SAN FRANCISCO
PLANNING COMMISSION
Meeting Minutes
Commission Chambers - Room 400
City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
Thursday, April 15, 2010
1:30 PM
Regular Meeting
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Miguel, Olague, Antonini, Borden, Lee, Moore, and Sugaya
THE MEETING WAS CALLED TO ORDER BY PRESIDENT MIGUEL AT 1:40 P.M.
STAFF IN ATTENDANCE: John Rahaim – Director of Planning, Larry Badiner – Zoning Administrator, Kearstin Dischinger, Steve Wertheim, Corey Teague, Sophie Hayward, Mat Snyder, and Jonas Ionin – Acting Commission Secretary.
A. CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS PROPOSED FOR CONTINUANCE
The Commission will consider a request for continuance to a later date. The Commission may choose to continue the item to the date proposed below, to continue the item to another date, or to hear the item on this calendar.
1. 2009.1180TZ (T. SULLIVAN: (415) 558-6257)
680 California Street, aka Old St. Mary’s Church - Amending San Francisco Zoning Map ZN01 to change the zoning of Block 0241, Lots 011 & 012 from Chinatown Mixed Use District to C-3-O and amendments relating to Planning Code Section 128 to require that proceeds from the sale of transferable development rights from certain Transfer Lots be spent on the rehabilitation and maintenance of the Transfer Lot property. Ordinance that would amend the San Francisco Zoning Map ZN01 to change the use district of 680 California Street, aka Old St. Mary’s Church from Chinatown Mixed Use District to C-3-O and to amend Planning Code Section 128 (Transfer of Development Rights in C-3 Districts) to require that the proceeds of transfer development rights from a Transfer Lot which contains a designated landmark pursuant to Article 10 of the Planning Code be spent on the rehabilitation and maintenance of the landmark building; making environmental findings and findings of consistency with the General Plan and priority policies of Planning Code Section 101.1.
Preliminary Recommendation: Approval.
(Continued from Regular Meeting of March 25, 2010)
(Proposed for Continuance to April 22, 2010)
SPEAKERS: Fernando Marti
ACTION: Continued as proposed
AYES: Antonini, Borden, Moore, Sugaya, Olague and Miguel
ABSENT: Lee
2a. 2002.0133ZMKXV (R. CRAWFORD: (415) 558-6358)
555 Washington Street (aka 545 Sansome Street) - southwest corner of Washington and Sansome Streets Lot 033, 035 and 036 of Assessor’s Block 0207 -Request under Planning Code Section 309 for consideration of a downtown project with exceptions including but not limited to exceptions from Section 148, reduction of ground level wind currents, Section 151.1, off-street parking, Section 152.1, off street loading, Section 134 rear yards, Section 263.9 upper tower extensions and a possible exception from Section 155(r) Protected Pedestrian and Transit Oriented Street Frontages. The project would demolish two buildings at 501-505 Washington Street and 545 Sansome Street, and construct a 38-story, approximately 390 foot-tall building topped with a mechanical penthouse and architectural screening reaching in height to approximately 430 feet. The new building would contain approximately 332,000 gross square feet of floor area, including 248 residential units, 4,640 square feet of ground-floor retail space, and four levels of subsurface parking with 215 parking spaces plus 2 car share spaces. The Project would renovate and dedicate Redwood Park as a public park. This project lies within a C-3-O (Downtown, Office) District and within the 120-X and 200-S Height and Bulk Districts.
Preliminary Recommendation: Approval with Conditions
(Continued from Special Joint Meeting with Rec Park Commission of March 18, 2010)
(Proposed for Indefinite Continuance)
SPEAKERS: None
ACTION: Continued to May 13, 2010
AYES: Antonini, Borden, Moore, Sugaya, Olague and Miguel
ABSENT: Lee
2b. 2002.0133ZMKXV (R. CRAWFORD: (415) 558-6358)
555 Washington Street (aka 545 Sansome Street) - southwest corner of Washington and Sansome Streets Lot 033, 035 and 036 of Assessor’s Block 0207 - Request for Amendment of the Height and Bulk Map HT01 to change the Height and Bulk district for the property from 200-S to 400-S, and for Amendments to the General Plan to be consistent with the proposed height district. The project would demolish two buildings at 501-505 Washington Street and 545 Sansome Street, and construct a 38-story, approximately 390 foot-tall building topped with a mechanical penthouse and architectural screening reaching in height to approximately 430 feet. The new building would contain approximately 332,000 gross square feet of floor area, including 248 residential units, 4,640 square feet of ground-floor retail space, and four levels of subsurface parking with 215 parking spaces plus 2 car share spaces. The Project would renovate and dedicate Redwood Park as a public park. This project lies within a C-3-O (Downtown, Office District and within the 120-X and 200-S Height and Bulk Districts.
Preliminary Recommendation: Recommend Adoption of the Amendments to the Board of Supervisors
(Continued from Special Joint Meeting with Rec Park Commission of March 18, 2010)
(Proposed for Indefinite Continuance)
SPEAKERS: None
ACTION: Continued to May 13, 2010
AYES: Antonini, Borden, Moore, Sugaya, Olague and Miguel
ABSENT: Lee
2c. 2002.0133ZMKXV (R. CRAWFORD: (415) 558-6358)
555 Washington Street (aka 545 Sansome Street) - southwest corner of Washington and Sansome Streets Lot 033, 035 and 036 of Assessor’s Block 0207 -Request under Planning Code Section 305 for a Variance from Section 135, the Usable Open Space requirement for dwelling units. The requested Variance from Section 135 would allow 3,400 square feet of common usable open space for dwellings where 9,408 square feet are required. The project would demolish two buildings at 501-505 Washington Street and 545 Sansome Street, and construct a 38-story, approximately 390 foot-tall building topped with a mechanical penthouse and architectural screening reaching in height to approximately 430 feet. The new building would contain approximately 332,000 gross square feet of floor area, including 248 residential units, 4,640 square feet of ground-floor retail space, and four levels of subsurface parking with 215 parking spaces plus 2 car share spaces. The Project would renovate and dedicate Redwood Park as a public park. This project lies within a C-3-O (Downtown, Office) District and within the 120-X and 200-S Height and Bulk Districts.
(Continued from Special Joint Meeting with Rec Park Commission of March 18, 2010)
(Proposed for Indefinite Continuance)
SPEAKERS: None
ACTION: Continued to May 13, 2010
AYES: Antonini, Borden, Moore, Sugaya, Olague and Miguel
ABSENT: Lee
2d. 2002.0133 EZMKXVR (R. CRAWFORD: (415) 558-6358)
555 Washington Street (aka 545 Sansome Street) - southwest corner of Washington and Sansome Streets, Lot 033, 035 and 036 of Assessor’s Block 0207 – Consideration of a Motion making General Plan consistency findings pursuant to San Francisco Charter § 4.105 and San Francisco Administrative Code § 2A.53 and making a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors regarding the consistency of the vacation of Mark Twain Alley and the conveyance of Redwood Park to the City and County of San Francisco and related Project documents and actions with the General Plan of the City and County of San Francisco and the Priority Policies of Planning Code Section 101.1.
Preliminary Recommendation: Adopt General Plan Consistency Findings.
(Continued from Special Joint Meeting with Rec Park Commission of March 18, 2010)
(Proposed for Indefinite Continuance)
SPEAKERS: None
ACTION: Continued to May 13, 2010
AYES: Antonini, Borden, Moore, Sugaya, Olague and Miguel
ABSENT: Lee
B. COMMISSIONERS’ QUESTIONS AND MATTERS
3. Commission Comments/Questions
Inquiries/Announcements. Without discussion, at this time Commissioners may make announcements or inquiries of staff regarding various matters of interest to the Commissioner(s).
Future Meetings/Agendas. At this time, the Commission may discuss and take action to set the date of a Special Meeting and/or determine those items that could be placed on the agenda of the next meeting and other future meetings of the Planning Commission.
Commissioner Antonini:
- C.W. Nevius article in the Sunday paper re: AT&T Park as a catalyst for new development in and around Mission Bay - cited 2009 increase in housing development built with a high percentage of low income rental housing. However, 2009 saw a steep decrease in housing development being approved.
Commissioner Moore:
- Thanked the Planning Department for the Housing Inventory Report.
Commissioner Miguel:
- Expressed his appreciation for the Housing Inventory Report; noted the Department's attendance at public meetings for 1300 DeHaro Street, the Alexandria Theater, 30 Edith, and the Safeway at La Playa; mentioned the April Issue of the APA periodical article: "CA Struggles with its Legal YOKE," re: CEQA.
C. DIRECTOR’S REPORT
4. Director’s Announcements
John Rahaim:
Provided his reflections on the National APA conference in New Orleans; mentioned the Delta Urbanism panel; spoke about the Collaboration with Planners from the Netherlands; mentioned Adolfo Carrion's appointment as Director of White House Urban Affairs; mentioned the Brad Pitt prototype housing development in the Lower 9th Ward; Monday is the regularly scheduled Eastern Neighborhood CAC meeting at 6 P.M.
5. Review of Past Week’s Events at the Board of Supervisors, Board of Appeals, and Historic Preservation Commission.
D. GENERALPUBLIC COMMENT – 15 MINUTES
At this time, members of the public may address the Commission on items of interest to the public that are within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Commission except agenda items. With respect to agenda items, your opportunity to address the Commission will be afforded when the item is reached in the meeting. Each member of the public may address the Commission for up to three minutes.
E. REGULAR CALENDAR
6a. 2002.1302U (K. DISCHINGER: (415) 558-6284)
2235 THIRD STREET IN-KIND AGREEMENT - this project has been entitled for development by the Planning Commission. The Project sponsor requests a waiver from a portion of the impact fee obligation under Section 327.3(c), per the City and the Project Sponsors "In-Kind Agreement" for the provision of a new Child Care facility at 2235 THIRD STREET. This project is within the Eastern Neighborhoods Plan Area.
Preliminary Recommendation: Approval
SPEAKERS: Angelica Cabande - SOMCAN
ACTION: Approved
AYES: Borden, Lee, Moore, and Miguel
RECUSED: Antonini and Sugaya
NAYES: Olague
MOTION: 18073
6b. 2002.1302U (K. DISCHINGER: (415) 558-6284)
178 Townsend Street In-Kind Agreement - this project has been entitled for development by the Planning Commission. The Project sponsor requests a waiver from the impact fee obligation under Section 327.3(c), per the City and the Project Sponsors "In-Kind Agreement" for the provision of a new Child Care facility at 2235 THIRD STREET. This project is within the Eastern Neighborhoods Plan Area.
Preliminary Recommendation: Approval
SPEAKERS: Same as those listed for item 6a
ACTION: Approved
AYES: Borden, Lee, Moore, and Miguel
RECUSED: Antonini and Sugaya
NAYES: Olague
MOTION: 18073
7. 2010.0194T (S. WERTHEIM: (415) 558-6612)
INTENTION TO INTIATE DEPARTMENT-SPONOSORED PLANNING CODE AMENDMENTS RELATED TO RECENTLY ADOPTED AREA PLANS AND THE JOBS-HOUSING LINKAGE FEE - Pursuant to Planning Code Section 302, the Planning Commission will consider a Resolution of Intention to initiate amendments to the Planning Code. The amendments are intended to a) create consistent definitions and application across the Area Plan Impact Fees (Rincon Hill, Market and Octavia, Eastern Neighborhoods, and Balboa Park), b) better recognize and account for the impact of existing conditions on development sites, c) promote adaptive re-use of existing buildings in the Eastern Neighborhoods, d) generally, improve Code readability. Planning Code sections proposed for amendment include Sections 179.1, 313.1, 313.3, 313.5, 313.6, 313.7, 318, 318.2, 318.3, 318.5, 318.6, 318.8, 318.9, 326.1, 326.2, 326.3, 326.5, 326.8, 327.1, 327.2, 327.3, 327.6, 331.2, and 331.3.
Preliminary Recommendation: Approve a draft Resolution of Intention to initiate amendments to the Planning Code and schedule a public hearing to consider the amendments.
SPEAKERS: None
ACTION: Approved
AYES: Antonini, Borden, Lee, Moore, Sugaya, and Miguel
ABSENT: Olague
RESOLUTION: 18074
8. 2010.0029D (C. TEAGUE: (415) 575-9081)
301 Main Street (aka The Infinity) - north side between Folsom and Harrison Street; Lots 227 and 228 in Assessor's Block 3745 - Mandatory Discretionary Review for Building Permit No. 2009.08.27.5659 to merge two existing dwelling units into one single dwelling unit in a RC-4 (Residential-Commercial Combined, High Density Districts) and a 400-W Height and Bulk District, and within the Folsom and Main Residential/Commercial Special Use District.
Preliminary Recommendation: Do Not Take Discretionary Review and Approve Project as Proposed
SPEAKERS: Eran Pilovsky.
ACTION: The commission did not take DR and approved the dwelling unit merger
AYES: Antonini, Borden, Lee, Moore, Sugaya, and Miguel
ABSENT: Olague
DRA: 0147
9a. 2009.1124DDV (S. HAYWARD: (415) 558-6372)
136 ORD STREET- west side of Ord Street between Corbett and Market Streets, Assessor’s Block 2657, Lot 004 - Request for Discretionary Reviewof Building Permit Application No. 2009.07.14.2604 to construct a new single-family home at the front of the subject lot. The new building would be located in front of the existing building on the lot, with a courtyard maintained between the two structures. The subject property is within an RH-2 Zoning District and a 40-X Height and Bulk District.
Preliminary Recommendation: Do not take Discretionary Review and approve as proposed
SPEAKERS: Gary Wise, DR requestor, Sara Lee Sanborn, DR requestor, In favor of DR: Dan Keen, Mark Reiser, Jason Sokolove, Judy Hoyam, Richard Johnson, Ben Farnegia, Chis Whiteman, Charles Lincoln, and John Morroni; In support of the Project: Property Owner, John Hudson, Neil Sims, Richard Carrington, Jonathan Mills, and Shelley Bradford-Bell.
ACTION: Following public testimony, item continued to May 27, 2010
AYES: Borden, Moore, Sugaya, Olague and Miguel
NAYES: Antonini and Lee
9b. 2009.1124DDV (S. HAYWARD: (415) 558-6372)
136 ORD STREET - west side of Ord Street between Corbett and Market Streets, Assessor’s Block 2657, Lot 004 – the Zoning Administrator will consider a Request for a Variance from Planning Code Section 132 to construct a new single-family home at the front of the subject lot. The bay window on the proposed new structure extends into the required 15’ front setback.
Preliminary Recommendation: Approval with Conditions
SPEAKERS: Same as those listed for item 9a
ACTION: Following public testimony, the Zoning Administrator continued this item to May 27, 2010
5:30 p.m. – [The following item is set for a Time Certain. Items that have not been called before 5:30 p.m. may be continued until after item 10 or to another date]
10. 2007.0946BEMRTUZ (M. SNYDER: (415) 575-6391)
Candlestick Point-Hunters Point Shipyard Phase 2 - The Candlestick Point component is generally bounded by Jamestown Avenue north of Hunters Point Expressway and south of Giants Drive to the south and southwest; Bayview Hill Park to the southwest; Gilman Park to the northwest; the southwest, northwest, and northeast outer boundaries of Alice Griffith Housing to the north; the San Francisco Bay shoreline along Candlestick Point State Recreation Area from Arelious Walker Drive to Hunters Point Expressway to the east and south and includes the following Assessor's Blocks and Lots: Block 4884, all lots; Blocks: 4917, all lots; Blocks: 4918, all lots; Block: 4934, all lots; Block: 4935, all lots; Blocks: 4956, Lots 003, 004, 005, 006, 007, 008, 009, 010, 011, 012, 013, 014 , Block 4960, Lot 027 , Block 4977, Lot: 006; Block 4983, all lots, Block: 4984, all lots; Block: 4886, all lots; Block 4991, Lot: 276; Block: 5000, Lot: 001; Block 5005, all lots. The Hunters Point Shipyard Phase 2 component of the project includes almost all of the former Hunters Point Shipyard except for the portion being developed as Phase I and includes the following Assessor’s Blocks and Lots: Assessor's Block 4591A, Lot 079; Block 4591C, Lots 010, 209, and 210; Block 5491C, Lot 211. Informational Hearing on the sustainable approach to the Project and its related infrastructure and transportation components and on the Draft Design for Development Documents.
SPEAKERS: Espanola Jackson, Francisco Da Costa, Jenny Jamz, Mitchell Gong, M. Tsang, Joe Do Thuc, Chris Jackson – SF Labor Council, Bradley Bradley, Javier Marquez, Erik Butler
ACTION: Informational item where no Commission action was taken
F. PUBLIC COMMENT
At this time, members of the public may address the Commission on items of interest to the public that are within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Commission except agenda items. With respect to agenda items, your opportunity to address the Commission will be afforded when the item is reached in the meeting with one exception. When the agenda item has already been reviewed in a public hearing at which members of the public were allowed to testify and the Commission has closed the public hearing, your opportunity to address the Commission must be exercised during the Public Comment portion of the Calendar. Each member of the public may address the Commission for up to three minutes.
The Brown Act forbids a commission from taking action or discussing any item not appearing on the posted agenda, including those items raised at public comment. In response to public comment, the commission is limited to:
(1) responding to statements made or questions posed by members of the public; or
(2) requesting staff to report back on a matter at a subsequent meeting; or
(3) directing staff to place the item on a future agenda. (Government Code Section 54954.2(a))
SPEAKERS: None
Adjournment: 8:25 p.m.
Adopted: June 10, 2010
