HomeMy WebLinkAboutCD 2020-0021; THERMOFISHER; Admin Decision LetterMarch 8, 2021
Jean-Claude Constandse
CPCArchitects
3132 Tiger Run Court, Ste. 113
Carlsbad, CA 92010
SUBJECT: CD 2020-0021 (DEV09010) -THERMOFISHER
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Carlsbad
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The City Planner has completed a review of your application for a Consistency Determination, CD 2020-
0021, which is a request to review changes to PUD 09-02(B).
The existing 81,059-square-foot, 34-foot-tall, two-story office building is located at 5791 Van Allen Way
(APN 212-130-45). Pursuant to PUD 09-02(8), parking and access is shared between 5781 and 5791 Van
Allen Way. Both buildings are occupied by Thermo Fisher. PUD 09-02(B) was approved by the City Planner
on June 30, 2011. After careful consideration of the request, the City Planner has determined that the
request meets all of the findings below and APPROVES this request. The proposed modifications include
the following:
• 59,615-square-foot tenant improvement from office use to a mixture of office/research and
development, manufacturing, and warehouse uses, resulting in the requirement for 215 parking
spaces for the building located at 5791 Van Allen Way;
• Removal of 38 parking spaces, resulting in a total of 241 parking spaces at 5791 Van Allen Way;
• Addition of a loading dock at the rear of the building;
• New utility yard at the rear of building, including a 20' -8" -tall cooling tower, three (3), 20-foot-tall
liquid nitrogen tanks, and a 10-foot-tall metal louvered screening enclosure;
• Relocation of a public fire hydrant;
• Modifications to the landscaping; and
• Addition of SDGE transformers adjacent to the perimeter of the utility yard.
In order for a Discretionary Permit Consistency Determination to be approved, all of the following findings
must be made:
1) No project condition, feature, facility or amenity is changed or deleted that had been considered
essential to the project's design, quality, safety or function in that the light industrial building is
substantially consistent with PUD 09-0Z{B). Even with the elimination of 38 parking spaces,
adequate parking will be provided for the mixture of light industrial uses (i.e., office,
manufacturing and warehouse) located at 5781 and 5791 Van Alley Way. In addition, no
changes ta the exterior finishes and details of the building are proposed.
Community Development
Planning Division ( 1635 Faraday Avenue Carlsbad, CA 92008-7314 ( 760-602-4600 ( 760-602-8560 f I www.carlsbadca.gov
CD 2020-0021 (DEV09010) -THERMO FISHER
March 8, 2021
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2) The request represents an upgrade in overall design features and or materials and improves upon
the project's compatibility with the surrounding neighborhood in that no changes are proposed
to the exterior finishes and details of the building, adequate parking is provided, and the light
· industrial use will be consistent with the Heavy Commercial-Limited Industrial (C-M) zone and
'Carlsbad Research Center Specific Plan, SP 180(/}. In addition, the new storage tanks and cooling
tower are located to the rear of the building. The lower portion of the 20-foot-tal/ tanks and
cooling tower will be screened by a 10-foot-tall metal louvered fence to match the existing
screening fence for the outdoor equipment located at 5781 Van Allen Way. The new equipment
will not be visible from Faraday Avenue or Van Allen Way.
3} The proposed revision does not change the density or boundary of the subject property in that no
residential units are proposed, and the boundaries of the lot will remain the same.
4) The proposed revision does not involve the addition of a new land use not shown on the original
permit in that the proposed light industrial use complements the existing uses included os part
of PUD 09-02{8} and currently located at 5781 Van Allen Way.
5} The proposed revision does not rearrange the major land uses within the development in that a
light industrial land use is replacing an office land use, also a permitted land use in the Heavy
Commercial-Limited Industrial (C-M} zone and SP 180(/).
6} The proposed revision does not create changes of greater than ten percent provided that
compliance will be maintained with the applicable development standards of the Carlsbad
Municipal Code in that no additional square footage is proposed and the change in use
represents a decrease in the intensification of use; the loss of 38 parking spaces represents less
than a 10 percent reduction in the existing parking for the buildings located 5781 and 5791 Von
Allen Way; the remaining number of parking stalls is adequate ta support the change in use;
and the addition of the storage tanks to the rear of the building is less than the maximum 35-
foot height limit.
7) The proposed change will not result in any significant environmental impact, and/or require
additional mitigation.
8} The proposed change would not result in any health, safety or welfare impacts in that the Fire
Department supports the new location for the public fire hydrant and does not have any
concerns regarding the addition of the liquid nitrogen storage tanks or the proposed light
industrial use. Further, the project is consistent with the McClellan Palomar Airport Land Use
Compatibility Plan and na flammable or toxic liquids are proposed to be stored in the storage
tanks or used in the light industrial building.
9) There were not any major issues or controversies associated with the original project which would
be exacerbated with the proposed change in that the remaining number of parking spaces
provided is adequate for the existing and proposed uses and the storage tanks and cooling
tawer proposed to the rear of the building will not be visible from Faraday Avenue or Van Allen
Way (i.e., nearest public views).
CD 2020-0021 (DEV09010)-THERMOFISHER
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10) The proposed chonge would not be readily discernable to the decision makers as being
substantially different from the project as originally approved in that no changes are proposed to
the exterior finishes and details of the building, and the storage tanks and cooling tower will
not be visible from Faraday Avenue or Van Allen Way. The lower portion of the tanks will be
screened by a 10'-toll metal screen wall which is consistent with the existing screening at the
adjacent property, 5781 Van Allen Way, also occupied by ThermoFisher.
After careful consideration of the circumstances surrounding this request, the City Planner has
...... ·determined thatthe-application qualifies for a co-risTstency determination with the iipproved permit ·an-d
therefore, approves the changes to the project based on Planning Division Administrative Policy No. 35.
If you have any questions regarding this matter, please feel free to contact your project planner, Shannon
Harker, at (760} 602-4621 or shannon.harker@carlsbadca.gov.
CITY OF CARLSBAD
(l)t
DON NEU, AICP
City Planner
DN:SH:cf
c: Bill Hofman, Hofman Planning and Engineering, 3152 Lionshead Avenue, Carlsbad, CA 92010
David Rick, Project Engineer
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