN ROAD FOR AIR FREIGHT FORWARDING BUSINESS Amerford International Corporation, represented by Gordon W. Keats, Regional Manager, presented an application and a -letter requesting a special permit for air freight forwarding at this address. Their letter stated that they are an air freight forwarder operating under a CAB certificate, and they are leasing the facility at the above address, which has 6,637 square feet of office and warehouse space. Also being leased are 8,400 square feet of parking and trucking area. No trucks are stored on the property, and they presently lease only one truck which is stored in South San Francisco during the evenings and on weekends. They have a truck well to accept freight from no more than two vehicles at one time. The letter questions the necessity for the special permit, which they feel refers to trucking and motor freight terminals. The City Planner stated that this location is between Bayshore Freeway and Marsten Road and that the parking is under the wires. Mr. Keats commented that there was no difference between their facility and that of Santa Fe Air Freight, except that Amerford has larger facilities. Mr. Keats again questioned the necessity for a special permit, and asked that freight operations be categorized, spelling out the difference between an operation which requires only one truck and one in which several trucks are parked on the site. The City Planner explained that every type of use is not a type of use which requires a special permit. Many uses are permitted and are listed in the code in the industrial area. In this same section there are some uses requiring permits. He then read the uses permitted and following read the section listing uses requiring a special permit which include trucking, truck storage and motor freight terminals. The City Attorney explained that Amerford's New York office is questioning the wisdom of the regulations but we are forced to go by the uses which are listed in the code. There was further discussion of trucking operations, with the City Planner bringing out the fact that each trucking operation has a slight variation from another, and if the City tried to separate them, there would be a dozen different definitions. Chairman Sine informed the applicant that the matter would be brought before a public hearing on June 28 in the Council Chambers. 5. APPLICATION FOR SPECIAL PERMIT, DOLLAR -WISE RENT -A -CAR SYSTEM, FOR CAR RENTAL AGENCY AT 1669 BAYSHORE HIGHWAY Dollar -Wise Rent-A-Car System, represented by City Manager David Hellert and Corporation President, a Mr. Ali, made application for this permit, and presented a letter and plans. The letter brought out that this system operates nine agencies throughout California - 3 - and Arizona and rents current model cars. They plan to move from their present location in Millbrae to this address and will store about twenty-five cars at this location. All maintenance and repair work will be performed elsewhere. They mentioned that they intended to improve the appearance of both the building and the grounds, and they believed their business would be an asset to the City. The City Engineer questioned the applicant about car washing facilities, and was informed that there were existing facilities in the rear of the building since the prior tenant was a car rental agency. The City Planner added that the building had been erected for a firm that imported animals, and necessarily much hosing down and washing had been done. It was agreed that the Engineering Department would check out whether or not the drain emptied into the sanitary sewer system. Mr. Hellert displayed pictures of their existing facility and mentioned that part of their operation would consist of picking up passengers at the airport and taking them to their rental agency. The City Planner suggested that the applicant do some landscaping and also suggested that the Commissioners visit the site and make suggestions about a few existing violations. He mentioned that the previous tenant had built a black ton road on the site; but the applicant's representatives did not feel that they should be responsible for taking it out. It was pointed out by a commission member that parking spaces should be marked and equipped with bumper guards. The representatives stated that they intended to clean up the.entire premises even though they are leasing only part of it. Chairman Sine, after requesting that the applicant present a definitive plan for cleaning up and updating the premises, announced that the application would be considered at a public hearing on June 28. 6. APPLICATION FOR SPECIAL PERMIT, woobRUFF CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, CONSTRUCTION OF OFFICE BUILDING AT MAHLER AND GILBRETH ROADS This applicant, represented by C. Jack Woodruff, President, presented application, supporting letter, and preliminary drawings for the construction of a 52,000 square feet two-story office building on the south side of Mahler Road at the intersection of Gilbreth Road. Their letter stated that this would be a first class office building with a great deal of landscaping and would be an asset to the area and to the city. It mentioned that the site is ideal for an office building, being within walking distance of several restaurants in the area, and because of its ideal location for office use, the value of the land is too great to be feasible for typical industrial uses. It added that the real estate development firm of Kaiser Aetna would be the developer for this project. After the plans were el-;amined, Mr. Woodruff commented that the draftsman is Jim Whitesell, the engineer, Don Menzie; that there is a landscaping budget of $20,000 and the whole inner court is landscaped; that there was definitely ample parking worked into the plans. Chairman Sine announced that the application would be considered at the public hearing on June 28. At this point, Chairman Sine stated that the variance application of Charles D. Denny for modification of apartment at 1510 Newlands would also be heard at the public meeting of June 28. 7. APPLICATION FOR VARIANCE BY ANDREW TRIZUTO FOR SALE OF FURNITURE AT 1011 CADILLAC TRAY Andrew Trizuto presented to the Commission his application and a letter which stated that he wished to rent this property, consisting of an office building not presently occupied for the purpose of disposing of personal effects and furniture which had been left to him and his brother in an estate. This would be a retail sales operation, lasting for only two months. The letter brought out that such a short-term use of the property would not adversely affect the zoning plan nor would it be injurious to the public. Upon being asked to address the commission, Mr. Trizuto indicated that this furniture, etc. represented part of his grandmother's estate which he and his brother wished to sell to finance further college expenses; that her houses in San Francisco had to be vacated and they had made arrangements to rent this space for storage of furniture and that it would not be an auction type of sale but retail with everything priced. He went on to say that the building itself is not presently being used, and is due to be torn down the first of September. The City Planner commented that Mr. Trizuto is not going to buy other articles for resale. Mr. Trizuto stated there would be only one sign on Cadillac Way, and that the furniture would be moved into the building starting the 16th of June awaiting the Commission's permission for a sale. The Commission Chairman announced that this matter would be heard in the public meeting of June 28. NEW BUSINESS: Parking: Commissioner Kindig brought up the subject of business enterprises using both the city lots and private store lots for consistent parking of their commercial vehicles, and cited one particular instance on Broadway. The City Planner agreed and mentioned one business in the Burlingame Avenue area that does the same thing. He said he would have this checked into by the police. ABSENCE: Commissioner Mink announced that on the nights of June 27, 28, and 29 he was running a conference in connection with his work and might not be able to attend the regular meeting. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 9:45 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Everett K. Kindig Secretary