Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

Hello everyone. Welcome to the October or welcome to the Thursday, October 16, 2025 regular meeting of the South San Francisco Planning Commission. This meeting is held in in person at the parks and recreations city council building, city council chambers. To provide a comment during the meeting, please fill out a speaker card and give it to the clerk. You will have three minutes to make your comments. Please note that all commission time limits and rules of decorum will apply to public comments. This meeting of the South San Francisco Planning Commission is hereby called to order. And join me in the pledge of allegiance.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you so much. May we have roll call, please? Yes. Chairperson Funes. Yes. Here. Uh, Commissioner Zang here. Commissioner Shahade here. Commissioner Faria here. Commissioner Baker here.

Commissioner Evans and Vice Chairperson Palmu are absent. Thank you. Are there any changes to the agenda? No changes to the agenda. Are there any items or announcements from staff?

Uh I have two items um or announcements. One is that there is a planning commission training on October 29th. Um I will send you an email about it if you are all interested in signing up. And the topic is climate resiliency. Um and the second is that I'm sure um a lot of the commissioners and u members of the public have probably seen a lot of news about a new state bill called SB79 which is about increasing densities around tra uh transportation nodes. Um it just passed I think Friday. The governor signed it into law. Um so we staff is um working on learning about it and learning if and how it will affect our city and um we will provide a report and updates to the commission as we know more.

Thank you so much. Does any member of the public wish to address the commission on any item that is not on the agenda tonight at this time? Please fill out a speaker card and give it to the clerk. [Applause] here. We don't have any comments

hearing none. At this time, I will ask the clerk if there are any members of the public. He said no. Um, so hearing those speakers, we will move on. Next on the agenda is the disclosure of exparte communications. If any commissioner has had any communication with applicants to any site or project's visits and interactions with third parties or has any conflicts regarding any item on the agenda, you may disclose them at any time. If you would like to recuse yourself for an item, you can do so at this time. Hearing none, we will move on to the next item. Next item on the agenda is the consent calendar. May we have a listing of the consent calendar items, please?

Yes, we have one item on the consent calendar, which is consideration and approval of minutes from the September 4th, 2025 planning commission. I make a motion to accept the consent calendar. I'll second.

Roll call, please. Commissioner Baker, yes. Commissioner Faria, yes. Commissioner Shahade, yes. Commissioner Zang, yes. Chairperson Funis, yes. Commissioner Evans and Vice Chairperson Pomu are absent. Okay, motion passes. Does any member of the public wish to address the commission on an item on the consent calendar at this time? Please fill out a speaker card and give it to the clerk. At this time, I will ask the clerk if there are any members of the public who would like to provide comments. We have two members who would like to provide comments. Excellent. Thank you.

Oh, are Cynthia, are those um are those on item number two? Okay, so they're on item two. Okay, so we'll we'll do that during Yeah, no worries. We got a little out of order. Hearing those speakers, I later turn a motion on the consent calendar. We already next on the agenda agenda is item number one. Will the clerk please read the item?

Sure. Administrative business. Um, the item is a report regarding consideration of an application for design review to construct four residential buildings consisting of four units at 616 Maple Avenue in downtown residential medium zoning district in accordance with title 20 of the South San Francisco Municipal Code and determination that the project is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act per class 32 section 15332. and um Victoria Kim, senior planner, is going to give the staff report.

Good evening, chair and planning commissioners. I'm Victoria Kim, um project planner for six town home unit at 616 Maple Avenue. Um as you can see on the screen, the dashed U box with a red is a project site and then the nearest intersection to the project is Pine Avenue and Maple Avenue. And the project is very close to the South San Francisco city hall. I mark with the uh city logo at the uh left bottom corner. Um the project is within the transit station area and less than a half mile to the transit corridor. You can see um it's a point uh 37 milesi to the Cal Train um station and also the nearest um bus route uh locations average of about.16 miles. The project site uh is zone as a downtown residential medium DRM and there is currently existing one uh single family residence on the site with the existing density four dwelling unit per acre and the six um unit residential development will increase the minimum density to 25 dwelling unit per acre and this um development will infill the underutilized eyes site by increasing unit um and make the project property more compliance. And according to the uh general plan, the land use designation is medium density residential which is intended for single family housing, multiple dwelling units, town houses and condominiums. Uh this is a current existing condition of the 616 Maple Avenue with twotory single family house. Here is a better view of the existing structure facing along the Maple Avenue

view avenue. Um and then you will see the uh the back of the property along Hawthorne Place. Um mostly it's covered with trees, grass and vegetation. Um, applicant Richard Lee submitted design review application for a six unit townhouse at Maple Avenue uh with um open garage parking space. And this is the um facade along Maple side. And each building has one townhouse unit. And this is the Hawthorne uh place the back of the property. and it will have another access to the property site and each building has two units. So total there will be six units. Um um the project architect is here to discuss more about the design and color and material layer after the step presentation. So the site plan shows the four structure. So again um the Maple Avenue access from the left and then Hawthorne Place from the left and uh two buildings along Maple Avenue will have two units and the four units can be accessed from Hawthorne Place uh from the right. Um I earlier mentioned that the project is within the half mile to the transit station uh corridor. So the according to the CD ordinance and then California assembly bill AB2097 said that multi-unit residential development will do not require the parking um within the transit station area. However, this project provide 10 parking spaces including two enclosed um parking uh stalls and all these um parking areas on located on the ground floor level and also two long-term bicycle parking

will be located on the ground level and each um bicycle parking uh area will have a 2 ft wide and 6 ft length. Um here's a cross-section showing the entire project site. Um again uh six uh uh you will see uh eight and plus two but you cannot really see entire um parking spaces but mostly first floor will be utilized for parking and the second and third floor will be um habitable space area for the project. And here's some landscape plan with the proposed shrubs, trees and plants. The project is in a developed property and also surrounded by existing residential buildings and also there won't be more than six dwelling unit in urbanized area that this project is categorically exempt under infield development project category uh squa section 15332 and also 15303 and again this is rendering of the Maple venue side and here's uh Hawthorne Place facads. So the project complies with the general plan goal and policies and also the development um meet the DRM zoning uh development standards and increase the unit will more compliant to the minimum density requirements that staff recommends the planning commission make a determination that the project is categorically exempt and also approve the design review according to findings and conditions of approval. And uh this concludes the staff presentation and followed by the applicant presentation.

Thank you so much. If the applicant is present, would you like to make a presentation?

Hi. Hello everyone. Um um I am the architect of the project. Um my name is Winnie Winnie Tam. Um thank you for Victoria giving a very good presentation. So actually that covers most of what I already have but I'll just go through it uh once again. Um I just have a brief um Oops. a brief overall description of the project. Um the I have small icons to try to um defuate like the evolve. It's what is along Maple Street. the town houses or two and a half um actually three story at the back while the front we try to align it with the neighbor with two story to make it run into the street view. So um that is the top two is the town houses of uh three bedrooms and two story two and a half story and then below is um from the hawon place while those two small buildings detach buildings but each building would have two condo units is like the ground floor is at the back is parking Um the front is like an entry lobby and with stairs to go to second floor is unit A a condo unit and then going up the third floor it's another unit. So it's two units um in the small building. So altogether we have six units for the

whole project and actually so let's see. Oh, is it the arrow? Oh, okay. Yes. And that uh just briefly say this is a uh downtown medium density residential um zoning. And then existing we only on a 10,500 square ft lot. We only have a small building at the corner right now. Uh and actually that existing building it's uh nonconforming because per Canning Cook is too close to the puffy line and stuff. So we're going to remove that. Uh yes, this is the area of the site and the existing single building at the corner. And then the left the left neighbor the white neighbor they all twotory. So our proposal it's you can see the footprint is four small buildings. Maple side two building and then half on praise two building. The maple side we have two town houses. Each building is of one unit while at the back at horn price we would have a stack of AB units inside that small building. Oh, the front elevation along uh Maple uh twotory front trying to brand in with

the neighbors roof height and then also they s share a central one cut driveway or while the parking is at at the back of the building. So it won't have the street doesn't have a direct view into the garage and the parking rendering of the two townhouse units. And then this is uh the back along hall price with the two detach building. Each one is second floor and cir door. it's of a unit while ground floor it's a share parking um also central driveway one curtstory front to keep consistency of the design style rendering of the hawan press and then this is the site plan um where honor it's all parking six parking and then we have the uh trash recycle and the and the bicycle parking. Um for the front is just two two parking for the whole town houses each. And this is the section um uh because we have to do a cut and fill to resolve the fire fire cook assess issue. uh which um the uh fire engine could only uh access to roads that have 26 ft wide. So Maple Maple Street is okay, but the Hawthorn street

we only have 20 ft. So um in order to have a fire assess only on maple we have to do some cut and field to have a level platform. So the fire engine and fire assets would all come from Maple side with a level um terance that could reach all the way to the end of the Hawthon small buildings for the fire assets. So that is that is the main thing that we have to do in order to us to answer to the new updated fire code. uh because uh quite some years back we have some proposal that doesn't have that requirement. So this time we work with thank you for uh by muscle ear that uh understand our situation and give us a solution to do the cut and feel to uh cover to make sure that fire assess works on this on this project. This is the side elevation of the two building. And then you can see the level current that go all the way to reach to the H buildings and um actually all the addresses have to be on Maple side. So, uh we have on the front um let me go to uh to the front of Maple on the side we would have the two gate uh labeling the um address of the weird building which also would be uh maple A and B that from the path

that walk down to the Hawthorn press. But of course for regular uh assess the Haworn P buildings have their own parkings and access lobbies and stuff on Haw P is specially to answer to uh the fire the new fire requirement. So um this is about what we work to try to make sure this could go through again with all the current code. Okay. Um if anyone have any question or uh you can direct it to me. I'll try to answer. Okay. Um

and I'll make make sure because I'm deaf on one year. So I try to make sure I can pick up exactly what you're asking. Sure. No worries. So at this time I'd like to see if we can get the speakers up just so we can hear their thoughts first. Is that okay? want the public speakers. Yes, please. Okay. Um, so there's two public speakers. Uh, first person I have is Dave Rodriguez.

Thank you.

Good evening, commissioners. My name is Dave Rodriguez. So, I live at 617 Maple Avenue, directly across the street from the development you're looking at right now. Uh, I'm a retired police officer. I was police officer for 30 years and currently the head of safety and security for a major IT firm in the Bay San Francisco area. Um, my concerns are such that we have two children, my wife and I, my wife Bren and I have two children directly across the street. There were four children in that house directly north of the property you're looking at there as well and two people, two adults. And we we talked briefly about taking the building out that's currently there. Uh the people that reside there are neighbors Erica and her husband and their two children, one of which is a young uh special needs child. Uh they're both immigrants uh to this country. We worked really hard to make sure they got the proper documentation to live here because they're amazing people. They're a wonderful family. We love that they're our neighbors. This would displace them and they would have to leave the area unless provided a property which, you know, was neither here nor there. We don't know if this could happen or not. Additionally, um, as it stands right now, we use when we park our cars on Maple Avenue, because of the high traffic and the speed of the vehicles that travel in the area, we all, Eric, Era, and I, and the neighbors back to back our cars in to our driveway so that when we pull out, we can see the traffic coming so, you know, the cars aren't hit. Uh, before I left, I counted 18 cars on our street right now as it is with two empty spaces. This could potentially bring in excess of 10 vehicles just on the property alone and any vehicles that are parked on the outside uh and 16 to 20 additional residents just in that one little area as it is which could severely impact the neighborhood. So our concerns are that this is while a beautiful looking building and a beautiful looking

development, it's just too much for the neighborhood and too much for one block. uh especially since uh given the area already is single family dwellings. It's an established neighborhood. We've lived there for uh we actually used to live in the house uh that is in that picture uh until we moved across the street. We've lived here for almost 10 years uh and lived in the barrier for the last 20 years. Uh so that is our concern. Uh I I would like to see this not happen. Um, while I believe it is a nice development and looks beautiful, the impact that it's going to cause to the neighborhood is is far outweighs the benefit that it's going to bring to the neighborhood. So, I thank you for your time and uh wish you all the best.

Thank you. Next speaker is Brenda Rodriguez.

Hi, good evening. Um, I'm pretty much following up what my husband said is, um, you know, we live across the street and there are neighbors. Um, I understand one of the lots is empty. Um, but they do live in that home next to it and if it's destroyed, where do they go? There's no guarantee. They landlords can say that they would help them, but there's no guarantee they don't have to. Um, and they have two smaller children and they've lived there as long as we have to be displaced out of their neighborhood that the little two kids have known. Um, just feels so wrong. like what do we do as a city of, you know, South San Francisco to help those who get displaced, who get pushed out because the landlords want to build, which I get there is an empty lot. Um, but it's just too big and it's just too much and it displaces a family. Um, and that's my biggest concern. I can talk about the construction and how annoying that'll be or the amount of trash cans that will be there, but my main concern is the family that already lives there and the two little children that grown up there. What do we do as a city to help those that get displaced? We just really really like okay approve it but what do we do? And that's my main concern. So I just hope that you consider that when you whether whatever decision comes of it. What do we do with the family that already lives there? It's so hard to find anything outside of here. We know that rent is hard. Getting into some place that fits our income is really hard. especially two working families, you know, two working, you know, parents. Um, so I hope we just consider that somebody is going to be displaced. That's all I have to say. Thank you.

Thank you. At this time, I'd like to ask my fellow commissioners if they have any comments, questions for sure or questions. Sorry. through the chair. Can I also I just wanted to mention that you have um the comments that were the e comments that were received printed out. Um and for the record, we received um eight comments and um two of them I did want to note were submitted by the same person. Um so just for the record um all will be attached to the final agenda packet as well.

Okay. Thank you s chair. Uh I'm I'm just asking questions. uh for condos uh do they have o open space requirement or that kind like I I don't think I see that that probably you can explain and second I think I was going to ask like uh not six garbage cans and recycling like is is there any plan for that or how does the city address that too cuz I I don't think Yeah. Anyway, thank you. Um yes uh so to answer your first first questions so the city ordinance requires 100 uh square feet open space per unit and then project will provide 912 square ft unit for common and private open space and you will see the um calculation of open space from the stamp report table two and then the open space are proportional distribute from the ground to the third levels and the second question you have is um I don't I can switch over to the slide. There is a site plan. Um, can we have the um staff presentation up please? There we go. Thank you. There's a site plan showing the um recycling bin. Oh, here we go.

Oh, perfect. Um I know there are a lot of information but uh you will uh you see those um three uh box shaped looking recycle beam next to the uh cars like um for the maple avenue side uh the second from the left on top the middle kind of area with the cloud I don't know you can say I wish there is like a pointer that's a proposed recycling bin area and the uh Hawthorne place unit it's next to the bicycle parking. There are like um 12 recycling bin for four units. And during the rec pickup day, the recycling bin will be pulled over to the um front landscape area um right next to the driveway. And then there are also another location for Hawthorne place uh along the um driveway which indicate as cloud um I don't know you can see it. Yeah, thank you.

Sorry, one more question. I apologize. Um, so looking at this plan, so it looks like that's the hammerhead uh turn around for fire truck. So they come in there, do the tea and boom and boom. So that's why it like there's a tea that is largely remain open red zone, no one can park there, that kind of thing. That's correct. Yeah. Thanks. Did you want to actually fire?

We can build on that because we can also have questions regards to the fire part because they did mention about the Hawthorne back and coverage from the front to the back. So I was along the same lines of how they plan to cover not only that but homes on the other side of Hawthorne there behind it. So we have the coverage of cuz it is a narrow lane. I know they plan to put a fire lane in there which would but that's another but seven eight cars that'll be going out to the streets. So uh commissioners I'm I'm the fire marshal Ian Hardage. Thank you for uh having us here today. So there is actually no onsite vehicle fire department access for this project. We cannot pull into the garage. It's not tall enough for us. It would only push the building further up. Nor do we want to drive into buildings. All the fire department access for vehicle purposes is on Hawthorne and Maple. Hawthorne does meet. You know, all the lanes in the city have met very minimal fire department access even to the point that we ordered specific engines with outlets on the back of the engines. So, we didn't have to pull hose off the side specifically to our eight or nine uh lanes within the city. So this is why parking is only allowed on one side of the of the lanes leaving a minimal access for fire department. Um with the buildings with construction going on not just specific to this project but all projects with the sprinklers being installed in the homes as required by minimum requirements of the state. We feel this provides you know the minimum reasonable degree of fire life safety and access not only to the new developments but maintaining access to the existing developments. The the work that we did on site is all ladder and personnel access to the buildings and to the rescue openings. So everything is served by the ladders

which the the architect and design team had to make adjustments to meet our requirements for this project. Um, and that's what you that's what you see here today. Does that answer your question? Any other questions while I'm up here? Thank you. Thank you. Any other commissioners have any questions? No.

No questions. I do have one in regards to when I'm looking at the plans here, it looks like the Hawthorne section, there will involve a lot of uneven ground, some construction, some taking some movement of dirt to dig down lower for the parking. Um I'm concerned if this ever got approved just the process of working in between those two streets as materials are coming in the excavation if there's a set plan to be work if this should get approved to cover to minimize the impacts which there'll be impacts any kind of construction but to minimize them if this project should get approved. I try to make sure I

My main question like on the Hawthorne section from looking at the plans looks like you have to dig down some maybe look at the plan 8 n 10 ft. Oh no. Um actually this section I try to show um that that side it's a slope site.

It's a natural slope site uh maple side is 8 to 10 ft higher than our haworn price. So actually right now there's a cut and field we try to balance it um for cutting down to hawon. Um I think the uh the slope okay the um side slope uh long way and also short way. So it sort of we try to keep the driveway in the middle. So that is kind of the cut and field guidance and it seems the most we have to cut it's around 3 to 4 ft for the uh hawon garage and then whatever we have filled up to the maple to make the level terance for the fire access. So actually the whole thing I dare not say it would balance perfect but I think um the most I got is the on the high side of hawon it would cut around 4t 8 to 4 ft and then while the lower side it doesn't have to cut so we might need more fuel and compact to make the terance from the maple side otherwise the cold balance it's um it's pretty much it's um hopefully it doesn't really it have to do the the level turns that way too for the fire issue but then actually the whole thing we try to

balance it as if it won't be like hopefully minimum disturbance or uh let more mud have to bring in or I don't think we need to bring mud out. It's really we need to compact a little more on the maple to give the level terance. Thank you. And the main purpose of my question for those listening at home and here is that the impact of any dirt removal involves the equipment getting in there, the trucks to haul it out. And that was where I was going with this because a minimal amount being moved to me is better than having to really do a major what you described isn't which would be a major impact. We were talking a lot of ground removal.

So that was the purpose of my question. Oh okay.

You answered. Thank you. Um I for this project because of the cut and feel and the uh the storm water management our project that way requires 100% storm water. So actually um although we start with a small project only a few unit but we end up in order to answer all the grading all the uh storm water management we have you can see during our entitlement even designing not yet building permit we have all the calculation of water and landscape to make everything like it have to have enough uh open land to absorb the water and then they have all the piping calculation to manage to collect and how it drains and stuff. So that's how um it's the DKF the main company that's helping us with the civil and then working with the landscape architect to make sure everything works out with the calculation. So hopefully that try to minimize um I think for disturbing to the neighbor by doing that. I think it's a the work hour with control. We cannot try to do as much of it's not um the hours allowed to do it. I think they during construction uh our our general contractor they have to control everything that is per city require that they could do.

Thank you. Thank you. Um, Commissioner Shotti. Yeah. Through the chair, I have a question. I don't know for staff or are they required to do any soil testing, testing the soil? You have to do that.

We already have the soil uh report. That's how they calculate how to uh do the water collection and everything. So that was done almost a year ago with uh the geotype is part is very far off and we don't have much it doesn't have to go down the water table plus the soil are not hardw walk so when we cut those are okay but in as far as the support for the buildings as well. Okay. Yeah. That would be required as part of the building permit process. Thank you for the chair. Uh, Commissioner Baker,

I know this is not really the planning commission's Bwick, but is there any but we had the neighbors here talking about the the current resident who's likely to be displaced? Does the city have any ordinance requiring relocation assistance or any of something along those lines? I don't know the specific answer to that, but I would um like to offer to connect the neighbors here tonight with my colleagues in the housing division um because we definitely have resources that can assist with displacement and I don't want to um miss this opportunity. So, if I can maybe chat with the neighbors after the meeting and I can give them my card to make sure we connect them with the correct resources. Great.

Thank you so much. Any else? Okay. So, at this time, I'd like to public close public hearing officially, turn over and turn the matter over to the commission for discussion. So, who wants to start?

I mean, I So, I can go ahead and start. Yeah. Um, you know, our our primary jobs as planning commissioners are to ensure that proposals meet the zoning and other requirements. I think for example staff has demonstrated that this project is exempt from squa so even if we wanted to that part is not really in our discretion um I also don't see any particular individual health or safety issues which are the other things that we can act on um so that I think we have to turn to the community needs here um and as my question says I I finding commission really has no power to address the residency of the current occupants. But this does bring up the general issue of of displacement in South San Francisco. And we've seen as jobs and housing have grown, jobs have grown much faster than housing that the housing supply has fallen behind. South San Francisco has to has had to plan for almost 4,000 units in its latest uh regional housing needs assessment to meet the current demand. Um this project adds a relatively modest four units. Um I think it's pretty much in scale with its neighbors. Um, it was kind of ironic to see read some of the e submitted comments about people wishing their kids could live in the city. Small projects like this make it more likely the kids can stay. Uh, I think this particular development uh with 10 spots has more than sufficient parking, particularly with the 130 which I ride a couple times a week past it on down on Lyndon uh a block away. Um, that's sufficient. Uh, someone in the comments asked if we'd like this building next to us. I mean,

be honest, it's a good-look building. I probably would prefer to my current neighbors. Um, you know, and but I just generally think I would support it because if it helps people stay in this community, it's it's a good thing. More neighbors are a good thing. I understand the parking issue, but the displacement problem we're talking about, it's going to be a lot worse if we don't plan for the residents and employees that are coming in that will otherwise outbid and outlast the old-timers. So I with knowledge that this is a hard choice for for the especially for the people living there. I will be uh supporting this exemption.

Mang chair um uh thanks uh commissioner bigger. I I actually echo a lot what you said probably all. Um uh when I make decision as a planning commissioner, I I really look at fire life safety, privacy, uh uh any um uh uh exceptions that we're granted granting and stuff like that. And I do see uh this project had went through humongous hoops to actually reach uh its state right now cuz when I look at the section I was like who designed in the planning phase like the fire letter and stuff like that but uh now that it's explained like fire department gave them a hard time up front. So well I have a taste of that too normally. So, so, so in light of that, um, uh, I would say probably the neighbors could talk to city council when if this go in front of the council. However, like since this is the common part, I also understand that uh sure when the city needs housing and needs development, sure I support the development but not near me or next to me or in my friend's neighborhood like I I do get that sentiment but like in terms of agreeing whether this big small like everyone has their measure and standard. So us planning commissioner and the city officials will base on the zoning ordinance the planning uh like the planning codes uh uh fire codes to make the determination because that is the most uh uh objective objective way of doing that doing things. So in light of that uh subjective parameters uh while I'm

actually sympathetic I I cannot make decision based off feelings. Uh so I I will I will make my decision not based off that unfortunately. Uh but I hope you understand I I listen but I it's out of our power to do that. Uh that said, uh I was about to give big claps to the architect cuz like I was looking at the plan. Like in case you you can't hear me, I'm about to applaud you for your solution. Like that's one of the most crazy approach to actually put four buildings, six units, and a fire access like that. I guess you didn't start off like that. like you probably have to redesign multiple cuz no one really designed things like that to start with. It will like but I really think this solution is crazily elegant. So, so that's that's as much as I'm going to praise you on, but like I I I really need to collab like uh send center access. Uh and all the developers actually have a choice when you're in this corridor, you will just provide zero parking. And imagine neighbors having a six unit and allowed to have zero parkings for these. It will be worse nightmare. by doing parking they actually have to spend more cost in building that for the neighbors. So I think developers actually did think about the neighborhoods enough that they have to actually add an other floor to clear parking requirements even though sub city does not require them. So I hope hope to also salute on that decision cuz yes the cut and fill in all those is making this construction cost really high too. Um, so I'm very glad that the applicant is uh providing six

new units here for us. So I'm supportive to this uh project. Thanks, Commissioner Fria.

Um, I pretty much concur with a lot of things my fellow commissioners say. I do want to compliment Commissioner Baker. do completely agree that with it with looks like the residents will be be displaced that we the DD put him in contact with at least resources they can go because there again we've made many decisions this body and you know that's the probably the most painful part of any decision there is displacement anytime there's buildings being taken down put up it does impact people and we're not foolish on that part of it um as for the building itself I should say I know what it can be like I happened with my I live in the south city and u I have a unit beside me where there's actually four families living in it next to me so I know the park I know how the issues can go but we've approved a lot of buildings like this it's a beautiful building a lot of buildings we've approved don't have the 10 parking spaces that that's for those who are looking for parking places that statement has made us like a band-aid it really doesn't help you but it's better than some builders we've had so again I want to I divert back to what has already been said by my fellow commissioners, but I will support this project and have the empathy for those. And I want to thank the neighbors for coming forward and let us know your feelings. So, we appreciate that. Thank you,

Commissioner Shai. Any comments?

Yeah, through the chair. I echo my commissioner's comments. You know, my empathy towards the existing tenants in the house. We can always make a recommendation. Aside from the city resources, we can ask the developer to try to help them. It's just an ask and they should be considerate enough to understand the circumstances. That's one ask. Uh second of all, in as far as the parking uh to my fellow commissioners, they're going to be selling these units. They're going to be town houses and condominiums. So, it makes it easier for them to sell them if there's parking. So, and it's an advantage to the neighborhood. I think the parking is not unique to Maple. It's throughout. I've lived in South City all my life and we've seen it changing. I mean, I like the design I we have and we're mandated by the city ordinances, by the state mandates, by zoning, and based on those merits, I support the project. Yes. Yet, I'm sympathetic with the existing tenants. Thank you.

Oh, sorry.

Oh, no. I just going to close out the comments. Um, I want to say that I grew up in Redwood City and then moved up here when I was 10. My parents are both immigrants as well. My parents bought a condo in Redwood City in the early 1990s. Um, and then they split and obviously community property. But um being almost 35 and don't have any kids yet, I will say that is how a lot of young people if they are able to afford to do so, that's how they're doing it. Um so reading these comments and knowing my personal history, you can understand how this is really difficult for me. But again, like as the fellow commissioners have stated, like our job here is not to take our personal feelings into account. needs to make sure that what's zoned is appropriate for and what's being presented to us is what we have to consider, not our personal feelings. Um, so like I personally when reading these comments, someone said, "Would you like this next to me? I live in Avalon Park. I would love this in my neighborhood. I would love younger people my age to be able to afford to start somewhere in this city that I call home. I love this city. I'm alive because of this city. I was educated here from middle school to high school. Um I love my city and I want people my age to have a chance at it and I have all the empathy in the world for those residents. I am myself disabled so I get it. But again, like I have to support this project because that's what I have to do in this role. As difficult and as hard as it is, like that that's the reality. Um, but I wanted to share all of that because there aren't a lot of people in planning commissions that are

under 35 and that are disabled and women. me and my fellow or my um my um co-chair are the only two women of color that have ever been on the planning commission that are under 35 which is entirely unique and she's isn't here at the moment but I know she'd be feeling the same things right now. So those that's how I want to close out my comments. Thank you. So if I can ask please for a roll call. Um, can I just Sorry, my Can I have a motion, please? Can I just jump in through the chair? May I just make one comment? I did a little um

phone a friend and tried to get a little more information about the displacement and relocation. I texted our director, Nelson Lander. Um there is a state law that we need to look into that that does discuss um basically demolition of residential dwelling units and what is required. Unclear if it would apply in South San Francisco, if it would apply to this project, but I just wanted to say on the record for the commissioners and for the neighbors and for people um listening at home, it is something that we will research and see if it would apply to this project. and also any future projects going forward. So, um just wanted to let you know that we will actively look into this.

Thank you so much. Um so, can I ask for a motion please from one of my lovely commissioners? I can make is it one motion or two? Commissioner Shahady. Two. Yes, two. I'd like to make a motion making determination that the project is categorically exempt per sequel class 32 section 15332 infill development projects. Second roll call, please. Commissioner Faria, yes. Commissioner Zang, yes.

Commissioner Baker, yes. Chairperson Fes, yes. Commissioner Shahade, yes. Commissioners Evan and Vice Chairperson Pal Mccur, absent. Can I entertain a second motion, please? I'd like to make a motion make findings and approve entitlement request for the project P23-000086 including a design review DR23-000019 subject to the attached draft findings and draft conditions of approval. Second.

Roll call, please. Commissioner Baker, yes. Commissioner Faria, yes. Commissioner Shahade, yes. Commissioner Zang, yes. Chairperson Funez, yes. Commissioner Evans and Vice Chairperson Palmur absent. Motion passes. Thank you. Just as a note, if any that any interested party may appeal the commission's decision. Is there any more? No. So, I'll ask the clerk if there are any members of the public who would like to provide any comments on this item.

We already had that. They're hearing none. Great. Um um I just want to say um would city ever with being displaced in this situation um get involved like have those people involved in those kind of because you guys don't have you know that's not part of um

but that would we can we get them involved part moving forward as part of what South City is I I love South City I think so I'm so involved all the library and city events wondering stuff like this when a family does get displaced because they're going to destroy and build a new dwelling. Is there can South City start get someone involved to contact those residents? I'm just going to offer help or assistance in those situations. Yeah. So, in my role here, I can't provide guidance, but I would really love for you to speak to Adena, the lovely human right there. um after the meeting she'll be able to provide us support. Thank you.

Yeah. Thank you so much. Um does any commissioner have any items or announcements? Wonderful. Thank you all so much for coming. This meeting is now adjourned. Have a great night everyone.