PC 08/14/96 - Laserfiche WebLink

. . . e. PUD-80-16-8M/PUD-80-16-13D. Brad Hirst and Thomas Properties Application for a Planned Unit Development major modification to modify the permitted uses on Site "B" of the Signature Center Business Park from neighborhood retail and personal services, restaurants, and financial institutions to office, research and development, and assembly of medical equipment, and for approval of a PUD development plan to allow the construction of a 56,688 square foot, one- and two-story building on a 4.0-acre site located on the northeast corner of Stoneridge Drive and Bradley Drive by the Bank of America building. The subject property is zoned PUD (Planned Unit Development) I/C-O (Industrial/Commercial-Office) District. The proposed structure would be occupied by the Thoratec Company which designs and assembles portable heart pumps for heart transplant recipients. The Planning Commission will also consider the Negative Declaration prepared for the project. Me. lserson presented the application for a Planned Unit Development (PUD) Major Modification and Development Plan approval to allow the construction of an approximately 62,188 sq. ft. one- and two-story office, research and development, and light manufacturing/assembly building located on an approximately 3.96 acre site located at the northeast comer of Stoneridge Drive and Bradley Drive. The subject property is a portion of the Signature Center PUD Development Plan that previously showed an approval for retail-commercial on this site. This proposal would require a Major Modification to the PUD and the uses for the site to office, research and development, and light assembly and manufacturing. Thoratec Laboratories would own and occupy the facility. They are a biomedical firm which is currently located in Berkeley. Their main business focus is the research, development and assembly of artificial heart pump systems as well as artificial vein material for renal dialysis patients. Me. Iserson advised the modifications to the PUD would allow an increase in building height from 18 ft. to 25 ft. (facing Stoneridge Drive) and to 33 ft. for the two-story portion facing Bradley and Johnson Drives, and also allowing a 45 ft. height on the entry tower feature. The project exceeds by 24,000 sq. ft. that allotted in the previous PUD Development Plan, and this will require a transfer of surplus floor area from the business park to this site. Staff feels the new uses are appropriate to this site and are compatible to the uses in the surrounding area. Only one aspect of Thoratec's operation involves manufacturing, and that is the production of a polymer material used for the graft tubing and the heart pump device. This production has been reviewed very carefully by the Fire Department's hazardous materials specialist, Chris Boykin, who is here tonight to answer questions. The assembly work is small in scale, mainly hand work assembly and soldering PC boards. HV AC equipment is very important to the operation of this business. Staff has reviewed in detail with the applicants and have been assured that the noise levels are well within range. Loading operations will be very limited, with only one loading door proposed for this facility. It is located well away from Stoneridge and is screened by building recess and landscaping. Planning Commission Minutes Page 5 August 14, 1996