HomeMy WebLinkAboutSDP 80-01; Beckman Coulter; Site Development Plan (SDP) (2)MEMORANDUM
January 27, 2009
TO: PLANNING DIRECTOR
FROM: SENIOR PLANNER
RE: SDP 80-01 - BECKMAN COULTER
The City met with representatives from Beckman Coulter today to discuss their proposed
plans to consolidate other off-site operations to Carlsbad. As such, they need to do
interior modifications for new manufacturing processes and construct additional
warehousing space.
As shown on the attached plans, a total of 9,927 sq ft of manufacturing use would
replace existing warehousing space. An additional 4,808 sq ft of warehousing space
would be added to the back of the site adjacent to existing warehousing.
The site is zoned Manufacturing (M) with a Q Overlay. The project was originally
approved by an SDP in 1980 and has not been revised since. The original approval
parked the site at a lesser parking rate than we use today. The net increase in parking
demand for the above uses is 20 parking spaces. Beckman has monitored their parking
lot and they have 15 to 20 spaces available at any given time. As a part of this proposal,
Beckman will provide additional paved parking area on the westerly undeveloped portion
of their lot to meet the increased parking needs of the proposal.
Since the proposed addition is over the 1,000 sq ft exception threshold allowed by the
Q-Zone, an SDP amendment would technically be required. However, the Beckman
Coulter representatives have requested that because of time constraints (need to
implement improvements by October, 2009), we instead process this request as a
Consistency Determination. The Q-Overlay was originally applied to the property for the
purpose of restricting uses. In this case the use already exists. In the absence of the Q-
Overlay, no discretionary permits would otherwise be required. If the project was
located in the Planned Industrial zone, only an administrative permit would be required.
There currently exists 58,000 sq ft of manufacturing use. Given that the proposed
improvements (an additional 4,808 sq ft of manufacturing use) is less than the 10%
increase allowed by the Consistency Determination Policy and that the improvements
are not located in a prominent or visible location, there appears to be justification to
permit the proposed improvements through a consistency determination. The proposed
improvements would otherwise comply with the Consistency Determination Policy.
Would you support Beckman Coulter's request to process this proposal administratively
through a Consistency Determination letter to enable them to achieve their time
objectives? On a related note, Beckman Coulter currently employs 280 workers in their
Carlsbad facility .and this improvement would enable them to add an additional 40 to 50
employees.
Thanks, Van
VAN LYNCH
VL