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Commission continues conditional-use review for 360 Spear lab conversion amid debate over lab definitions
Summary
The commission continued a conditional-use authorization for conversion of part of a 360 Spear Street data center to laboratory use after commissioners debated the breadth of the lab definition, potential chemical/biological compatibility with adjacent residences, and required controls for future tenants.
The Planning Commission continued consideration of a conditional-use authorization for 360 Spear Street after debate centered on the definition and scope of "laboratory" use in a mixed residential neighborhood.
Planning staff presented the application to convert roughly 51,000 square feet of an Internet Service Exchange (ISE) building into laboratory use; staff said the site is well served by transit and that active commercial use could revitalize the building. Mark Loper representing the sponsor said potential tenants discussed were more research-and-development and conceptual lab uses rather than heavy wet labs.
Commissioners pressed staff and the sponsor on whether to exclude specific high‑risk lab subtypes (for example, biological or chemical laboratories requiring fume hoods and special exhaust) from permitted uses at this site. Commissioner Moore said he was "hesitant to see biomed as a potential laboratory use in this building given the proximity to residential," citing adjacency concerns.
Staff recommended permitting laboratory use generally but said the commission could add conditions. Commissioners debated adopting a condition requiring future tenants to submit a letter of determination proving their use qualifies as laboratory (not office). A motion to require tenant letters of determination failed on the first vote, and the commission later voted to continue the item to Dec. 5 to resolve conditions and return with additional information.
The commission’s continuance gives staff and the sponsor time to draft clearer conditions limiting high‑risk lab activities where appropriate or requiring further reviews for specific tenant types.
