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
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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
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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