Ju
ly 28, 2023
Mi
Yang
333 Lakeside Drive
Foster City, CA 94404
[email protected]
Re: File No: PR2025-0003
Preliminary Application for General Development Plan Amendment and Use Permit for new R&D Building at 1155, 1165, and 1185 Chess Drive
Project Description: Preliminary Application for the redevelopment of an approximately 12- acre property on Chess Drive. The proposed project would involve a General Development Plan Amendment and the demolition and reconstruction of biotechnology/R&D buildings.
Dear Ms. Yang:
The Community Development Department is in receipt of your preliminary application for the proposed redevelopment on Chess Drive, in Foster City. We understand that Gilead is looking for preliminary feedback and guidance on entitlement requirements. On March 5, 2025, the members of the of the Interdepartmental Evaluation Committee (IDEC) reviewed information and/or plans for the project noted above. Based on the preliminary nature of the proposal, the following comments are being provided. The comments below are organized by department headings to enable you to identify the source and expertise of the comments.
Where there are comments which may require clarification, please feel free to contact the specific department directly.
Com
munity Development Department: Planning Division: Helen Gannon Telfer, Senior Planner
1. Project Description
a. The Cover Letter states that a General Development Plan (GDP) Amendment will be occurring during Phase One and Phase Two. Please note that the GDP application will apply to the entire site irrespective of phasing, and the Use Permit will be for Phase one.
2. General Development Plan Amendment
a. Pursuant to Chapter 17.72 of the Foster City Municipal Code, the Preliminary Review Application may be brought to a Study Session for review by City Council. Staff will be in touch on when/if the project will tentatively be scheduled for a Study Session.
3. California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
a. The City has requested environmental scopes and proposals from qualified environmental consulting firms for the preparation of an Initial Study. Staff will
File PR2025-0003
prov
ide an update as soon as a consultant and proposal has been chosen.
4. Water Neutrality – Estero Municipal Improvement District (EMID) a. The applicant shall work with EMID and comply with EMID Code 8.90 Water Neutrality Growth. For more information, please refer to https://www.fostercity.org/commdev/page/water-neutrality-guidebook. EMID may provide a “will serve” letter for the Use Permit. Please email for additional information: Yelena Capello at [email protected] directly.
5. Parking
a. Provide a Parking Analysis. The analysis should provide the total number of required parking spaces per the GDP and Foster City Municipal Code, how many parking spaces are to be provided, and reasoning for any reduced number of spaces.
6. Traffic Demand Management (TDM)
a. Please provide sufficient reasoning as to why Gilead cannot implement all required measures. The City also encourages you to fill out and submit the TDM Project Registration Form to aide us in monitoring compliance. Please also confirm which high quality transit services are located 0.5-3 miles away. b. Please confirm that the Master Campus TDM program will continue to be active, even with the termination of Gilead’s Master Campus DA.
7. Plans
a. Complete plans will be required for review at official time of submittal, including but not limited to:
i. Complete site plan
ii. Complete floor plans
iii. Roof plan
iv. Building cross sections and elevations
v. Full renderings, inclusive of proposed materials and colors vi. Grading and drainage plan
vii. Landscape plan
Publ
ic Works Department, Engineering Division, Ryan Marquez See attached comment letter.
San M
ateo County Fire, Michele Orque
1. Provide water flow analysis.
2. Provide hydrant locations.
3. Provide location of transmission lines in the fire access road.
Com
munity Development Department: Building Division: Chuck Venook, Chief Building Official
1. A Geotechnical Investigation and Soils Report will be required prior to Building Permit issuance.
2. The Geotechnical Engineer of Record will be required to provide a letter of conformance on the foundation design prior to Building Permit issuance.
3. A survey will be required by a CA licensed surveyor and provided to the Building Division locating the four corners of the foundation from the adjacent property lines prior to Building Permit issuance.
4. A CA registered design professional will be required to perform the plan design for Building File PR2025-0003
Permit submittal.
5. The proposed building shall be fully compliant with ADA Regulations as prescribed in Chapter 11B in the CA Building Code.
6. The Building Division looks forward to the plan submittal under the 2025 Code Cycle.
NEXT STEPS
Submit a letter of response with revised plans, which must include a description of modifications to plans made and information submitted to address each of the comments above.
Upon receipt of the information listed above and any additional comments that are forthcoming from other departments, your application may be scheduled for a City Council Study Session Regular Meeting (staff will confirm) . After this review has taken place, staff or the City Council may have additional comments and may suggest design changes to your plans prior to receipt of an official application to the City.
Should you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me at 650-286-3225 or [email protected].
Sincerely,
Helen Gannon Telfer, Senior Planner
Cc: Sofia Mangalam, Community Development Director
Public Works Department 610 Foster City Boulevard
Engineering Division Foster City, CA 94404
Phone: (650) 286-3270 Fax: (650) 345-4626
April 3, 2025
Address: 1165 Chess Drive
Application #: PR2025-0003
Reviewed By: Ryan Marquez
Plan Check Number: Preliminary GDP Amendment
NOTE:
These comments are preliminary and with full submittal of application, applicant can expect more detailed and robust comment list.
PLAN CHECK COMMENTS:
Kimley Horn Traffic Study
1. Study will undergo peer review upon resubmittal of official application.
2. Please provide current traffic volumes and analysis. Acknowledged 2017 and 2019 is pre covid but it is very outdated at this point and much has changed in the City.
3. Please provide trip generation numbers backup and compared with ITE. Would also like to understand number of spaces expected on site for both phases.
4. While LUC-F-1 states it will be necessary to accept LOS E & F on specific intersections, it does not preclude project mitigation for worsening conditions. Study shall analyze possibilities of improving heavily impacted intersections such that the delay is not worsened. Consider some of 2009 recommendations.
5. Add a discussion for the Cumulative conditions. A little more background and definition of what it includes.
6. The overall study is preliminary. It should clarify the background, setting and goal.
A. Is it a modification of the approved 2009 project? How so? Please discuss differences.
B. Does this study include Phase 1 or Phase 2 or both in the conclusion? What is the intent?
7. The conclusion – is this for Phase 1, or Phase 1 & 2? Please clarify in study.
8. Add descriptions of the following required and recommended trip reduction measures identified by the applicant on the TDM Checklist to the TDM Concept final letter:
A. provide TDM coordinator or contract thru 3rd party provider B. design streets to encourage bike/ped access
C. land dedication or capital improvements to transit
D. bike repair station
9. The existing level of service at Foster City Blvd-Chess Dr intersection at PM peak is LOS E. The Existing plus Phase 1 project conditions at the same intersection at PM peak will still have LOS E with increase in average delay. However, both Cumulative conditions through 2040, and Full project buildout conditions will have LOS F with significant average delays. Study with LOS and average delay data with the required and recommended TDM implemented at each condition is needed for review.
Plan Comments:
1. No utility plan was provided, please submit preliminary utility plans.
Public Works Department 610 Foster City Boulevard
Engineering Division Foster City, CA 94404
Phone: (650) 286-3270 Fax: (650) 345-4626
Vesting Tentative Map
1. Further peer review will be required upon full submittal.
2. It is unclear if there is a need for a tentative map as no parcels are be proposed to be created. Please provide SMA support for such map and narrative reason for needing tentative map.
3. It is unclear if the vesting tentative map is for all three parcels, the improvements are only shown on two parcels while the westerly parcel is shown as is.
4. Driveway near intersection of FCB & Chess will need to be removed, if not as part of phase I but as part of phase II as it is too close to intersection.
5. TM-100 index shows TM500 -900, but sheets are not on plan, please provide full TM including utility layouts.
6. Please see Section 16 of FCMC for tentative map requirements.
EMID Water & Sewer Comments
1. Water Supply Assessment will be required.
2. Water and Wastewater Capacity Studies needed - Acknowledgement that Mi Yang with Gilead has reached out for these separately.
3. Water Neutrality Compliance will need to be achieved as part of the project, with offset calculations being submitted as part of UP.
Attachments: None