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Planning commission approves Nera Inc. emergency generator at 2011 Industrial Road
Summary
The Planning & Transportation Commission unanimously approved a conditional use permit amendment, minor plan development amendment and design review to allow a 2.5 megawatt permanent emergency generator and a 2.0 megawatt temporary generator at 2011 Industrial Road; the decision is subject to a 10‑day appeal period.
The San Carlos Planning & Transportation Commission on June 16 voted to approve a conditional use permit amendment, minor plan development amendment and design review to allow a 2.5 megawatt permanent emergency generator with an associated enclosure and a 2.0 megawatt temporary generator at 2011 Industrial Road, a multi-tenant office and laboratory building.
Laura Richstone, senior planner, told the commission the generator proposal supplements the building’s backup power during construction and long-term operations. She said the permanent generator would sit at the rear of the four-story structure, would increase lot coverage to 48 percent and leave the site with a total of 651 parking spaces, meeting the site’s zoning requirements under planned development 18 (ordinance 1312). Richstone also corrected a staff-calculated parking surplus in the packet, saying “this is an error and that actually there would be a surplus of 11 spaces on site after the completion of the proposed project.”
Michelle Chadwick, project manager for CAS Architects representing Nera Inc., answered technical questions about containment and emissions. On fuel containment she said “the permanent generator does have a belly tank,” and described the temporary generator as a self-contained unit delivered on a flatbed truck. The commission discussed air-quality concerns after Vice Chair Garvey asked whether alternatives to diesel (for example, battery systems) were considered. Staff and the applicant said the electrical contractor recommended a Tier 4 diesel generator to reliably support biotech laboratory loads and that the unit will be regulated and modeled by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District.
Noise and operational limits were incorporated as conditions. Staff told the commission both the temporary and permanent generators meet the city’s 70 dB noise threshold for industrial areas and added a condition limiting monthly maintenance runs to 30 minutes during business hours (8 a.m.–5 p.m., Monday–Friday) to minimize impacts on nearby uses. The applicant also revised the proposed screening wall down from earlier 20–24 feet to about 15 feet 7 inches to reduce obstruction of third-floor windows along Highway 101.
Commissioners said the staff report demonstrated the findings for the entitlements and individually expressed support for the lower screening wall option. A motion to approve the CUP amendment, minor plan development amendment and design review passed by roll call; Commissioners Bundy, Castanada, Vice Chair Garvey and Chair Clemens recorded “yes” votes on the motion as captured in the meeting record. The commission’s action is final unless appealed to the City Council by 5 p.m. on Thursday, June 26, 2025.
The project record will proceed to permitting steps and to the Bay Area air district for emissions modeling and review. The commission’s approval includes standard conditions and the new maintenance-hours restriction.
Notes: The applicant is Nera Inc.; representatives at the hearing included Michelle Chadwick (CAS Architects) and Chris Shadri (Nera). The staff contact for the project was Laura Richstone, Senior Planner.
