Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

Music.

Welcome everybody to the December 1st Planning Commission meeting.

Can we start with the roll call?

Commissioner Chen.

Here.

Commissioner Quigg. Vice Chair Choi.

Present.

Chair Davis. Here.

All planning commissioners are present. Thank you. Time for the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you. All right. We have one set of minutes from October 20th. Any comments, corrections or motions?

Move approval of the October 20th minutes.

Cool.

I'll second.

Lovely. Can we vote?

Thank you. Motion passes 3-1 with Commissioner Quigg abstaining. 3-0-1.

Yeah. 3-0-1. Yes. Thank you. Next up is public communication. This is time reserved for anybody who would like to address the Planning Commission on a topic in our purview, but not on tonight's agenda. Any speaker slips or raised hands? speaker slips or raised hands all righty thank you and we're going to move on now to our public hearing it is for 321 marcella way it's a public hearing to consider a design review permit application to allow the demolition of an existing one-story single-family residence and the construction of a new one-story single-family residence measuring 4550 square feet of new gross floor area in the single-family residential zone. Jennifer?

Good evening, Chair Davis and members of the Planning Commission. Jennifer Lim, Associate Planner with the City of Millbrae. And tonight I'll be presenting the project at 321 Marcella Way. SO THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER DESIGNER VIEW PERMIT APPLICATION TO ALLOW THE DEMOLITION OF AN EXISTING ONE STORY SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW ONE STORY SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE MEASURING 4550 SQUARE FEET OF NEW GROSS FLOOR AREA IN THE SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL R1 ZONING DISTRICT. THIS MAP SHOWS THE PROJECT'S LOCATION. THE PROJECT IS LOCATED IN THE MILLS ESTATE NEIGHBORHOOD. This project is located in the R1 single-family zone. It's an interior lot about 9,100 square feet. The existing one-story single-family residence is about 1,950 square feet, and the proposal is for construction of a new one-story single-family residence measuring 4,550 square feet of new gross floor area. So the existing home is one story with the detached garage, both of which will be demolished. The proposed home will remain one story with high ceilings all development standards will be met, including the front yard landscaping and very yard open space requirements. The proposed floor plan includes five bedrooms, four bathrooms, a living room, dining room, family room, kitchen, laundry room and an attached two car garage. The proposed front elevation, the proposed residence is one story ranch style home, including some contemporary design elements featuring a combination of horizontal siding and a stucco finish. The home will also have a black colored shingle roof and the windows will be fiberglass with a black colored wood trim. Some of the rooms such as the family room, dining room and kitchen have high ceilings greater than nine feet. Clear story windows are proposed to allow for natural light and to break up the blank wall space. There is the proposed left side elevation. And the proposed right side elevation. The height will be increasing from 15 feet, three inches to 21 feet, four inches. Here's the proposed 3D rendering. Staff worked with the applicant to add the clear story windows above the garage to enhance the design and to break up the blank wall space. Majority of the homes in the immediate neighborhood are also one story homes with high ceilings. A total of eight adjacent owner consultation forms were sent out to the adjacent neighbors. Six of those forms were returned in support of the project and the two other forms were not returned. So this map shows the project site in blue and the adjacent neighbors in red the two adjacent neighbors that did not return their forms were in the rear. So in order for to approve the design review permit the planning Commission must make the following findings number one the architectural landscaping and general appearance of the proposed building or structure and grounds are in keeping with the character of the neighborhood number two the project complies with all applicable development regulations. Number three the project will not cause a significant visual impact to neighboring views from principal rooms of a residence. And number four the proposal is not detrimental to the orderly harmonious and safe development of the city and will not impair the desirability of investment or occupation in the neighborhood in which the building or structure is proposed to be erected. So with that, staff recommends the Planning Commission receive the presentation, review the project, consider the public testimony, and approve a designer view permit application to allow the demolition of an existing one-story single-family residence and the construction of a new one-story single-family residence measuring 4,550 square feet of new gross floor area in the single-family residential R1 zoning district. Staff and the applicant are available to answer any questions.

thank you does anybody have any clarifying questions for jennifer right now nope okay would the applicant and or their architect like to come up and say something thank you hi everybody good evening um so i am the um owner

DESIGNER AND ARCHITECT OF THE PROPERTY AND TO BE BUILDER. SO PRETTY MUCH RUNNING THE FULL GAMUT. I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF MILBRE SINCE 1981 ACTUALLY. WENT AWAY FOR A LITTLE WHILE DOWN IN LOS ANGELES AND CAME BACK WITH MY WIFE AND MY TWO KIDS. WE MOVED BACK INTO MILBRE 2013? 2015. WE MOVED BACK IN HERE. And I grew up in Millbrae, so I went through all the schools. And that was one of the main reasons why I wanted to come back. And my kids so far seem to enjoy it. So we have my oldest is Alyssa. She's going to Taylor right now. And my youngest, Riley, she's going to Spring Valley. And she's going to be graduating fifth this year. NOT MUCH TO SAY. I THINK THE MAIN THING SAID WHEN I WAS DESIGNING THE HOUSE WAS, WELL, MY WIFE AND I WANT TO GROW THIS HOUSE. REALLY LOVE THE AREA AND MILLS ESTATES. WE DON'T PLAN TO MOVE. THAT'S WHY WE WANTED THE EXTRA SPACE. WE BOTH HAVE PARENTS WHO ARE ALIVE AS WELL. IN CASE WE NEED TO TAKE THEM IN, TOO. BUT FOR THE MOST PART, IT'S KIND OF OUR DREAM HOUSE IN MANY RESPECTS.

Thank you. Does anybody have any questions for Mr. Wong?

First of all, it's a very well-prepared set of plants and a very good design. It was easy to read and it was very thoughtful and very carefully put together, so congrats on that. Thank you. I have a question on the rendering. On the front entry, the renderings seem to show a different configuration than the elevation. don't know can we pull up the presentation and I'm wondering if it's if your intent is closer to what's showing the rendering or the elevation where sometimes it doesn't translate from 3d to 3d take just take a look Let's show the rendering. So in the elevation, it shows a door with two wider sidelights. Correct. In the rendering, Michelle, if you don't mind reporting to that, it seems to show two sidelights.

Yeah, it's still showing the two sidelights, but it's kind of showing the doors ajar. Okay. So that's probably why there's a few extra lines in there. And again, that's just the 3D software kind of thing.

Okay, but your intent is next to the two doors, you would just have the two daylights.

Yeah, and those will be kind of obscure glass right there.

Okay, perfect. Thank you.

Sure.

Any other questions?

Nathan?

In the plans, I noticed you sort of said, I was most curious about how you're going to address drainage on the flat garage roof. There was a reference to parapet and scuppers. I was wondering, I'm not super familiar with the terminology, so can you explain how?

There may have been a slight change. So there is not going to be a flat roof on the property. um are you talking which part are you talking about the back the part right on top of the garage it looks like yes I got it yeah yeah so that's yeah so there will be gutters that will be that will it will catch and uh basically we'll have a very slight slope to it and that's how we'll get the water off of them okay great thanks that's it okay thank you very much

All right, now it's time to open the public hearing and its comment parts. Do we have anybody turned in a speaker slip or has raised their hand online?

No speaker slips or hands raised online. All right. Can we vote to close the public hearing comment?

I mean, motions and all that. On the motion that we close on the side. There you go. second thank you can we vote all righty thank you all right time for discussion anybody want to make some comments anybody want to go first anybody want to just make a motion i actually have a question for staff okay on the project like this when are

not a residential design standard is approved. Would a project like this be approved? Can this project like this be approved ministerially? Because I see all the setbacks I'm at. There's nothing that goes out of variance, the heights within limits. It's a great design. Or would a project like this still come to the Commission even after the design standards is published?

well i just started reviewing some of the objective design standards and i think the question of thresholds is still one that needs to be answered so historically you know major remodels and new construction have come forward to client commission for design review and i think We'll be looking at that very carefully as the standards are developed to see if there's more room for ministerial designed cases as long as they meet those new standards. But I think that's a policy conversation that needs to be had with the Planning Commission and Council.

Any others? No, I think it's lovely.

Very nice.

I'll just make a couple of comments then.

Where did I put them? How long do you plan the project to take? You know, it's just kind of a... Because you're living in the house now, aren't you?

We are living in a house and we've kind of secured rent in another place, actually right near Taylor, thankfully. So that was a blessing. But as soon as we can, so hopefully nine to 12 months. Nine to 12 months. Anticipated time, too.

Certainly have to move someplace.

Thank you. Thank you. I'll just say a few things. I think it's a better use of the lot without the long driveway down the side. I like the new landscaping in the front, and overall it is just a great design. It's going to be a much more attractive house moving forward.

I move to approve a design review permit application to allow the demolition of an existing one-story single-family residence and the construction of a new one-story single-family residence measuring 450 square feet of new gross floor area in the single-family residential R1 zoning district at 321 Marcella Way.

I'll second that motion.

Can we vote? Thank you. Motion passes 4-0. Thank you and congratulations. The action of the Planning Commission is considered final pending a 10-day appeal period and the payment of a required appeal fee. For anyone that wishes to appeal the decision of the Planning Commission, please contact the City Clerk at 650-259-2414 or etran at ci.milbray.ca.us for the appeal process questions or visit the City of Millbrae website, ci.milbray.ca.us. All right. That's it. You're welcome. All right, new business. I don't see any staff updates.

Well, we welcome Brad Meisner. He'll be taking over as the new city planner, I believe is the title. Did you want to say anything?

Just a pleasure to be back and everybody's been so welcoming and just nice to be back in Millbrae. It feels comfortable.

THE OTHER ANNOUNCEMENT I HAVE IS I WILL BE LEAVING THE CITY OF MILBRE AT THE END OF THIS YEAR. I'VE ACCEPTED A POSITION WITH A DIFFERENT CITY. AND I WILL BE MOVING ON AS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR. SO THIS WILL BE MY LAST PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING UNLESS WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE THIS MONTH. I'M NOT SURE IF WE WILL. Possibly on the 15th. Now we will. Now we will. So much for that. So that's another announcement. And other items, 370 Adrian Road, as I'm sure you've all heard, has been appealed to city council. That is scheduled tomorrow for a very special council meeting, holiday edition. And so we will be having that meeting in this room tomorrow at 7 p.m. to hear that appeal. The community enhancement advisory committee has been canceled tomorrow. And then later in the week, on the 6th, we will be having our tree lighting ceremony at 5 p.m. As we do every year, our first weekend in December. And I believe Santa Claus is taking photos in the rotunda in front of the library before the event. So, yeah. Anybody, anything I missed there? I think I got it all. any any interesting milestones for bigger projects in town uh for milestones you know it's um our biggest projects at the station area are now finished they've gotten their certificates of occupancy with the exception of a couple of tenants and you know station 16 we expect uh Cal trained and Sam trans to move in as early as the spring, although i've heard from their own staff maybe in June. they're pretty much finishing up those tis right now, they should have them wrapped up by January, I guess, the hard part is getting the office furniture and.

What i'm told moving is always hard.

Yeah, One Meadow Glen, as you've noticed, is going up. They've got the cranes. So cranes on the horizon is always a sign of construction activity. And 1301 Broadway is going up. They've got their foundation poured, and they're starting to go vertical. So pretty exciting on the construction front, a lot of activity. It's been a little quieter on the side of planning entitlements.

All right, thank you. Any announcements?

I want to ask, what has been the status of filling that vacant seat on the commission?

Yeah, I haven't gotten an update from Elaine yet. I'm sure that that will be done soon because it is a critical position, and it's required by law. We have to have a functioning planning commission that's been fully staffed. I'll find out and let you know.

Any other announcements?

I was just going to mention that they are opening or dedicating the new park this Friday. Yes.

That's Bayside Manor Park and then 3.30?

Yes.

didn't want to announce it because i wasn't sure if it was like 3 30 ribbon cutting snacks new yeah it is official it's on the city website so i can't yes sometimes i'm not sure if they're like internal only or not yes december 5th this friday um 3 30 p.m bayside manor park is the ribbon cutting ceremony all right any other announcement no

and i think we're in general what will we have a meeting on two weeks from now sorry thank you commissioner quick uh december 15th there's the chance that we will have one um item uh ready for that meeting and we'll know more in the next day because notice says we'll need to go i think by this wednesday so we're working to just make sure the applicant has finalized everything that we've asked them to do and that they're available for that meeting.

All right. And before we adjourn, thank you, Andrew, for all you've done for the city.

It's a pleasure working with all of you. It's been three years.

Revolving doors. Three? Yeah. He said, but it was five. I was shocked. And so now three of you, I'm shocked. Time is flying way too fast. All right. Well, that's it. And we're adjourned. Thank you.