HomeMy WebLinkAboutMin - PC - 1996.10.28CITY OF BURLINGAME PLANNING COMMISSION
MINUTES
October 28, 1996 - 7:30 P.M.
CALL TO ORDER
A regular meeting of the Planning Commission, City of Burlingame was called to order by
Chairman Ellis on October 25, 1996 at 7:30 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Present: Commissioners Coffey, Deal, Galligan, Key, Mink and Ellis
Absent: Commissioner Wellford
Staff Present: City Planner, Margaret Monroe; Senior Engineer, Donald Chang; Fire
Marshal, Keith Marshall
MINUTES - The minutes of the October 15, 1996 Planning Commission meeting were
approved as mailed.
AGENDA - The agenda was approved as mailed.
FROM THE FLOOR CP Monroe introduced Maureen Brooks, the new Planner in the Planning
Department
ITEMS FOR STUDY
1. APPLICATION FOR A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT AND SPECIAL PERMIT TO
DEVELOP MULTIPLE SINGLE FAMILY LOTS WHERE THREE LOTS ARE
SUBSTANDARD IN DIMENSION AT 2502, 2504 AND 2506 POPPY AVENUE, ZONED
R-1, (OTTO J. & VICTORIA H. MILLER AND KURT STEIL, PROPERTY OWNERS
AND APPLICANTS).
Requests: need sheet A9 which shows three front elevations; want location of liquid amber and
two protected trees at rear on site plan; show existing size of lots on Poppy between Adeline and
Columbus, both sides; also house size where available in Planning files; clearer note defining
average setback; note protected trees and retaining wall on vicinity map, arborist report showing
impact of retaining wall and fence combination on trees and tree maintenance; height fence and
wall from lowest as well as highest point; show that the 6" fall, rear to front, is enough for
gravity flow of rain water; compatibility with neighborhood, no documentation provide letter;
what is neighborhood and why does this project fit; show positive aspects which make it fit; why
homes are three identical landscapes, driveways and setbacks, need to address how this fits
neighborhood; page 2, first floor layout shows chimney in family room and one in living room,
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CITY OPBURLINGAMB PLANNING COMMISSIONMINUIBS Oc[ober 28, 1996
no chimney/flew shown on any elevation, if fireplace interior how does it affect second floor
and roof; page 1, fireplace intrudes into setback; is the setback less than 4' (does it need a
variance); check all three houses; Set for action Tuesday, November 12, 1996, if information
is received in time.
2. APPLICATION FOR A SPECIAL PERMIT FOR EXPANSION OF A FOOD
ESTABLISHMENT AT 1310 BURLINGAME AVENUE, ZONED C-1, SUBAREA A,
(GENSLER FAMILY L.P.I., PROPERTY OWNERS AND NATHAN AND MARILYN
L. SCHMIDT, APPLICANTS).
Requests: number of seats in patio area; occupational breakdown of number of employees
showing how ratio of 7 employees to 90 customers will work. Set for action Tuesday,
November 12, 1996, if information received.
ACTION ITEMS
3. APPLICATION FOR A MASTER SIGN PROGRAM, SIGN EXCEPTION AND
PARKING VARIANCE, AT 1041-1049 BROADWAY, ZONED C-2, (DONALD
TATEOSIAN. PROPERTY OWNER AND MIKE HARVEY, APPLICANT)
Reference staff report, 10.28.96, with attachments. CP Monroe discussed the request, reviewed
criteria, Planning Department comments, and study meeting questions. Five conditions were
suggested for consideration.
Chin. Ellis opened the public hearing. Mike Harvey, 1077 Broadway, addressed the
Commission. He objects to the staff report stating this is a code enforcement item and he did
not request a master sign program, he will not need the benefits of a master sign program, he
only applied for a pole sign. He feels the bunting signs should be allowed the same as they are
on "auto row" so there is a "level playing field". Without selling used cars the auto sales
business would not be viable. His employees now park in the CalTran right-of-way; to provide
parking on this site for imaginary personnel would preclude his ability to do business.
Commission asked why a letter was not provided by Mr. Gumbinger allowing the use of his
plans. Mr. Harvey stated he told CP Monroe to delete Mr. Gumbinger's name from the plan.
CP Monroe noted for the record that it is not city policy to delete or add to plans. The issue
of use of Mr. Gumbinger's plans is between Mr. Harvey and Mr. Gumbinger. Staff requested
a resubmittal from Mr. Harvey, one was not given. The definition of this area as "auto row"
for signage is a City Council issue not a Planning Commission consideration. The sign height
is needed because the building housing the stereo business Monney, blocks the field of vision
and without visibility used car sales are difficult. There were no other comments and the public
hearing was closed.
C. Galligan noted the plans as shown are not representative of the conditions on the site and it
makes it difficult to act. He noted that this application was an improvement over the previous
application for Monney's because employee parking was designated and it appears employees
will park elsewhere anyway; key to the new use is display area along Broadway, it is of little
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CITY OF BUMNOM4E PL9NMNG COMMISSIONMINUMS October 28, 1996
consequence what happens at the rear of the site; not concerned about access since employees
know how to get in and off the site; the site is now littered with signs maybe this master sign
program will convince them only to use signs approved by the city, sign permits granted for auto
dealerships elsewhere in the city exceed this request; signage and access are determined by
current "as built" situation; signs are not a grant of special privilege since there is a lack of
visibility because of railroad and freeway signs and the placement of the building on the site;
the variance is for parking stall and aisle width dimensions and should show the stripping
dimensions.
He then made a motion to approve this application with the following amended and added
conditions: 1) that the project shall be built as shown on the plans submitted to the Planning
Department and date stamped September 17, 1996 Sheet 1, Site Plan/Floor Plan, and August 6,
1996 (Three sheets) Pole Sign Sheet - West Elevation, Pole Sign Sheet -Plan view and Side
Elevation and Pole Sign Sheet - Perspective sketch; 2) that the conditions of the Chief Building
Inspectors' September 30, 1996 memo (if the parking lot is restriped, one accessible van space,
9' wide + 8' unloading shall be required as a part of the 16 required parking stalls); 3) that all
the existing banners, and A - frame board signs for both Mike Harvey Honda and Monney Car
Audio along Broadway and at the parking lot shall be removed; 4) that all the temporary bunting
surrounding the light pole signs (bunting materials but not the signs) along Broadway shall be
removed prior to issuance of a building permit for installing the new signs; and 5) that the
project shall meet Uniform Building and Uniform Fire Codes as amended by the City of
Burlingame.
The motion was seconded by C. Key.
Commission discussed alternatives, could support the signage request but not the parking, not
able to tell where used car parking would be, no evidence to support findings; asked to amend
conditions adding: a) that the entrance off Broadway and exit onto Carolan be clearly marked;
b) that customer parking be signed and not used by employees; c) that employee parking for
1041-1049 used car sales personnel be specifically identified on the JPB right-of-way; and d) if
the applicant should loose the lease on the JPB used for parking then the variance for this site
becomes void.
The maker of the motion and the second agreed to the additional conditions.
Commission discussed further the possibility of the appearance of a granting of special privilege
because of the poor plans and the lack of findings for any exceptional or extraordinary
circumstances. It would be preferable to look at the parking after it is stripped, at the very
least, or on a plan with accurate dimensions.
Commission then called for the question by roll call vote. The motion failed on a 3-3-1 voice
vote (Cmsrs. Coffey, Deal and Ellis dissenting and C. Wellford absent). Appeal procedures
were advised.
The Commission adjourned for a 10 minute break at 9:20 p.m. and reconvened at 9:30 p.m.
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CITY OF BURLINGAME PLANNING COMMISSIONMINUTES
October 28, 1996
4. APPLICATION FOR A SPECIAL PERMIT AND PARKING VARIANCE FOR A
SCHOOL, AT 860 HINCKLEY ROAD, ZONED O-M, (HUGH KLEBAHN TRUST,
PROPERTY OWNERS AND SHEET METAL WORKERS LOCAL 104 AND BAY AREA
INDUSTRIAL TRAINING FUND APPLICANTS)
Reference staff report, 10.28.96, with attachments. CP Monroe discussed the request, reviewed
criteria, Planning Department comments, and study meeting questions. Six conditions were
suggested for consideration. A letter from the business located at 897 Hinckley Road, Coit
Cleaners, in opposition to the parking variance, was read into the record.
Chin. Ellis opened the public hearing. Paul Manion, 703 South B, San Mateo, addressed the
Commission. The schooling/training will be at night, 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and will have
no impact on daytime parking or traffic. The maximum on site during the day is 5 people; so
there will be no impact on dispatch of Coit trucks in daytime. In looking at World Gym parking
he noted that there were parking spaces on the gym's site not used because further to walk,
thought when his site fully used these would be available, also few World Gym people park in
his lot, mostly next door because closer to door of gym; most businesses in the area are daytime
except World Gym. Steve Kritchfield, 4085 Campbell, Menlo Park spoke in favor of the
application as an employer participant in programs, need more space for school and to provide
a better program for apprentices. There were no other comments and the public hearing was
closed.
C. Galligan noted the review of the staff report and the testimony given and finds this is a
favorable use in harmony with other uses in the neighborhood, and that there was sufficient
parking available in the area at the time the use would occur and the number of students and
employees would not exceed the amount of parking provided on site. He then made a motion
to approve this special permit and parking variance with the following conditions: 1) that the
project shall be built as shown on the plans submitted to the Planning Department and date
stamped October 7, 1996 Sheet 1, Site Plan and October 3, 1996 Sheet 2, Floor Plan; 2) that
the conditions of the Fire Marshals' and Chief Building Inspectors' October 8, 1996 memos shall
be met; 3) that the union office shall be open 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday
and the apprentice school shall be open 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday with
a maximum of five (5) employees and 50 students on site at any one time; 4) that all the exits
at the rear of the building shall remain and shall not be blocked by parking stalls; 5) that this
use permit shall be amended if any aspect of the business changes including but not limited to
location and size of classroom facilities; hours of operation for the offices and school; scheduling
and size of the classes; number of employees and/or instructors; and number of parking stalls
available; and 6) that the project shall meet all the requirements of the Uniform Building and
Uniform Fire Codes as amended by the City of Burlingame.
The motion was seconded by C. Mink and approved 5-1-1 roll call vote (C. Deal abstaining and
C. Wellford absent). Appeal procedures were advised.
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Cr17 OF BURLINGAME PLANNING
October 28, 1996
5. APPLICATION FOR A SIGN EXCEPTION AT 1234 BROADWAY, ZONED C-1,
(THEODORE P. KOROS, PROPERTY OWNER AND MICHAEL LAI, APPLICANT).
CONTINUED FROM OCTOBER 15, 1996
Reference staff report, 10.28.96, with attachments. CP Monroe discussed the request, reviewed
criteria, Planning Department comments, and study meeting questions. Three conditions were
suggested for consideration.
Chm. Ellis opened the public hearing. Mr. Lai, 1171 Richmond Lane, Foster City, the
applicant was present. He explained his signs tell what services are available to the customers.
He noted he needed signs on windows at eye level on sheet because the existing signage on the
site was too high to be seen by pedestrians or driving by in a car; he noted that the "$1. shirt'
sign was intended to be included although the dimension for that sign area did not seem to
include it. There were no other comments and the public hearing was closed.
Commission discussed: purpose is not to hinder a business but looked at facade and number of
signs, too many, want people to know what he does there but there needs to be a limit; the
previous business did fine with signs at three places on the frontage; codes change, if you are
approved under an older code do not need to change for new requirements. This business
benefits from this too since roof sign is non -conforming and his revised program which meets
current requirements would not need to be changed if code changes in the future; prefer a sign
program which complies with current code; the business would look better with less signage.
there are other ways to get the message of what they do across; too much information on facade
can't tell what is doing; calculations given are low, actual measurements would be higher, sign
B should be calculated as two signs; three signs, what code permits, is all this small property
can tolerate, more and you loose the message; applicant should choose which three signs to
keep.
C. Galligan noted a revised sign plan would be preferable and made a motion to deny this
application for a sign exception, without prejudice, asking that he return to staff for a sign
permit or, if necessary, to the Commission with a suitable sign plan within 45 days.
The motion was seconded by C. Key and passed on a 6-0-1 (C. Wellford absent) voice vote.
Appeal procedures were advised.
PLANNER REPORTS
CP reviewed the City Council regular meeting of October 21, 1996
Planning Commission approved the 1997 Calendar/Schedule
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 10:20 p. in.
MIN10.28
Respectfully submitted,
Charles Mink, Secretary
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