San Bruno officials to weigh YouTube growth

The session will be the first in a planned series attempting to closely examine the company’s desire to build an expected additional 400,000 square feet of office space YouTube claims is necessary to accommodate growth over the next two decades.

Planning consultation firm Dyett and Bhatia was hired to help guide the development process and align the perspectives of city officials, community members, the company as well as other interested parties.

“Dyett and Bhatia will lead a discussion among members of the City Council and Planning Commission on the community’s vision for the future of the Bayhill Office Park; opportunities and challenges related to development in this area and specific issues and topics that should be considered,” said a city report.

YouTube has occupied space in the Bayhill Office Park on Cherry Avenue for roughly the past decade since moving from San Mateo, spending $300 million to acquire pieces of land in the San Bruno office park near the intersection of interstates 380 and 280.

The 8 acres owned by the company hosting 900,000 square feet of office space is due to be reconfigured, according toplans submitted last year to make more space for an additional 350 workers expected to be hired in coming years.

“To accommodate this anticipated long-term growth, YouTube is interested in presenting a plan for phased development of some of its properties within the Bayhill Office Park to add office space and create a campus environment,” according to the report.

YouTube officials have expressed interest in redesigning some of the existing office structures as well as building three new towers, according to previous comments by David Woltering, the city’s Community Development director.

Woltering has said the company may seek to build underground parking lots where surface lots are currently located to create additional space for office buildings.

As the plans move ahead, city officials are interested in assuring the community’s best interest is addressed by promoting pedestrian and bike access as well as landscaping and other amenities, Woltering said.  

“The intent of this joint meeting is to solicit feedback from the City Council and Planning Commission regarding the overall vision, interests, priorities and goals for the specific plan area,” according to the report.

Woltering has said it is also important to assure the perspectives of other business and property owners of the nearly 600,000 square feet of office space in the Bayhill Office Park are considered during the redesign.  

The company is seeking to break ground in 2019, should officials work to approve the specific plan over the coming year, Woltering has said.

The first phase of discussion will address initial perspectives of city officials and other community groups, according to the report, which eventually will give way to groundwork for drafting environmental review documents. The company has agreed to finance the specific plan development process.

The San Bruno City Council and Planning Commission will meet 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 16, in the senior center, 1555 Crystal Springs Road.

austin@smdailyjournal.com

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