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Report regarding consideration of a Design Review Board application for a four-year term in accordance with Title 20 of the South San Francisco Municipal Code (Adena Friedman, Chief Planner)
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RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Planning Commission, conduct an interview, deliberate, and by motion, appoint one Design Review Board member to a four-year term in accordance with the provisions of South San Francisco Municipal Code Section 20.440.004.
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BACKGROUND
South San Francisco Municipal Code Section 20.440.004 establishes the terms and membership requirements for the Design Review Board, and establishes the Planning Commission as the appointing body. The Code stipulates that the Board shall consist of five members appointed to four-year terms, organized as follows:
• Two (2) members shall be architects licensed by the State;
• Two (2) members shall be either a landscape architect, designer, contractor, horticulturist, or person with equivalent landscaping expertise or background;
• One (1) shall be any of the above mentioned professions or a building or engineering contractor (but no more than one member may be a building or engineering contractor); and
• At least one of the members shall also be a resident and elector of the City.
Currently, there are four members of the DRB, and one vacancy. Of the four members, two are licensed architects and two are landscape architects, and none of the members are a resident and elector of South San Francisco. The vacancy must be filled by a South San Francisco resident, and can be any one of the listed professions.
In September, 2024, staff advertised a recruitment for the Design Review Board (Attachment 1), noting that one seat is available, and the new member must be a South San Francisco Resident. Staff received one application as a result of this recruitment, from a South San Francisco resident who is also a professional engineer, thus meeting the professional qualifications (Attachment 2).
DISCUSSION
The Design Review Board (DRB) reviews all new development proposals and provides architectural and landscape design comments and recommendations for the Chief Planner and Planning Commission’s consideration. South San Francisco continues to experience significant development activity, and anticipates continued development applications and activity, particularly transit-oriented high-density residential and life-science uses. The City also receives a steady amount of design review applications for additions and expansions to single-family homes, as high housing costs often require multi-generational living in a single unit. The Design Review Board provides important feedback on development proposals, ensuring that new development is of a high quality design and often providing suggestions that will improve the feasibility and longevity of buildings and landscape environments.
The updated Zoning Ordinance (adopted in 2022, to implement the Shape SSF General Plan) contains objective development standards (ODS) for all development citywide, as well as Form-Based zoning for several districts throughout the City, which contain specific regulations for buildings, frontages, public open spaces, and uses. The City is about to begin a project to further refine its existing ODS to improve existing standards and provide additional detail and direction regarding urban design and architectural form. The DRB will be one of the primary reviewing bodies for the updated ODS, to ensure that they are feasible standards that will contribute to high-quality building and site design.
CONCLUSION
Staff recommends that the Planning Commission conduct an interview, deliberate, and by motion, appoint one Design Review Board member to a four-year term in accordance with the provisions of the South San Francisco Municipal Code.
Attachments:
1. DRB Recruitment
2. Application