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Resolution making findings and determining that the acquisition of several properties at 226-246 Grand Avenue (APNs 012-315-130, 012-315-140, and 012-315-150) in conformance with the South San Francisco adopted General Plan in accordance with provisions of State Planning Law (Govt. Code Section 65402)
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WHEREAS, the long-time owners of four consecutive buildings spanning three parcels on Grand Avenue in Downtown South San Francisco approached the City in late 2022 with interest in selling 226-230 Grand Avenue, 232-238 Grand Avenue, and 240-246 Grand Avenue (the “Properties”); and
WHEREAS, the Sellers of the Properties, Giffra Enterprises, LLC, have held them within the same family for over one hundred years; and
WHEREAS, currently, the Properties are home to successful ground floor commercial uses with vacant second floors containing mostly single room occupancy hotels and three residential units; and
WHEREAS, in 2023 the City Council directed staff to evaluate the Properties for potential acquisition; and
WHEREAS, after completion of Property Conditions Assessments, financial and architectural analysis, and an appraisal, the City Council directed staff to negotiate the purchase of the Properties; and
WHEREAS, the Properties will be acquired using the City’s Commercial Linkage Fee fund, Fund 823, which is dedicated to fund affordable housing programs and projects for households earning 120% of the area median income or less; and
WHEREAS, purchase of these properties provides a unique opportunity for the City to develop affordable housing in the Downtown; and
WHEREAS, prior to purchase of real property by the City, the Planning Commission as the planning agency for the City is required to find such disposition is in conformity with the adopted general plan in accordance with Government Code section 65402; and,
WHEREAS, the General Plan contains several goals, policies and actions which support the purchase of the Grand Avenue parcels, in the interest of providing affordable housing and preserving existing businesses.
A. General Findings
1. The foregoing recitals are true and correct and made a part of this resolution.
2. The documents and other material constituting the record for these proceedings are located at the Planning Division for the City of South San Francisco, 315 Maple Avenue, South San Francisco, CA 94080, and in the custody of the Chief Planner.
3. The Planning Commission finds that the purchase of the parcels on Grand Avenue at 226-246 Grand Avenue is consistent with the General Plan. The General Plan contains policy direction relevant to the acquisition of the subject parcels, including:
• Land Use Goal 3: A diverse range of housing options that create equitable opportunity for people of all ages, races/ethnicities, abilities, socio-economic status, genders, and family types to live in South San Francisco.
• Land Use Policy 3.1: Create affordable and workforce housing.
• Land Use Policy 3.3 Encourage diversity of housing types and sizes.
• Land Use Goal 4: High-quality residential neighborhoods.
• Land Use Goal 9: High level of quality in architecture and site design in all renovation and construction of buildings.
• Land Use Policy 9.2: Encourage architectural and visual interest in new development.
• Downtown Sub-Area Goal 1: The City supports existing neighborhood commerce and provides opportunities to expand commercial Downtown.
• Downtown Sub-Area Policy 1.2: Support small locally-owned businesses.
• Downtown Sub-Area Goal 3: The City promotes new residential, mixed use, and employment uses to add business patrons and residents to create a sustainable and thriving Downtown, while maintaining a scale and character that is complementary to existing uses.
• Downtown Sub-Area Policy 3.5: Encourage Downtown parcel aggregation.
• Downtown Sub-Area Policy 4.1: Preserve existing affordable housing.
• Downtown Sub-Area Policy 4-2: Leverage publicly-owned land.
• Downtown Sub-Area Goal 5: New improvements are focused on Grand Avenue and Linden Avenue to restore these historic corridors to once again being the focus of the community.
• Downtown Sub-Area Policy 5.2: Maintain Downtown properties and businesses.
• Downtown Sub-Area Policy 6.1: Develop new buildings to be compatible with Downtown building scale and character.
The purchase of these properties will allow the City to develop high-quality transit-oriented affordable housing in the Downtown, facilitate the construction of attractive, appropriately scaled residential development, and support and preserve existing businesses, all in support and consistent with the goal and policies listed above and thus conforming to the City’s General Plan.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in accordance with California Government Code section 65402, the location, purpose and extent of the proposed purchase of several properties at 226-246 Grand Avenue (APNs 012-315-130, 012-315-140, and 012-315-150) is in conformance with the City’s adopted General Plan.
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