The Seal Beach Planning Commission On Wednesday, Nov. 18, unanimously approved a conditional use permit for a 24-hour biotech factory that will produce a treatment for men with advanced prostate cancer called Provenge.
The factory will be located in the Pacific Gateway Business Center at 1700 Saturn Way.
Heidi Maitland, a representative of Dendreon Corp., said the product is custom-made from the blood of patients.
She said the product, basically teaches a patient’s immune system to fight the cancer.
“The story of my life,” said District 2 Commissioner John Larson. “Just when I’ve had two cancer surgeries, you come up with something like this.”
Everyone present chuckled.
According to press releases issued by Dendreon, if the Food and Drug Administration approves Provenge for commercial production, it will be the first cancer treatment that uses the patient’s own immune system to fight the disease.
Earlier this month, Dendreon filed its second application for approval with the federal agency. The first Provenge application was rejected.
Recently, Dendreon officials announced that the FDA would reply to their newest application by May 1, 2010.
Because the company has to wait for federal approval before going ahead with the factory, Maitland asked planners to change one of the conditions of the CUP. Condition 9, a standard condition of Seal Beach CUPs, required the applicant to begin construction within one year of the date the permit was issued. However, Dendreon officials wanted the expiration date to be one year from the date the company takes occupancy of the 1700 Saturn Way site.
Commission Chair Ellery Deaton, who represents District 1, asked if there was a biohazard.
She said she was asking because she knew their neighbors would ask.
Senior Planner Jerry Olivera said that blood is considered a biohazard.
Olivera said the applicants had assured city staff that their product is heavily regulated by both the FDA and the Department of Transportation.
According to the Environmental Information and Checklist Form filled out by Michael Kopp of Lifetek Solutions, Inc., there will be 300 people on average in the factory at any one time, with 390 at shift change.
Olivera told the Planning Commission that Dendreon Corp. planned to have staggered shifts, so there would be little impact on traffic at any given time.
According to a staff report signed by Olivera, the Saturn Way property is 750 feet from the nearest residential neighborhood.
Commissioners unanimously approved the CUP.
However, someone pointed out that the planners had not addressed Dendreon’s request to change Condition 9. Deaton moved to reconsider the matter, and then moved to approve the permit with the expiration date of one year after Dendreon occupies the Saturn Way site.
In other news, planners will look at the subjects of “dog houses,” meaning covered rooftop access structures, and Main Street alcohol permits at the commission’s Dec. 9 meeting.
