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Planning staff previews local density bonus ordinance, station-area plan grant; two life-science buildings receive certificates of occupancy
Summary
City planning staff told the Millbrae Planning Commission on May 19 that a local density bonus ordinance and a funded update to the Millbrae Station Area specific plan will be brought forward for review, and that two life-science buildings have received certificates of occupancy.
City planning staff told the Millbrae Planning Commission on May 19 that several development- and planning-related items will appear before the commission in the coming weeks, including a proposed local density bonus ordinance and an update to the Millbrae Station Area specific plan funded by a Priority Development Area (PDA) grant from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC).
An unnamed staff member told commissioners the June 2 meeting will be canceled and the city remains "on the fence" about the second June meeting date. The staff member said the local density bonus ordinance will come to the Planning Commission as a recommendation to the City Council because it is an ordinance that expands on state law, providing a local incentive for developers to create more housing.
"We had about eight people, not including city staff or the consultant team," the staff member said of a recent property-owner workshop on the proposed density-bonus ordinance, adding that the event generated clarifying questions about implementation but did not change the draft ordinance.
Staff also reported on a PDA grant the city received from MTC that provides dollar-for-dollar matching funds up to $600,000 (a total program potential of $1,200,000 with local match) to update the Millbrae Station Area specific plan. The grant work will support a conceptual plan for a seamless intermodal transit station and will involve transit agencies including High Speed Rail, BART, Caltrain and SamTrans, staff said.
On development activity, staff said the city has issued certificates of occupancy for two life-science buildings (one identified in the presentation as ICON, which has begun move-in activity) and that the Longfellow project has a certificate of occupancy but has not yet announced a tenant. The staff member said the city will hold a preconstruction meeting this week for an affordable housing project on Broadway; demolition is expected to follow at an unspecified date.
Commissioners asked for status updates on other local projects, including an Old Office Depot redevelopment that staff said is progressing despite weather delays and an El Rancho project that staff said currently has "no news." The staff member also noted the developer meeting for the affordable housing project will address demolition timing, traffic control and construction coordination.
The presentation named "Armando" as a staff colleague involved in preparing materials; staff acknowledged the department will bring formal recommendations on ordinance language and specific project steps back to the commission for review.
Ending: Staff said they will return with the density-bonus ordinance for commission recommendation to council, and that the station-area plan update will proceed with the MTC PDA grant and the participation of regional transit agencies.
