Old theater may get new act in South City

Alex Greenwood, Economic and Community Development director, said he believes the project could revitalize the 4.5-acre property which has laid fallow since the movie theater closed in 2008.

“It is consistent with the general plan and zoning and I think from the city’s standpoint, having well-designed housing within easy walking distance — it’s less than 10 minutes from BART — is generally a good thing,” he said. “It’s not within our industrial area, so we’re not taking away jobs. And we’re reactivating a vacant site, so there’s a lot that is interesting and encouraging for the city to consider.”

The project is not without its complications though, noted Greenwood, as the proposal to build housing within the 65 decibel sound corridor mandates consent from the local Airport Land Use Committee.

Land use policies require the City/County Associations of Government’s committee to authorize construction of new homes in an area likely inundated with overhead airplane noise, and such an approval must be granted before the project can move through the city’s regular planning process, said Greenwood.

Those approvals from the committee are difficult to get though, said Greenwood, and the more likely outcome is the project will be denied. In such a scenario, the applicant may appeal to the South San Francisco City Council, which could override the committee’s ruling and assume all liability for the project by approving it.

Greenwood would not speculate on which way councilmembers might lean in the case of an appeal, but said the project will likely head before the Airport Land Use Committee by the end of the year.

“Before this can be brought to the council or Planning Commission, the developer really needs to clarify where they stand with the [Airport Land Use Committee],” he said.

Should city officials ultimately review the project for approval, Greenwood said there is an interest in pursuing creative uses for the ground floor. A portion of the project is required to be dedicated to community uses, but with concerns over the viability of a retail center at the site, Greenwood said the applicant has suggested perhaps establishing a community garden instead.

“They are proposing instead to look at alternate ways to have an active ground floor,” he said.

The property near El Camino Real and abutting the city’s southern border, only a short distance from the San Bruno BART station, was most recently eyed to be the new home to Brentwood Bowl.

But since plans fell through to redevelop the former theater into an expanded bowling alley with additional lanes and entertainment options, the property has sat vacant and unattended.

The site is adjacent to the Centennial Village shopping center project, which has also laid fallow for years as the builder seeks to redesign the commercial project. The cinema redevelopment is a unique project in South San Francisco though, as there are no other large residential developments currently proposed nearby.

For his part, Greenwood noted the project is still in its formative stages, and will first need approval from the airport committee to proceed.

“We are still really at the very beginning of this proposal, so we’ll see where this goes,” he said. “But first and foremost, they need to get the [Airport Land Use Committee] to make sure that this will be allowed in this area.”

austin@smdailyjournal.com

(650) 344-5200 ext. 105