PC 06/10/1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

Mr. Iserson added that there will be an approximately 35-foot landscaped azea along the Utah Street frontage which continues down the easterly property line. The landscaping will consist of redwood trees, crape myrtle trees, canary island pine trees, and other shrubbery as well as vines crawling on trellises along the western property line. Mr. Iserson indicated that Diablo Auto Body Shop, the building on the east side of the subject site, is proposing to occupy this new building as an expansion to their operations and would include a frame and metal shop. He noted that there would be an access connecting the two sites to facilitate the movement of vehicles between two sites without having to go out into the public street and to provide access for fire-trucks. Mr. Iserson stated that the building would consist of a concrete, tilt-up building with storefront windows and an entry arcade facing Utah Street. Roll-up doors will be located along the side and reaz property lines on the easterly side building wall. The building would be painted two different shades of beige with a rust color for the metal-seam roof and building reveals. He pointed out that the building design is appropriate for the service-commercial use of the area and either meets or exceeds the standards for Stanley Business Pazk. Mr. Iserson stated that Mr. Reza Ghorbani, the adjacent property owner to the west at 3596 Utah Street, raised three issues regarding the development. The first was a concern that the location of the new building within the site would block the visibility of his building from Bernal avenue and requested that the building be pushed back farther. Mr. Iserson indicated that staff has conducted several site visits and - noted that right now there is very little visibility to Mr. Ghorbani's building from Bernal Avenue. He added that future development on Utah Street across from this property will block almost all of the view from Bernal Avenue. He indicated that Mr. Ghorbani has the option of applying for approval of a monument sign for the front of his lot to increase visibility. He then pointed out that the new building will be set back 38 feet from the front property line and 48 feet from the curb at Utah Street and that this is 28 feet more than the minimum requirement for the zoning district. A second concern is the blank wall on property line facing Mr. Ghorbani's building. In this regard, the applicant has agreed to move his building a foot away from the property line is order to attach trellises to the building wall and plant vines to soften the view from Mr. Ghorbani's building. This was acceptable to Mr. Ghorbani. Mr. Iserson added that Mr. Ghorbani also mentioned that parking on Utah Street causes congestion in Stanley Business Park. Because staff felt it would not be appropriate to condition the design review application with the parking issue, the matter was referred to the City's Traffic Committee so it could consider a time restriction to discourage employees from parking on Utah Street. Mr. Iserson concluded that the product is well-designed and will look good from the street with its generous landscaping in front. He added that the building will fit in architecturally with the rest of azea and will be a good addition to Stanley Business Pazk. He recommend approval of the project, subject to conditions of the staff report. Planning Commission Minutes Page 3 June 10, 1998