HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin - PC - 1985.09.23CITY OF BURLINGAME PLANNING COMMISSION
SEPTEMBER 23, 1985
CALL TO ORDER
A regular meeting of the Planning Commission, City of Burlingame was
called to order by Chairman Garcia on Monday, September 23, 1985 at
7:30 P.M.
RC)T.T. rAT.T.
Present: Commissioners Garcia, Giomi, Graham, Jacobs,
Schwalm, Taylor
Absent: Commissioner Leahy
Staff Present: Margaret Monroe, City Planner; Jerome Coleman,
City Attorney; Frank Erbacher, City Engineer
MINUTES - The minutes of the September 10, 1985 meeting were approved
with the following correction: page 2, Item 2, insert after
paragraph 3, "Chm. Garcia opened the public hearing. There
were no audience comments and the hearing was closed."
AGENDA - Order of the agenda approved.
ITEMS FOR ACTION
1. SPECIAL PERMIT FOR AN INSURANCE REPLACEMENT AUTO RENTAL AGENCY
AT 851 BURLWAY ROAD, ZONED M-1 (CONTINUED FROM 9/10/85)
Reference staff memos/reports 9/23/85, 9/10/85 and 8/26/85 with
attachments. CP Monroe reviewed details of the request, parking
requirements, letter from building management of 851 Burlway
designating four parking spaces to this use. Six conditions were
suggested for consideration at the public hearing. CP noted
applicant's suggestion that condition #2 be changed to require all cars
on the lot exceeding the allotted four be moved to the San Bruno or
Daly City locations within eight hours.
Commission discussion: the fact that if the applicant's suggested
condition were allowed it would apply to any new user in the same
location; parking for the full time employees and for visitors.
Brian Cochran, Amerex Rent A Car (applicant) advised the employees
drive company cars which are not parked on site all day; office is open
all day with an office manager on site; two other employees, a sales
representative and a delivery person, are there only 15 minutes at the
beginning of the day; the delivery person is out all day delivering
cars to body shops. He estimated they have five visitors per day, five
minutes per visit.
Chm. Garcia declared the public hearing open. There were no audience
comments and the hearing was closed.
Page 2
Burlingame Planning Commission Minutes September 23, 1985
Further Commission discussion: location of car rental agencies in the
city; enforcement of conditions of the permit; on-site parking for this
building does not meet present code requirements; concern about
sufficient parking for this business and its visitors now and in the
future-, or for any future car rental use at this location; because
parking requirement was less than current and spaces from that limited
number are designated to this use, do not believe this use can operate
in the space available to them except at the expense of the other
tenants in the building.
C. Giomi commented that Commission has looked at several applications
in office buildings with an intense use such as this; a landlord may
assign spaces but it would affect other tenants and compound the
parking problem on site and in the surrounding area. C. Giomi moved
to deny this special permit. Second C. Graham; motion approved 6-0 on
roll call vote, C. Leahy absent. Appeal procedures were advised.
2. SPECIAL PERMIT TO ALLOW A 50 SF SATELLITE ANTENNA DISH TO REMAIN
ON A RESIDENTIAL LOT AT 808 EDGEHILL DRIVE, ZONED C-2
Reference 9/10/85 Planning Commission minutes and 9/10/85 staff report
with attachments. CP Monroe reviewed details of the request and
referenced staff review and study meeting questions discussed in the
staff report. Two conditions were suggested for consideration at the
public hearing. It was determined this portion of Edgehill Drive where
lots have frontage on California Drive and on Edgehill is zoned C-2.
Bruce Kreiger, vice president, Servamatic Systems, Inc. and Earl
Nichols, their national installation supervisor, were present.
Mr. Kreiger distributed a letter in response to questions from staff as
well as data on this company; they have only recently entered into the
satellite antenna business. Photographs were also distributed showing
the location of the dish with respect to the house and California
Drive. He stated alternative at -grade locations were not feasible
because of the lack of backyard or sideyard space; the dish is 131-6"
from grade, it is clearly on the back side of the property and not
visible from the front (Edgehill), there are no homes facing the rear
yard; the roof of the house is 22' and shields one side of the dish
from California Drive; it is 8' in diameter which is fairly standard in
the industry.
Responding to Commissioner question, Mr. Nichols advised satellite
dishes require square footage of reflecting surface to get a usable
signal, 8' is approximately what is necessary in this section of the
country; a 4' dish could pick up one satellite's signals, this 8' dish
gets transmissions from 12 satellites. Commissioner comment: would be
more intrusive than TV antennas. Mr. Kreiger stated manufacturers are
attempting to make these dishes more acceptable, one method being the
use of mesh; this installation is located too high to screen with
landscaping. Applicants further advised there can be no obstructions
(roofs, trees, etc.) between the satellite and the dish.
There was some further discussion between Commission, Geri Cottle of
Servamatic and Mr. Kreiger regarding data distributed this evening on
Page 3
Burlingame Planning Commission Minutes September 23, 1985
satellite dish installation, reasonable zoning law and model zoning
ordinances. Ms. Cottle stated they found the City of Burlingame's
allowable dish size to be very restrictive; with such a restrictive
ordinance aren't the constitutional rights of the property owner being
violated? It was noted this installation went in without compliance
with local law's requirement for a special permit; Mr. Kreiger stated
they had used a subcontractor who neglected to apply for a permit.
Commissioner comment: the city has recently spent considerable money to
underground utilities along California Drive, this antenna is a visual
obstruction in the same area where cable is available. Applicant noted
that a satellite dish offers many more signals and stations than cable
TV; he felt homeowners will want to take advantage of this capability
and will then face the problem of complying with the city's ordinance.
A Commissioner pointed out the applicant's problem is not the size of
the dish but its location which is visible to anyone driving down
California Drive.
Chm. Garcia opened the public hearing. There were no audience
comments. Mr. Kreiger felt one issue which might be addressed is
whether or not complaints have been received; the homeowner has
received none. Mr. Nichols advised that if the dish were relocated to
the northeast corner near the fence below the fence line, the fence
would block reception; if it cleared the fence the house would be in
the way; if it were mounted on a pole in the middle of the backyard
with trees spaced around it the trees would block it; the dish must be
turned toward California Drive to pick up the eastern satellites.
Further Commission comment: concern that approval of this one dish
would set a precedent for future applications; it would seem the code
is too restrictive to put a satellite dish on this site; there are many
zoning restrictions which limit property owners, they are established
for the common good and limit everyone; this property owner has a
unique problem because of the size of his lot. There being no further
comment, Chm. Garcia closed the public hearing.
C. Jacobs moved to deny this special permit. Second C. Giomi. Comment
on the motion: there were no complaints from immediate neighbors, this
is a code enforcement problem, city staff did receive complaints about
the installation of this antenna; would not want to deny anyone his
constitutional rights but think in this case the overall good outweighs
the constitutional rights of the property owner. Motion approved on a
6-0 roll call vote, C. Leahy absent. Appeal procedures were advised.
3. VARIANCE TO PLACE A CARPORT 9' INTO THE REQUIRED FRONT SETBACK
AT 707 WALNUT AVENUE, ZONED R-1
Reference staff report, 9/23/85, with attachments. CP Monroe reviewed
details of the request, staff review, Planning staff comment,
applicant's statement. Two conditions were suggested for consideration
at the public hearing.
Page 4
Burlingame Planning Commission Minutes September 23, 1985
Discussion: Planning staff's suggestion that the carport be reduced to
13' x 20' which would allow room to park one car but would decrease the
encroachment into the front setback by 61, resulting in a variance
request for 3' only; proposed use for the new structure adjacent to the
carport; possibility of enlarging existing garage.
Tony Garisto, applicant, advised he has a three bedroom home, the new
construction will be a living room/dining room area, he could extend
this roof line which would improve the appearance of the carport. He
had no objection to staff's suggestion to reduce the carport to 13' x
20' and felt widening the existing garage to meet the code requirement
for two cars would be very expensive and that backup area would be
limited.
Chm. Garcia opened the public hearing. Beatrice Marino, 750 Walnut
Avenue advised this lot was created about 1955. There were no further
audience comments and the public hearing was closed.
C. Giomi found there were exceptional circumstances in this unusual
flag lot; that the variance is necessary for the preservation and
enjoyment of a property right of the owner, this is one of the few ways
he could improve his property; that it would not be detrimental to
other property owners, no complaints have been received from the
neighbors, extending the roof line would be a benefit to the house and
adjacent properties; and that it would not adversely affect the zoning
plan of the city, the lot will remain R-1 and the variance will upgrade
parking in the R-1 zone. C. Giomi moved to grant this variance with
the following conditions: (1) that the carport be designed to be 13' x
20' allowing 10' clear of the fireplace in which to park a car; and
(2) that the maximum height of the completed carport structure not
exceed 12' from grade and be designed to meet all the requirements of
the Uniform Building Code and Uniform Fire Code. Second C. Taylor;
motion approved on a 5-1 roll call vote, C. Jacobs dissenting, C. Leahy
absent. Appeal procedures were advised.
Recess 8:55 P.M.; reconvene 9:05 P.M.
ITEMS FOR STUDY
4. TWO SPECIAL PERMITS - RECREATION ROOM ADDITION - 113 CHANNING ROAD
Requests: is the deck there now or will it be new construction; could
addition be added to the house; is applicant aware of swimming pool
regulations; drainage from the addition. Item set for hearing October
15, 1985.
5. SPECIAL PERMIT - COURIER OPERATION - 837-845 COWAN ROAD
Requests: is there other off -premise parking in the M-1 zone; clarify
number of vans in the fleet, expected expansion; is lunch room plug-in
or cafeteria. Item set for hearing October 15, 1985.
Page 5
Burlingame Planning Commission Minutes September 23, 1985
6. SPECIAL PERMIT - AUTOMOBILE LEASING OFFICE - 1608 GILBRETH ROAD
Requests: provide previous parking/traffic studies; include updated car
rental agency map; hours of operation/shifts; new construction detail
(one hour walls). Item set for hearing October 15, 1985.
7. SPECIAL PERMIT TO REPLACE AN EXISTING GAS STATION - 1101 BROADWAY
Requests: is leased land included; will bathrooms be open to the
public; handicapped provisions; will diesel fuel still be provided;
timing of improvements to Broadway intersection; are Encore Theater
parking spaces included in this proposal; where will gas station
employees park; what is the nature of the 25' triangular area adjacent
to the 12 parking spaces on the east side of the lot, is it an access
easement; will "Auto Row" sign be affected by street widening. Item
set for hearing October 15, 1985.
PLANNER REPORT
CP Monroe reviewed Council actions at its September 16, 1985 meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
Chm. Garcia adjourned the meeting at 9:30 P.M. in memory of the victims
of the Mexico City earthquake.
Respectfully submitted,
Nannette M. Giomi
Vice Chairman