PC 11/20/96 - Laserfiche WebLink

. . . b. PUD-80-16-15D. CM+ Corooration Application for Planned Unit Development design review approval for an approximately 64,000 square foot, two-story office building located at 5104 Franklin Drive. Zoning for the property is PUD-I1C-O (Planned Unit Development-Industrial/Commercial-Office) District. Mr. Iserson presented the staff report on the application for a PUD design review approval of an approximately 64,000 sq. ft. two-story building on a 3.55 acre site located at 5104 Franklin Drive. The surrounding uses are mainly other office buildings constructed over the last twelve years. All standards of the PUD have been met with this project except for the floor area ratio which is slightly above that allowed under the PUD. The PUD calls for a maximum of 40% FAR, and this project is at 41.7% FAR (approximately 2,600 sq. ft. over). Mr. Iserson noted there is a large quantity of surplus floor area within the business park, and there have been cases in the past where the Commission has approved the transfer of floor area from one site to another within the business park. Staff supports the slight increase in FAR for this project. A traffic study was done and it concluded that with this project, the City's level of service in the major intersections will still fall within the General Plan's level of service. Mitigation measures will be constructed to the Hopyard/Owens intersection within the next fiscal year. This project will be conditioned to participate in the funding of the I -680/W est Las Positas interchange or other such mitigation measures if the interchange project is not approved. The building is quite nicely designed and will fit in well with the other buildings in the area. The building will be a light gray painted concrete with different shades of green-tinted windows. Landscaping and hardscape have been well planned by the applicant. Staff is satisfied with the project design and recommends approval of the application subject to the conditions of approval in Exhibit B. Commissioner Wright inquired how accurate the color board was because he felt the color is more of a taupe than a gray. Staff indicated the color board was accurate despite staff's color descriptions. Commissioner McGuirk asked staff to comment from a design perspective on excess FAR being added to projects. Mr. Iserson commented that staff's determination to allow this is based on the total mass of the building and the elements of the building design do not overpower the site and the surrounding area. PUBLIC HEARING WAS OPENED Stephen Fee, 320 Taylor Avenue, Alameda, represented the application as the project architect. In response to Chair Barker, Mr. Fee did not know how many employees would be employed in the office building, however, the applicants are providing four spaces per 1,000 sq. ft. which is higher than standard levels. The applicants agree with the conditions of approval. PUBLIC HEARING WAS CLOSED Planning Commission Minutes Page 3 November 20, 1996