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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin - PC - 1981.04.27CITY OF BURLINGAME PLANNING COMMISSION APRIL 27, 1981 CALL TO ORDER A regular meeting of the Planning Commission, City of Burlingame was called to order by Chairman Jacobs on Monday, April 27, 1981 at 7:32 P.M. ROLL CALL Present: Commissioners Cistulli, Garcia, Graham, Harvey, Leahy, Mink, Jacobs Absent: None Staff Present: City Planner John R. Yost; City Attorney Jerome F. Coleman; City Engineer Frank C. Erbacher MINUTES - The minutes of the April 13, 1981 meeting were unanimously approved and adopted. AGENDA - Order of the agenda approved unanimously. MEETING ITEMS FOR ACTION 1. SPECIAL PERMIT TO ESTABLISH A NEW SAVINGS AND LOAN AT 1310 HOWARD AVENUE, ZONED C-1, BY BAY VIEW FEDERAL SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATION CA Coleman advised of his discussions with Cers Harvey and Leahy and his determination they had a legal conflict of interest. He recommended they abstain from voting and advised four votes would be necessary for approval of this application. CP Yost then reviewed this proposal to remodel a 950 SF office in the existing two story commercial building at 1310 Howard Avenue and establish a new savings and loan. Reference staff report dated 4/23/81; Project Application & CEQA Assessment accepted by staff 3/16/81; aerial photograph; March 13 and April 1, 1981 letters from Robert N. Hansen, President, Bay View Federal; Exhibit D indicating existing and expected Burlingame business; Exhibit C indicating municipal parking available in the area; first floor site plan; basement floor plan; Exhibit E listing nearby businesses and number of people; April 22, 1981 memo from the City Engineer; April 13, 1981 memo from the Chief Building Inspector; April 6, 1981 notation from the Chief Fire Inspector; March, 1981 list of Banks and Savings & Loan Institutions in the Downtown Commercial Areas; Location Maps indicating financial institutions in the Burlingame Downtown Area, Broadway Downtown Area and Burlingame Plaza Area. CP discussed staff comments, code requirements, issues involved and the recent moratorium on new projects in the Parking District adopted by City Council. In the absence of guidelines for applications in the Parking District, there was no staff recommendation. If approved, three conditions were recommended as listed in the staff report. Thomas L. Constantino, Assistant to the President and R. E. "Bill" Saleme, Senior Vice President were present representing Bay View Federal. Mr. Constantino discussed their plans for locating a branch office in Burlingame. Chm. Jacobs opened the public hearing. Secy. Harvey reported for the record that 23 letters in favor and two opposed had been received from Bay View's Burlingame customers. Reasons for opposition were: "Burlingame is . . over -populated with bank institutions"; the Millbrae and San Mateo branches are near enough for anyone who wants to use their Burlingame Planning Commission Minutes Page 2 April 27, 1981 services. The following members of the audience spoke: Milo 01'Anjou, President of West Coast Federal Savings - concern about the traffic/parking problem in the downtown area; Carl Hagstrom, owner of property at 1333 Howard Avenue - have been at this location for eight years, there are always parking spaces for the general public available on Howard Avenue. There were no further comments and the public hearing was closed. Discussion: the six month moratorium on new projects in the Parking District; Bay View's plans for expansion; employee parking available in the basement of the existing building. Concern: traffic impact, especially if this business should grow in future. Several Commissioners believed the Howard Avenue location the proper place for a new savings and loan, on one of the streets parallel to Burlingame Avenue and within walking distance of the retail center and several public parking lots. C. Graham found the location at 1310 Howard Avenue to be a reasonable location for a savings and loan establishment. He then moved for approval of this special permit with the following conditions: (1) that the location and general operation of this savings and loan be generally consistent with the several letters and exhibits filed with this application; (2) that the conditions recommended by the City Engineer in his April 22, 1981 memo be met to the satisfaction of the Public Works Department; and (3) that the proposed remodeling be done with a building permit and conform to the plans filed with this application. Second C. Cistulli; motion approved 4-1 on roll call vote, C. Jacobs dissenting, Cers Harvey and Leahy abstaining. Appeal procedures were advised. 2. VARIANCE TO CONSTRUCT A 16' X 140' CANOPY OVER THE SERVICE YARD ADJACENT TO THE MARQUEE BUILDING OF THE HYATT HOTEL, 1333 BAYSHORE HIGHWAY CP Yost reviewed this application to add a 16' x 140' canopy along the Bayshore Highway side of the Marquee Building of the Hyatt, with columns within 15' of Bayshore Highway, ' and edge of canopy 10' from the back edge of the sidewalk. Reference staff report for Item #2; Project Application & CEQA Assessment accepted by staff 4/2/81; aerial photo- graph; March 6, 1981 letter from Rick Sarmiento, General Manager, Hyatt Burlingame; photographs of the site; April 13, 1981 memo from the Chief Building Inspector; 4/9/81 memo from the Chief Fire Inspector; and plans date stamped March 17, 1981. CP discussed the site of the proposed canopy, code requirements, staff comments and possible findings. Staff recommended approval with two conditions as listed in the staff report. Buzz Bryan, architect representi-ng the applicant, discussed reasons for requesting this canopy over the service yard and noted the aesthetic value of the existing hedge. Chm. Jacobs opened the public hearing. There were no comments and the hearing was closed. Discussion: code requirements pertaining to the columns and canopy projection into the setback; problems if the canopy were to project on the other side of the Marquee Building over the driveway; desirability of preserving the present hedge; ingress/egress from this service area; Fire Department requirements; a concern about an electrical outlet at the ground level near the curb (staff was asked to investigate). CP reviewed Chapter 25.54, the legal requirements necessary for approval of a variance. These were discussed at length. C. Graham found that there were exceptional circumstances in that the applicant had a need to protect this area from the weather; that it was necessary for the enjoyment of his property rights; that it would not affect the public health, safety or welfare or be injurious to other property owners and that it would not adversely affect the comprehensive zoning plan of the City. C. Graham then moved for approval of this variance with the following conditions: (1) that the location and construction of the Burlingame Planning Commission Minutes canopy be consistent with the drawings filed with this requirements listed in the April -13, 1981 memo from the April 9, 1981 memo from the Chief Fire Inspector be met is obtained; and (3) that the existing hedge along the at its present height. Second C. Cistulli. Page 3 April 27, 1981 application; (2) that the Chief Building Inspector and at the time a building permit street frontage be maintained Speaking to the motion, C. Mink found that the exceptional circumstances had been created by the applicant himself in the original design of the building and its service area and therefore he could not support a finding that denial would result in undue property loss; further, that there were a number of alternatives which had not been pursued by the applicant and an encroachment into the setback is inconsistent with the General Plan of the City. He urged a "no" vote. Following roll call, motion to approve this variance passed 5-2, Cers Harvey and Mink dissenting. Appeal procedures were advised. 3. CONDOMINIUM PERMIT TO CONSTRUCT A 16 UNIT OFFICE CONDOMINIUM AT 345 LORTON AVENUE, ZONED C-2, BY D. L. WALKER ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES CP Yost reviewed this application to construct a 21,300 SF four story office building at 345 Lorton Avenue. Reference staff report dated 4/22/81; Project Application & CEQA Assessment accepted by staff 4/2/81; aerial photograph; memo received April 22, 1981 from the City Engineer; April 13, 1981 memo from the Chief Building Inspector; April 9, 1981 memo from the Park Director; and plans date.stamped April 8, 1981. CP discussed details of the design, conformance with zoning ordinance requirements, consistency with the condominium guidelines and staff comments. Staff recommended approval of a condominium permit for this project with three conditions as listed in the staff report. It was determined from the City Attorney that the CC&Rs were acceptable with certain suggested revisions. Mark Stephenson, D. L. Walker Architectural Services was present. He discussed the permits for an office building on this site approved by Commission January 26, 1981, the attractive design and high quality project proposed by the developer. He confirmed the developer would comply with the CE's requirement that the traffic signal at the driveway ramp be maintained by the Association and included in the CC&Rs. Chm. Jacobs opened the public hearing. There were no comments and the hearing was closed. C. Mink found no problems with the proposed project and moved for approval of this condominium permit with the .following conditions: (1) that the final working drawings for this condominium project be consistent with the plans filed with this application; (2) that the conditions recommended by the April 22, 1981 memo from the City Engineer be met to the satisfaction of the Public Works Department; and (3) that the final landscaping and irrigation plans be approved by the Park Director prior to the issuance of a building permit. Second C. Cistulli; motion approved 7-0 on roll call vote. Appeal procedures were advised. 4. TENTATIVE SUBDIVISION MAP FOR 16 CONDOMINIUM UNITS AT 345 LORTON AVENUE CE Erbacher advised his department had no difficulties with this condominium development and recommended approval of the map. He confirmed that the map is consistent with the Subdivision Map Act and all requirements of the City. C. Harvey moved for approval and recommendation to City Council of this tentative subdivision map; second C. Graham. Motion unanimously approved on voice vote. 5. FINAL SUBDIVISION MAP FOR 12 CONDOMINIUM UNITS AT 1056 EL CAMINO REAL Reference CE's April 22, 1981 memo. CE Erbacher found the map in substantial conformance with the tentative map and recommended approval. C. Harvey moved for approval and recommendation to City Council of this final subdivision map. Second C. Graham; motion approved unanimously on voice vote. Page 4 Burlingame Planning Commission Minutes April 27, 1981 6. TENTATIVE SUBDIVISION MAP FOR 12 CONDOMINIUM UNITS AT 733-737 FAIRFIELD ROAD: REQUESTED EXTENSION Reference April 22, 1981 memo from the City Engineer with attached letter from James E. Shypertt, Martin M. Ron Associates, Inc. requesting a 12 month extension of this tentative map. CE Erbacher recommended approval of the request. C. Mink moved for approval of a 12 month extension of this tentative map; second C. Cistulli, all aye voice vote. Recess 8:37 P.M.; reconvene 8:50 P.M. OTHER BUSINESS 7. AMENDMENT OF CURRENT REGULATIONS, BURLINGAME AVENUE OFF-STREET PARKING DISTRICT CP Yost referred to material prepared by staff for the Off -Street Parking District study: Memorandum - Preliminary Assumptions and Draft Policies for Discussion, map indicating zones and blocks, and survey sheets indicating principal land uses by zone. He then requested Commission suggestions and direction to develop a specific work program; he noted that revisions will be made to the data presented this evening. Considerable discussion followed, using the list of preliminary assumptions and draft policies under the headings General Notes, Land Use/Spatial Organization, Traffic/ Parking Policies, Downtown Character: Height, Bulk, Appearance. At the conclusion of the discussion staff was asked to amend the report and circulate copies to the Commission for review at the May 11 meeting. 8. REVIEW OF APRIL 21, 1980 SPECIAL PERMIT, CALL -A -CAR RENTAL. COMPANY, 1470 BAYSHORE HIGHWAY Reference staff report for Item No. 8 and City Council April 21, 1980 appeal hearing minutes approving this application. CP advised a recent site inspection indicated this rent -a -car agency with separate auto servicing/detailing company is in compliance with the conditions of the 1980 permit. Commission agreed with staff that no further action is necessary. CITY PLANNER REPORT 9. CP Yost reported Council hearings held April 20, 1981. -Variance to construct an 8,100 SF church at 701 Fairfield Road without on-site parking: Council denied the parking variance without prejudice. -Amendment of 1979 Special Permit conditions; Mike Harvey Oldsmobile: continued to the Council's second meeting in June in order to allow time for the Traffic, Safety & Parking Commission, in association with the Planning Commission, to prepare a report on traffic and parking problems in the vicinity of subject property. The Chair appointed Ruth Jacobs and Joseph Harvey to serve on the joint committee preparing this report for Council. ADJOURNMENT - The meeting adjourned at 10:15 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Joseph E. Harvey Secretary