October 7, 2009

A. TRAINING

1. (T. Sullivan: 415/558-6257)

Planning CEQA Workshop / Training

Tara Sullivan – Department Staff

· Overview of CEQA and how the Department focuses in Categorical Exemption for historic resources.

SPEAKERS:

Nancy Shanahan – Telegraph Hill Dwellers, re: categorical exemption (Cat Ex) process.

Aaron Goodman – from District 7, re: (Cat Ex) issues of notification

Peter Warfield – Library Users Association, re: CEQA training

12:30 P.M.

Commission Secretary made the following announcements before starting the meeting.

· Public records are available to the public at all HPC hearings and at the Planning Department everyday.

· Full packets of material for the hearings are available at the hearing for the public. They can definitely see it but they need to return the materials for my files after the hearing is over.

B. PUBLIC COMMENT – 15 Minutes

SPEAKERS:

Jeremy Paul – Permit Consultant, re: Ordinance for seismic strengthening for soft story wood-frame buildings.

Robert A. Byrum – Resident representing the neighbors, re: Preserve historic house at 2750 Vallejo.

Bradley Wiedmaier – Concerned Historian, re: 2750 Vallejo preservation.

Aaron Goodman – Resident of District 7, re: Public broadcasting of HPC meetings and HPC meeting minutes.

Johanna Street – Preservation Architect, re: Landmark at Turk and Fillmore

Peter Warfield – Library Users Association, re: Agenda packets, commissioner's attendance, public broadcast of hearings, and draft minutes.

Peggy Coster – Use of historic designation and video recording of hearings.

C. MATTERS OF THE COMMISSION

2. Consideration of Adoption of Draft Minutes:

· Draft minutes of Special Hearing of April 8, 2009

· Draft minutes of Regular Hearing of August 19, 2009

· Draft minutes of Regular Hearing of September 16, 2009

SPEAKER: Peter Warfield – Library Users Association

Motion: April 2, 2009 minutes - Approved

August 19, 2009 minutes – Approved as corrected by Commissioner Martinez, changing Delores to D­olores

September 16, 2009 minutes – Continued to 10/21/09 to address commissioner's concerns

AYES: Buckley, Hasz, Martinez, Matsuda, Wolfram, Damkroger, Chase

Commissioner Martinez:

How is materials given to the Commission at the hearing handled in terms of making them available to the public?

Commission Secretary Avery:

As I do with the Planning Commission, I either stamp or write on the documents that they are received at this hearing. We take them back to the office. Staff, Ms. Margaret Yuen who is assigned to work with me will make a copy. The original will go to the staff planner for their file, and I retain a copy for my public correspondence file.

Commissioner Martinez:

So, whatever is handed out to the Commission during the hearing will be made available to the public.

Commission Secretary Avery:

Yes.

Commissioner Damkroger:

I ask that staff could come back with the report on 2750 Vallejo and I also ask to put packet materials on-line.

Commission Secretary Avery:

The Department is trying to make that happen. Our Department is under the Department of Technology and Information Systems (DTIS) which is the department that handles our website. For instance, the Board of Supervisors (BOS) is not under DTIS. They can link their case documents to their calendar. We are not able to do that, but our Department is working to establish its own software so that we can link our case reports to the calendar. If I can, I'd also like to respond to the whole thing about putting this Commission hearing on television – we would like to do that too. Unfortunately, when this Commission was established, there was no money put aside for it. We are hoping that next year we can find money to make that happen. I can't promise that.

Deputy City Attorney Marlena Byrne:

I think there are some kinds of concerns from the public that this is being videoed and the video is not being made available to members of the pubic. That actually is incorrect. These hearings are not being videoed. This is just an internal live feed to these cameras directly. There is no video recording being made of this; there are only audio tape recordings which are, if requested, made for a fee and made available for the public.

Commissioner Buckley:

To what extent is the process for public information the same or different from the Planning Commission and for this Commission? Is the agenda available?

Commission Secretary Avery:

There is no difference. The agendas are posted electronically on the website where anybody can access. Hard copies are at our Department at the 4^th floor reception, at the Planning Information Counter next door at 1660 Mission on the first floor and at the Library. It is posted here in City Hall and also the entire agenda is read into a recorder for anyone who wants to call up and listen to the entire agenda. The HPC process is absolutely identical to the Planning Commission.

D. CONSIDERATION OF ITEM PROPOSED FOR CONTINUANCE

3. 2009.0910A (Tim Frye: 415/575-6822)

431 Jackson Street - Assessor's Block 0196; Lots 027. Between Sansome Street and Hotaling Place, the subject property is a contributing structure to City Landmark #13, the Jackson Square Historic District. It is located within a C-2 (Community Business) District with a 65-A Height and Bulk limit. The proposal is a request for a Certificate of Appropriateness to remove the existing projecting sign and armature and install a new armature and tenant signage.

Recommendation: Approval.

(Proposed for Continuance Until Determined)

SPEAKERS: None

ACTION: Continue to October 21, 2009

AYES: Buckley, Hasz, Martinez, Matsuda, Wolfram, Damkroger, Chase

E. PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS WHERE THE PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN CLOSED

There was new information for this category that pertained to Item 4, 1833 Page Street. Public hearing was held for this item.

NOTE: Because new information was made available for item 4, this category was omitted

F. CONSIDERATION OF FINDINGS AND FINAL ACTION – PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED

4. 2009.0852L (S. Caltagirone: 415/558-6625)

1833 PAGE STREET, Park Branch Library, south side of Page Street between Shrader and Cole Streets, on Assessor's Block 1229, Lot 031 – The subject property is a Classical Revival-style branch library building designed by the McDougall Brothers and constructed circa 1909. Before the Commission is consideration to approve, disapprove, or approve with modifications initiation of landmark designation as a San Francisco Landmark under Article 10 of the Planning Code. The property is zoned P (Public) and is in a 40-X Height and Bulk District.

Preliminary Recommendation: Disapprove Initiation of Landmark Designation.

(Continued from the September 16, 2009 hearing)

NOTE: On September 16, 2009, following public testimony, the public hearing was closed and the Commission entered into deliberation. The Commission continued this item to October 7, 2009, to allow the Project Sponsor a chance to see if the recommendations of their consultant are cost effective and whether or not the cost to use a different material for a door than what is currently proposed, as recommended by Commissioner Martinez is within their ability to do. The vote was (+5 -0) with commissioners Buckley and Wolfram absent

SPEAKERS: Elisa Skaggs – Page and Turnbull, Jill Bourne – Deputy City Librarian, Mark Shotts – Lead Architect, Peter Warfield – Library Users Association, Howard Wong, Bradley Wiedmaier - Historian

ACTION: Disapproved initiation of designation; required that staff calendar a status report in six months; and another initiation for landmark designation in 13 months.

AYES: Hasz, Martinez, Matsuda, Wolfram, Damkroger, Chase

NO: Buckley

RESOLUTION: 637

G. REGULAR CALENDAR

5. 2008.0968L (T. Frye: 415/575-6822)

THE APPLETON & WOLFARD LIBRARIES – Parkside Branch Library, 1200 Taraval Street: Assessor's Block 2351, Lot 001; Marina Branch Library, 1890 Chestnut Street: Assessor's Block 0469, Lot 001; Merced Branch Library, 155 Winston Drive: Assessor's Block 7236, Lot 001; Ortega Branch Library, 3223 Ortega Street: Assessor's Block 2094, Lot 005; North Beach Branch Library, 2000 Mason Street: Assessor's Block 0074, Lot 001; Eureka Valley Branch Library, 3555 16^th Street: Assessor's Block 3564, Lot 095; Western Addition Branch Library, 1550 Scott Street: Assessor's Block 0703, Lot 002; Excelsior Branch Library, 4400 Mission Street: Assessor's Block 6797, Lot 046. The subject buildings are eight postwar branch libraries designed by the firm Appleton & Wolfard and constructed from 1951-1966. Before the Commission is consideration to approve, disapprove, or approve with modifications the initiation of landmark designation as a San Francisco Landmark under Article 10 of the Planning Code. The properties are zoned P (Public) and/or Open Space (OS).

Preliminary Recommendation: Approve Initiation of Landmark Designation with Modifications for some Branch Libraries and Disapproval for others. Staff will identify each at the hearing.

(Continued from the September 16, 2009 hearing)

SPEAKERS - Project Sponsors and affiliates:

Jill Bourne – Deputy City Librarian, Paul Defratus – Bureau of Architecture, Marcia Maytum – Ledding, Maytum & Stacey Architect, John Paul Scott – Deputy Director for Mayor's Office on Disability, Karen Mauney-Brodek – Planner from Recreation and Park

SPEAKERS against Initiation of Landmark Designation:

Peggy Coster - Library user, Karin Payson – Interior Designer, Marcia Schneider – S.F. Public Library, Tan Chow – China Town Community Development Center, Tricia Defries – North Beach Resident, Elizabeth Beaus – Friends of Joe DeMaggio, Anita Walker – Telegraph Hill Cooperative Nursery School, Bob Planthold , Lizzy Hirsch – North Beach Resident, Julie Christensen, Pat Tura, Lee Goodin – North Beach Resident, Alison Wetherall, Mindy Linetzky – Branch Library Improvement Program, Rene Bihan – North Beach Resident & Landscape Architect, Marc Bruno – North Beach Resident, Paul Scott – former President of Telegraph Hill Dwellers, Anne Wintroub – Friends of the Libraries

SPEAKERS in favor of Initiation of Landmark Designation:

June Osterberg – Resident of North Beach, Howard Wong – Architect, , Zach Stewart – CANESSA, Aaron Goodman – District 7 Resident, Nan Roth – Telegraph Hill Resident, Peter Warfield – Library Users Association, Judy Irving – Documentary Film Maker, Gretchen Hilyard – Northern California Chapter of DOCOMOMO, Joan Wood – North Beach Resident, Nancy Shanahan – Telegraph Hill Resident, Bradley Wiedmaier – Historian, Sue Cauthen.

ACTION: Initiated designation of landmarking or a district nomination for Marina, Eureka Valley, North Beach (the building itself and not the lot), Western Addition and the Excelsior Branch Libraries; strike out  ranch style in No. 5a; strike out Nos. 7 and 8; change landmark designation to landmark designation and/or multiple property listing designation; calendar Parkside and Merced Branch Libraries for a status report in two months

AYES: Buckley, Martinez, Matsuda, Wolfram, Damkroger

NAYES: Hasz and Chase

RESOLUTION: 638

6. 2009.0846U (A. Threadgill: 415/558-6602)

1050 Battery Street, southeast corner of Union and Battery Streets, in Assessor's Block 0111, Lot 003. Request for Review and Comment on the nomination of the Armour & Co. Building to the National Register of Historic Places. The subject property is located within a C-2 (Community Business) Zoning District, 65-X Height and Bulk District, and the Northeastern Waterfront Historic District.

Preliminary Recommendation: Send comments of support to the State Historic Preservation Officer

SPEAKER: None

ACTION: Recommended forwarding the nomination of the building to the National Register of Historic Places

AYES: Buckley, Hasz, Martinez, Matsuda, Wolfram, Chase

ABSENT: Damkroger

7. 2009.0848U (A. Threadgill: 415/558-6602)

1 Lombard Street, southwest corner of Battery and Lombard Streets, in Assessor's Block 0081, Lot 001. Request for Review and Comment on the nomination of the Merchants Ice & Cold Storage Building to the National Register of Historic Places. The subject property is located within a C-2 (Community Business) Zoning District and a 40-X Height and Bulk District.

Preliminary Recommendation: Send comments of support to the State Historic Preservation Officer

SPEAKER: None

ACTION: Recommended forwarding the nomination of the building to the National Register of Historic Places

AYES: Buckley, Hasz, Martinez, Matsuda, Wolfram, Chase

ABSENT: Damkroger

8. 2009.0849U (A. Threadgill: 415/558-6602)

450 Sutter Street, north side, between of Stockton and Powell Streets, in Assessor's Block 0285, Lot 006. Request for Review and Comment on the nomination of the Medical Arts Building to the National Register of Historic Places. The subject property is located within a C-3-R (Downtown Retail) Zoning District, 80-130-F Height and Bulk District, and the Kearny-Market-Mason-Sutter Conservation District.

Preliminary Recommendation: Send comments of support to the State Historic Preservation Officer

SPEAKER: None

ACTION: Recommended forwarding the nomination of the building to the National Register of Historic Places with an amendment to change the text description in Section 8, on page 12 to reflect that there is no need to compare this building to other works and to say it's far superior.

AYES: Buckley, Hasz, Martinez, Matsuda, Wolfram, Chase

ABSENT: Damkroger

9. 2009.0913U (A. Starr: 415/558-6362)

557 Ashbury Street, northwest corner of Haight and Ashbury Streets, in Assessor's Block 1231, Lot 009. Request for Review and Comment on the nomination of the Doolan Building to the National Register of Historic Places. The subject property is located within a Haight Street Neighborhood Commercial District, 40-X Height and Bulk District, and the Haight Street Alcohol Restricted Use District.

Preliminary Recommendation: Send comments of support to the State Historic Preservation Officer

SPEAKER: Norman Larson – Owner of the Doolan Building supports the nomination

ACTION: Recommended forwarding the nomination of the building to the National Register of Historic Places

AYES: Buckley, Hasz, Martinez, Matsuda, Wolfram, Chase

ABSENT: Damkroger

H. STAFF REPORT AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

10. (T. Tam: 415/558-6325)

Landmark Designation Work Program – Review properties for status and possible funding sources

(Continued from the September 16, 2009 hearing)

Item was not heard and was continued to the next hearing on October 21, 2009.

I. PRESIDENT'S REPORT AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

None

J. PUBLIC COMMENT

SPEAKERS: None

Adjournment: 5:10 p.m.

The minutes was proposed for adoption at the Regular Meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission on Wednesday, November 4, 2009.

ACTION: Approved

AYES: Buckley, Hasz, Martinez , Wolfram, Damkroger,

ABSENT: Chase, Matsuda