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HomeMy WebLinkAbout808 Burlway Road - Staff Report. - MEMO T0: PLAPlNING COMMISSION FROM: CITY PLANNER P.C. 9/24/79 Item No. 10 SUBJEC7: REVOCATION OF SPECIAL PERMIT APPROVED JA�IUARY 27, 1975 TO ALLOW AZTEC RENT-A-CAR TO OPERATE A CAR RENTAL AGENCY AT 808 BURLWAY ROAD AND STORE RENTAL VEHICLES AT 855 MAHLER ROAD On November 13, 1974 the City received a special permit application from Frank P. Coletto (signed by his representative, Dale Miller) for a car rental agency at 808 Burlway Road. Mr. Miller's November 13, 1974 letter to the Planning Commission describes the Aztec Rent-A-Car agenc,�, and explains the proposed operational details of the Burlingame office. During preliminary discussions with the applicant, it was determined that only eight parking spaces could be used by Aztec at 808 Burlway Road (if more were regularly used, other tenants in this building would probably not be able to park on-site) and that additional off-site parking should be found. � During November and December 1974 Aztec explored several possible nearby storage areas for their fleet vehicles. Their first proposal was to use the top of a concrete culvert at the back of the older warehouse/manu�acturing building at 826/840 Burlway Road (the old Volkswagen of America property, which subsequently was used by The Gap). This building is quite large (approximately 60,000 SF) and its on-site parking is substandard. The use of a portion of this property's limited parking for a car rental agency located in an adjacent building was not encouraged by staff; Aztec was advised to find a better location. During the Planning Commission's December 30, 1974 public hearing on ,this application, an alternative fleet storage area was proposed at 855 Mahler Road. This property was a vacant lot, already paved and easily accessible over the back property lines. This appeared to be the best solution, and after further information was presented by the applicant, a special permit was approved January 27, 1975 with four conditions: 1. that the permit be approved for one year, with review at that time; 2. that 8 parking spaces be maintained and properly marked at 808 Bur]way Road; 3, that 25 parking spaces be maintained and properly marked at 855 Mahler Road; and 4. that in the event the lease between Vorelco (the owner of 855 Mahler Road) and Aztec is cancelled*, the use permit will terminate. Over the next two years several minor infractions of these conditions were observed, but, in the absence of serious concerns, Aztec was allowed to continue its car rental agency at 808 Burlway Road with fleet storage at 855 Mahler. In August, 1977 the special permit was amended to allow Aztec to add a truck rental agency to their rent-a- car business. Continued problems with Brian and Daryl Nick, local managers of the Burlingame franchise, resulted in a 1978 request by Aztec Rent-A-Car and Leasing, Inc. (Los Angeles) that the earlier special perr,�it be reassigned to the parent company. This was approved by the Co�nission in August, 1978, and for the next year the day-to-day operation of *The lease agreement allowed its cancellation upon 60 days' notice. f -. -2- Aztec's Burlingame office was significantly better. Unfortunately, other changes have recently occurred �rhich have caused Aztec to be in violation of the 1975 permit conditions (see the August 27, 1979 staff report and August 29, 1979 letter to Vincent Pl. Poleo giving formal notice of the September 24, 1979 Revocation Hearing). The recent sale of 855 Mahler Road to a new owner, who intends to develop the property as the administrative offices of another local rent-a-car agency, has deprived Aztec of the fleet storage area needed to support the rental office at 808 Burlway Road. - During recent months Aztec has transferred their fleet cars to the back of the adjacent property at 826/840 Burlway Road (the original off-site location proposed, and rejected, in late 1974). Mr. W. R. Humphrey's undated letter (received September 18, 1979) asks that this original off-site storage location now be approved. In justification, he argues that the Burlingame Aztec fleet size has been reduced, and its utilization has been increased. The September 17, 1979 letter from Pdicholas A. Crisafi, the new owner of both 808 Burlway and 826/840 Burlway Road, accedes to this change, and offers 26 parking spaces on the concrete culvert at the back of the building. Because this building is not fully occupied at present*, parking is available; however, as this building is leased and remodeled in future months, the surplus parking that it presently enjoys will probably disappear. As a long term solution to Aztec's fleet storage needs, it cannot be supported by staff. After reviewing the materials filed by Aztec in 1974, the minutes of the January 27, 1975 public hearing, the conditions of the 1975 permit, and the fleet storage alternative location presently proposed by Mr. Humphrey, Aztec's Operations Manager, staff recommends that the Commission find Aztec Rent-A-Car and Leasing, Inc. (Los Ange.les) to be in violation of their use permit, and that it be revoked. A possible alternative for discussion with Aztec during the September 24 hearing may be found in the August 24, 1979 letter from Mr. Joseph Knight. Mr. Knight advises that "we (Aztec) are in the process of looking for an alternative rental location". If Aztec's permit were to be extended for a short period of time (to allow them to relocate their rental office or �leet storage or both), no serious problems are anticipated. However, a temporary extension (if approved) should probably be limited to a specific period, with the automatic expiration of the use permit at that time. JRY/s 9/19/79 cc: Vincent N. Poleo ld. R. Humphrey Joseph Knight Nicholas Crisafi J�,�. �fi John R Yo t *No list of existing tenants or numbers of employees in this building have been filed by either Aztec or P�r. Crisafi, although it was suggested by staff that such information would be helpful to the applicant. (213) 776-3933 � f'C �:: v'..: � 4� r:. Lr� S t P 1� 1919 T,irC CITY OF BURLINGAME PLANNING DEPT. Rent-A-Car & Leasing EXECUTIVE OFFICES: P.O. BOX 90874, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90009 Mr. John Yost City Planning Commision Burlingame City Hall 501 Primrose Road Burlingame, Ca. g4101 Dear Sir: As per our telephone conversation, I have enclosed the new proposed parking arrangements for Aztec Rent-A-Car at our 808 Burlway Road location for your review. This information accompanies a letter f�om our landlord Mr. Nick Crisafi, granting us these spaces. As was stated to you before, we have reduced the size of our f'leet to raise our utilization factor. At the end of July 1979, we had a fleet of approximately sixty seven (67) vehicles. The average utilization was f'orty nine (49) percent. At the end of August 1979, our fleet consisted of fifty-five (55) vehicles, with an average utilization factor of' sixty-eight (68) percent. If you need documentation of these figures, I will have it avail- able upon your request. If I can be of any further assitance, please contact me at any time. Sincerely, /� ����� ,r �� � �� W.R. Humphrey /� Operations Manager Aztec Reny-A-Car Los Angeles Enclose� cc: Dominic Accetta Joe Knight File PENINSULA PROPERTIES iO�JO BROADWAY � BURLINGAME� CALIFORNIA 94O10 September 17, 1979 �i�;C:�i�J�:L� SEP 18 i979 C17Y 0� Ci11RUNGA�IE Pl,ANNING DEPT, Mr. William Humphrey Axte� Car Rental 808 Burlway Road Burlingame, CA 94010 Dear Mr. Humphrey; � As per our discussion, I am prepared to amend your lease to read: "8 parking stalls on Burlway Road and 26 parking stalls on the rear of the building locatecl at 840 Burlway, as outlined on the enclosed Site Plan." I am in hopes that this modification will satisfy your needs. � NAC:eh � _�. �- � Xours Truly, -.. - � � � ! "NICHOLAS Ao C`RI5AFI 1� �j� • ; - . �. .' . �� P.C. 8/27/79 Item No. 12 MEMO T0: PLANNING COMMISSION FROM: CITY PLANNER SUBJECT: REVIEW OF AUGUST 28, 1978 SPECIAL PERMIT TO ALLOW AZTEC RENT-A-CAR TO OPERATE A CAR RENTAL AGENCY AT 808 BURLWAY ROAD In August, 1978 the Planning Cor�nission approved a request by Aztec Rent-A-Car and Leasing, Inc. (Los Angeles) that an earlier special permit for a car rental agency at 808 Burlway Road be reassigned to the parent company. Copies of the August 7, 1978 letter from Vincent N. Poleo, Operations Manager of Aztec (Los Angeles), the August 28, 1978 staff report to the Planning Commission, and the minutes of the 1978 public hearing are attached for information. The transfer of the special permit was approved with six conditions: 1. that there be a single lease agreement with the landowners of 808 Burlway Road and 855 Mahler P,oad which includes no less than eight parking spaces at 808 Burlway Road and 25 at 855 Mahler for the exclusive use of Aztec Rent-A-Car; 2. that these spaces be properly striped and marked; 3. that no servicing or washing of vehicles take place at either location; 4. the lease to be subject to approval of the City Attorney; 5. the special permit not to take effect until these conditions are met; and 6. vehicle parking to be subject to annual review and report. The sixth condition states that the annual review of Aztec's vehicle parking should be completed at our August 27, 1979 meeting. For several reasons this won't be possible. During the past twe�ve months a number of changes have occurred which substantially affect Aztec's 1978 permit: 1. 855 Mahler Road has been sold to a new owner, who no longer allows Aztec to store the 25 fleet vehicles required under the terms of the permit. An alternative location has not yet been found for these cars. 2. 808 Burlway Road has also been sold to a new owner, whose written consent to Aztec's continued use of this property should be obtained. 3. The new owner of 808 Burlway Road, Mr. Nicholas Crisafi, has recently acquired other properties on Burlway Road, and has informally suggested that Aztec fleet vehicles could be stored at these other sites. Certain problems exist with these alternative sites. The necessary plans and documentation have not yet been submitted to permit a formal report to be prepared for Commission review. 4. Mr. Bill Nagel, Aztec's Burlingame manager at the time of last year's transfer, no longer works in the Burlway Road office. Recent staff contacts with Aztec have been referred to their Los Angeles office. .� -2- 5. During a recent telephone conversation with Mr. Joseph Knight, Aztec's Operations Manager in Los Angeles, it was suggested that Aztec's Burlingame fleet size and operations may not require as much off-site parking as previously believed. A letter was requested to substantiate this possible amendment. It hasn't yet been received. Aztec Rent-A-Car's loss of 855 Mahler Road occurred several months ago. No visible progress has been made in resolving their fleet vehicle storage problems. The company is presently operating in violation of the 1978 permit conditions. It is recommended therefore that a hearing be scheduled for September 24, 1979 to consider the revocation of the special permit to allow Aztec Rent-A-Car and Leasing, Inc. (Los Angeles) to operate a car rental agency in Burlingame. Aztec will be advised by a formal notice (consistent with the revocation procedures ideniified by Code Sec. 25.16.140) that within the next two to four weeks they should file the necessary documentation to enable the Commission to make findings that the present special permit can be continued with amended conditions. JRY/s 8/24/79 cc: Mr. Vincent N. Poleo Aztec, Los Angeles Mr. Joseph Knight Aztec, Los Angeles P�r. Nicholas Crisafi 1050 Broadway, Burlingame ��, �. � John R. Yos City Planner Aztec Rent-A-Car 808 Burlway Road, Burlingame