HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin - PC - 1987.11.23CITY OF BURLINGAME PLANNING COMMISSION
NOVEMBER 23, 1987
CALL TO ORDER
A regular meeting of the Planning Commission, City of Burlingame was
called to order by Chairman Giomi on Monday, November 23, 1987 at
7:33 P.M.
ROT.L CAT.T.
Present: Commissioners Ellis, Garcia, Giomi, H. Graham,
S. Graham, Jacobs
Absent: Commissioner Harrison
Staff Present: Margaret Monroe, City Planner; Jerome Coleman,
City Attorney; Frank Erbacher, City Engineer;
Ken Musso, Fire Marshal
MINUTES - The minutes of the November 9, 1987 meeting were unanimously
approved.
AGENDA - Order of the agenda approved.
ACTION ITEMS
1. SPECIAL PERMIT FOR A PATIO SHELTER ATTACHED TO THE REAR OF THE
EXISTING GARAGE AT 225 BANCROFT ROAD, ZONED R-1
Reference staff report, 11/23/87, with attachments. CP Monroe reviewed
details of the request, staff review, Planning staff comment,
applicant's letter, study meeting questions. Four conditions were
suggested for consideration at the public hearing. CP clarified the
requirement for a special permit under the accessory structure
ordinance.
Chm. Giomi opened the public hearing. Applicant and property owner,
Charles Drechsler, was present. He advised he has a valuable 153 Ford
pace car which he would like to put under cover in bad weather, the
proposed shelter is the only feasible location in the rear yard because
of the placement of the existing garage; he is the homeowner; his son,
Charles Jr., drew the plans; they will be able to drive the car through
the rear yard to the shelter area. Responding to Commission questions,
he stated the garage is now used for storage, it is not big enough for
a modern car; demolishing and replacing the existing garage would be
too costly; there are no cars in the backyard now, he would put one car
in the shelter during winter, would have cement where that car would be
parked and for the patio itself; the family has four cars, some
belonging to his children aged 21 years or more.
There were no audience comments and the public hearing was closed.
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Burlingame Planning Commission Minutes November 23, 1987
Commission comments: have some problem with this application,
understand one car now in the driveway will be put behind the garage
and engines will be stored in the garage, at present there are three
cars and the engines behind the front setback, proposal will improve
the situation, would have difficulty finding exceptional circumstances
if this were a variance application; have a problem with the access
which requires driving through the backyard, could a door be put on the
other side of the garage (staff advised the proposed patio will be
next to the garage but is not an extension of the garage, if any
modification is made to the existing garage applicant would be required
to bring it up to present code standards). Further comment: it will be
difficult to get a car back there but it can be done, would like to add
a condition that the back of the garage not be opened up into the
patio.
C. H.Graham found no problem with the request since it is only the
patio shelter Commission is being asked to approve. C. H.Graham moved
for approval of this special permit with the following conditions:
(1) that as built the location and dimensions of the patio structure
conform to the plans submitted to the Planning Department date stamped
October 14, 1987; (2) that as built the patio structure conform to all
the structural requirements of the Uniform Fire and Uniform Building
Codes; (3) that the automobile engines presently stored in the driveway
be removed from the driveway and required side and front yards so that
the existing required covered off-street parking is accessible for
automobiles; (4) that no utilities shall be extended into the patio
area and it shall not be fully enclosed or ever used for residential
purposes; and (5) that the rear wall of the existing garage shall never
be opened up. Second C. Garcia; motion approved on a 5-1 roll call
vote, C. S.Graham dissenting, C. Harrison absent.
A sixth condition was suggested. C. H.Graham amended his motion, C.
Garcia amended his second and the amended motion was approved on a 5-1
roll call vote, C. S.Graham dissenting, C. Harrison absent, to add
condition (6) that this special permit shall be reviewed in two years
time (November 1989). Appeal procedures were advised.
2. TENTATIVE AND FINAL PARCEL MAP TO DIVIDE AN EXISTING SITE INTO
TWO PARCELS -1628 FOREST VIEW AVENUE
Reference agenda memo, 11/23/87, with attachments. CE Erbacher
reviewed his agenda memo, details of the application, alternative
proposals for recommendation to Council, review by staff and utility
companies, information on accidents in the area, setbacks. Engineering
staff recommended approval of Alternative #1 in the staff report (with
three conditions) which would require widening of Sanchez Avenue,
removal of oak trees on Sanchez and tree replanting. Should Commission
recommend Alternative #2 which would not require removal of the two
large oak trees, five conditions were suggested.
Commission/staff discussion: location/relocation of driveways; there
would be no driveway closer to Sanchez than 151; Engineering
Burlingame Planning Commission Minutes
Page 3
November 23, 1987
Department's assignment of addresses and Planning's definition of lot
frontages; if the oak trees are allowed to remain they will become
street trees and under the care of the Parks Department.
Chm. Giomi opened the public hearing. David Newsom, property owner and
applicant, discussed Burlingame's annexation of this land from
Hillsborough in process since March 1987; concerns of neighbors during
the annexation procedure, specifically saving the oak trees on Sanchez
and the possibility that four homes rather than two would be located on
this site; he intends to add only one single family residence. For the
record Mr. Newsom presented a copy of deed restriction which has been
recorded with the county and which limits division of this property to
two lots. He commented that Sanchez is not a heavily traveled street
and expressed hope that the oak trees could be retained.
Commission/applicant discussion: location of driveway on the new
parcel; developer of the new lot is a builder and is prepared for
either alternative; there has not been a high incidence of accidents on
Sanchez, question the wisdom of widening the street when it narrows
significantly on the other side of Newhall; extent of grading if trees
are retained, applicant did not think the grading involved would
adversely affect the trees; dedication of street right of way to the
city is to allow sufficient paving for parking and two lanes of
traffic; Forest View Avenue will remain the same.
The Chair requested audience comments on the application. David
Hinckle, 1616 Sanchez Avenue advised he bought the lot across the
street from this property knowing the parcel on Newhall was not
subdividable in Hillsborough; the trees are his main concern and saving
all four of them. Mr. Hinckle read November 18, 1987 letter from Neil
Murphy and Juliana Fuerbringer, 1516 Sanchez kvenue requesting the
trees along Sanchez be saved, they add beauty and peace to the
neighborhood. There were no further audience comments and the public
hearing was closed.
Further Commission discussion: think the two larger trees should be
saved, have some concern about location of the driveway on the new lot
and on the existing lot, would like to be sure the trees are kept
unharmed; Director of Parks' November 4, 1987 memo ensures removal of
roots is done under the direction of a qualified arborist, if trimmed
to Park Department specifications trees should not be a hazard.
C. S.Graham moved to recommend this tentative and final parcel map to
City Council for approval with CE's conditions for the second
alternative. Second C. Ellis.
Comment on the motion: condition #5 will take care of concerns about a
new driveway damaging tree roots on Sanchez; share CE's concern about
sight distances along that portion of Sanchez, would like to prohibit
parking on Sanchez as well as access to Sanchez from Parcel k, suggest
a condition #6 be added, that no parking be allowed on Sanchez venue
fronting Parcel N; will have to vote 'no', hate to see trees come down
but am concerned about sight distances, it is hard to police
vegetation, there is an opportunity to conform to city standards now,
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)Burlingame Planning Commission Minutes November 23, 1987
think this is the time to do it; CE advised with the second alternative
the two smaller trees would have to go, Engineering will work with the
developer and Parks Department to keep a minimum clearance of 5' from
the large trees.
Motion with six conditions was approved on a 5-1 roll call vote,
C. H.Graham dissenting, C. Harrison absent. Conditions follow:
1. roadway improvement shall be designed by the subdivider's Civil
Engineer to the approval of the Public Works Department and shall
consist of the alternate improvement on Sanchez Avenue, with a four
to five foot (4' to 51) sidewalk adjacent to the existing curbs, a
retaining wall and guardrailing; and the improvements on Newhall
and Forest View; the retaining wall and guardrailing on Sanchez to
be maintained by the owner of Parcel A;
2. the existing sewer lateral from Parcel B shall be tested and
repaired in accordance with City Ordinance No. 1329;
3. all work on Condition #1 shall be either installed prior to
recordation of this map or the subdivider shall enter into an
agreement and provide bonds which will ensure that these
improvements including utility relocations are installed prior to
one (1) year from the date of map recordation or prior to issuance
of a Building Permit on Parcel A, whichever comes first;
4. the two remaining oak trees shall be trimmed to Parks Department
approval and shall be included in the bond and agreement;
requirements of the Director of Parks' November 4, 1987 memo shall
be met;
5. vehicular access from Parcel A to Sanchez shall be prohibited and
so indicated on the map; and
6. no parking shall be allowed on Sanchez fronting Parcel A.
Staff will forward Commission's recommendation to City Council.
3. REQUEST FOR EXTENSION OF PARKING VARIANCE FOR 1320-1350 HOWARD
AVENUE, ZONED C-1
Reference staff report, 11/23/87, with attachments. CP Monroe reviewed
details of the variance granted in 1986 and this extension request;
staff review; applicant's letter; letter from Fred Caploe, attorney
representing the city in pending litigation, stating extension of the
variance will have no effect on this litigation.
C. S.Graham moved to grant an extension of the parking variance to
November 17, 1988; second C. Jacobs. Comment on the motion: will vote
'no' because did not vote for the variance in 1986; it is a routine
action for Commission to grant a one year extension. Motion was
approved on a 5-1 roll call vote, C. H.Graham voting no, C. Harrison
absent. Appeal procedures were advised.
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November 23, 1987
4. SPECIAL PERMIT FOR FRONT SETBACK AS DETERMINED BY APPARENT WIDTH
FOR A REMODELING OF THE LOBBY, RESTAURANT, BAR AREA AND INTERIOR
PARTITION WALLS OF THE HOLIDAY INN CROWNE PLAZA, 600 AIRPORT
BOULEVARD, ZONED C-4
Reference staff report, 11/23/87, with attachments. CP Monroe reviewed
details of the proposed remodeling, original approval of the hotel,
Design Guidelines, staff review, applicant's letter. Two conditions
were suggested for consideration at the public hearing.
Discussion: height of the remodeled area, there is no new driveway from
the parking area onto Airport Boulevard, exiting from meeting rooms.
Chm. Giomi opened the public hearing. Edward Gee, architect for the
project, discussed the proposal and answered questions from Commission:
meeting room exit doors go into a one hour protected corridor which
leads directly to the outside; property owners wish to provide a
quality hotel and be competitive in the area, presently the public
areas are inadequate, restaurant needs to be improved, compared with
other first class hotels these areas in the Crowne Plaza need to be
expanded. With the aid of drawings Mr. Gee discussed the proposed
renovations which are guest oriented with major remodeling of the
existing lobby/registration area, relocating the bar to the front of
the hotel and adding space vacated by the bar to the restaurant; exit
corridors will meet code, there will be two doors from the bar area
into a protected corridor; there will be no change in traffic
circulation, there is no new driveway.
He pointed out the proposed entry, the angular design; height of the
dome will be 26-281; ratio of rooms to common area with the addition
will be 612 SF per room, currently it is about 598 SF; the porte
cochere exists now and will not be affected, it designates the main
entrance; there will be a slight increase in seating capacity of the
restaurant but it is designed mainly to service guests of the hotel;
the bar area will be 2-2.5 times larger, there is a platform for live
music but no plans for a disco which would not fit the image they are
trying to create since the bar will be open to the lobby; door in the
bar will be used primarily for an emergency exit.
There were no audience comments and the public hearing was closed.
Staff confirmed there is no change in the soft landscaping of the
hotel; if live music were provided they would need an entertainment
permit from the city.
With the statement she had no problem with this proposal, it is a good
design, C. S.Graham moved for approval of the special permit with the
following conditions: (1) that the proposed remodeling shall be
consistent with the plans submitted to the Planning Department and date
stamped October 27, 1987 and November 23, 1987; and (2) that all
interior remodeling work shall meet all the requirements of the Uniform
Building and Uniform Fire Codes as amended by the City of Burlingame.
Second C. H.Graham. In comment on the motion staff advised this
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'Burlingame Planning Commission Minutes November 23, 1987
remodel does not affect parking requirements. Motion was approved on a
6-0 roll call vote, C. Harrison absent. Appeal procedures were
advised.
FROM THE FLOOR
There were no public comments.
Recess 8:47 P.M.; reconvene 8:57 P.M.
STUDY ITEMS
5. FENCE EXCEPTION - 1512 HIGHWAY ROAD
Requests: is his original contractor still representing the applicant
and will he get a building permit; what does applicant feel the
exceptional circumstances are for the 7' fence. Item set for public
hearing December 14, 1987.
6. SPECIAL PERMIT - SATELLITE DISH ANTENNA - 835 AIRPORT BOULEVARD
Requests: clarify rotation of the antenna; what area of the hotel looks
out on the dish location; what color will the dish be painted. Item
set for public hearing December 14, 1987.
PLANNER REPORTS
The following permit reviews were acknowledged:
- 1225 Capuchino Avenue - denial of fourth unit variance
- 1151 Vancouver Avenue - special permit, Peninsula Parent Inc.
- 1419 Burlingame Avenue - Triple R Realty relocation to second floor
1988 Planning Commission Meeting Schedule
- C. Jacobs moved for approval of this schedule. Motion approved
unanimously on voice vote.
C. Jacobs and CP Monroe reviewed Council actions at its November 16,
1987 regular meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 9:22 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Harry S. Graham, Secretary