Belmont OKs new biotech

The developer, Four Corners Properties, plans to demolish the current office building at the site and build a seven- and eight-story life science development which could accommodate a Biosafety Level 3 laboratory, the second-highest risk tier for such buildings. The Planning Commission also recommended the project for approval in its meeting last month.

“It's not in a residential neighborhood. It’s not anywhere close to a residential neighborhood. This is an industrial part of the city,” Councilmember Tom McCune said. “I think it’s OK, and I can support it.”

The city has been working on upping its commercial presence despite the approval coming in the midst of a downtrodden commercial real estate market, which has seen high vacancy rates and slowed leasing activity over the past couple years, especially for life science buildings. The city has seen some withdrawals or pauses of similar development proposals, and over the last several months, South San Francisco approved two 10-year development agreements with separate projects, one at 800 Dubuque Ave. and another at 180 El Camino Real.

The 1301 Shoreway agreement would allow for a 10-year entitlement — seven years followed by three one-year extensions — which is longer than typical one- to three-year entitlement periods, to allow market conditions to gradually approve.

“I really like that this project includes flexibility for the future. If you look back eight to 10 years from today, it’s vastly different in the way office space, lab space and commuting look," Mayor Julia Mates said during the meeting Feb. 24. “Obviously we would love to see construction start earlier … but given that’s beyond our control, we’re crossing our fingers it comes to fruition sooner than that.”

As part of the agreement, Four Corners Development Properties would also make “reasonable good faith efforts to achieve at least 30% local hire goals” and use a general contractor that is a union signatory, among other labor provisions.

The proposed community benefit package includes a $6.3 million contribution to the city, which would increase to $7 million if building permit applications aren’t submitted within the first seven years of the agreement.