SAN FRANCISCO
PLANNING COMMISSION
Meeting Minutes
Commission Chambers - Room 400
City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
Thursday, April 22, 2010
1:30 PM
Regular Meeting
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Miguel, Antonini, Lee, Moore, and Sugaya
COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Borden and Olague
THE MEETING WAS CALLED TO ORDER BY PRESIDENT MIGUEL AT 1:35 P.M.
STAFF IN ATTENDANCE: Larry Badiner – Zoning Administrator, Timothy Johnston, Erika Jackson, Diego Sanchez, Tara Sullivan, Edgar Oropeza, 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. 2005.1085E (M. JACINTO: (415) 575-9033)
555 FULTON STREET - south side of Fulton Street, between Octavia, Laguna and Birch Streets; Lots 015, 028 Assessor Block 0794 - Public Hearing on an Appeal of the Preliminary Mitigated Negative Declaration. The proposed project would include demolition of an existing two-story, approximately 19,620-square-foot office and industrial building with about 70 surface parking spaces and new construction of a five-story, approximately 55-foot-tall, 245,610- gross square feet building with 136 residential units, ground-floor commercial (supermarket) space, and 195 spaces of parking in a two-level underground parking garage. The project site is located in the Hayes-Gough Neighborhood Commercial Transit District, the Residential Transit-Oriented District and the Fulton Street Grocery Store Special Use District and a 40-X/50-X Height and Bulk District.
Preliminary Recommendation: Uphold Mitigated Negative Declaration
(Proposed for Continuance to May 13, 2010)
SPEAKERS: None
ACTION: Continued as proposed
AYES: Antonini, Lee, Moore, Sugaya, and Miguel
ABSENT: Borden and Olague
2. 2008.0395E (I. NISHIMURA: (415) 575-9041)
2130 Fulton Street - University of San Francisco Center for Science and Innovation - north side, between Golden Gate, Masonic, and Parker Avenues; Lot 003 in Assessor’s Block 1145 - Public Hearing on an Appeal of the Preliminary Mitigated Negative Declaration. The approximately 80,000-square-foot project site is on the Main Campus of the University of San Francisco, in the existing Harney Green and Harney Plaza area. The proposed project includes removal of Harney Green and Plaza; site excavation; and construction of a three-story with a partial fourth floor, 53-foot high building with a partial basement, which would connect on all floors to the south end of the existing Harney Science Building, and a below-grade, two-level structure, which is also a component of the proposed project. The roof of this building would serve as a new plaza and pedestrian area. Together, the new structures would have approximately 60,000 square feet of classrooms, laboratories, instrumentation rooms, and building mechanical/support spaces. The project site is within an RH-2 (Residential, House, Two-Family) District and an 80-D Height and Bulk District. The proposed project would require Conditional Use Authorization for a post-secondary institutional use in an RH-2 District, and for exceeding a building height of 40 feet in an R District.
Preliminary Recommendation: Uphold Mitigated Negative Declaration
(Continued from Regular Meeting of February 11, 2010)
(Proposed for Continuance to June 17, 2010)
SPEAKERS: None
ACTION: Continued as proposed
AYES: Antonini, Lee, Moore, Sugaya, and Miguel
ABSENT: Borden and Olague
3. 2008.0395C (S. VELLVE: (415) 558-6263)
2130 Fulton Street -University of San Francisco Center for Science and Innovation - north side, between Golden Gate, Masonic, and Parker Avenues; Lot 003 in Assessor’s Block 1145 - Request for Conditional Use Authorization pursuant to Planning Code Sections 209.3 253, 303 and 304 for the University of San Francisco to construct the Center for Science and Innovation in an approximately 40,000 square-foot building approximately 53 feet in height in the location of Harney Green, and a two-story 20,000 square-foot below-grade educational building below Harney Plaza for a project that will include classrooms, laboratories, instrumentation rooms, building mechanical/support spaces and up to two off-street loading spaces within an RH-2 (Residential, House, Two-Family) District and an 80-D Height and Bulk District.
Preliminary Recommendation: Approval with Conditions
(Continued from Regular Meeting of February 11, 2010)
(Proposed for Continuance to June 17, 2010)
SPEAKERS: None
ACTION: Continued as proposed
AYES: Antonini, Lee, Moore, Sugaya, and Miguel
ABSENT: Borden and Olague
B. CONSENT CALENDAR
All matters listed hereunder constitute a Consent Calendar, are considered to be routine by the Planning Commission, and will be acted upon by a single roll call vote of the Commission. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a member of the Commission, the public, or staff so requests, in which event the matter shall be removed from the Consent Calendar and considered as a separate item at this or a future hearing
4. 2007.1255E (T. Johnston: [415] 575-9035)
CRYSTAL SPRINGS/SAN ANDREAS TRANSMISSION UPGRADE PROJECT – Certification of the Final Environmental Impact Report. The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) is proposing the Crystal Springs/San Andreas Transmission Upgrade Project (also known as “CS/SA”). The project seeks to improve seismic and delivery reliability of the CS/SA Transmission System, and to meet the anticipated requirements of the California Division of Dam Safety (DSOD) for dam facilities in an emergency drawdown scenario. The Project would be located on City and County of San Francisco (CCSF TC "City and County of San Francisco (CCSF" \f A \l "1" )-owned lands in unincorporated portions of San Mateo County near the Town of Hillsborough and the cities of San Bruno, Burlingame, San Mateo, and Millbrae. The total proposed project area (including all construction, staging, and access areas) covers approximately 135 acres and is composed of five distinct project components that are oriented southeast to northwest, running approximately 7.6 miles across the Peninsula Watershed. The primary components of the proposed project would include:
Seismic and functional upgrades to the Upper Crystal Springs Dam Culverts, including seismic strengthening of the Lower Culvert, which crosses the San Andreas Fault rupture zone, and providing isolation capabilities to both culverts.
Seismic improvements to the Crystal Springs Outlet Structures 1 and 2, including removal of the seismically vulnerable aboveground portions of their towers, and construction of a small onshore control shed for remote valve operation.
Major seismic upgrade of the Crystal Springs Pump Station (CS Pump Station), including construction of a new, seismically strengthened Pump Station, and replacement of all related facilities, pipelines, and pipeline connections. The upgrade would also include increasing the pump station booster capability to 120 million gallons per day to meet delivery reliability goals, and construction of a new dissipation structure for releases into San Mateo Creek to meet anticipated DSOD requirements.
Seismic upgrades to the existing CS/SA Pipeline that conveys water from CS Pump Station to San Andreas Reservoir (approximately 4.7 miles), including replacement of two segments of the pipeline, general pipeline improvements, and new access roads to ensure access to the pipeline for emergency and maintenance repairs.
Seismic upgrade to the San Andreas Outlet Structures 2 and 3, including improvements at both the outlet towers and tunnel portals located at the Harry Tracey Water Treatment Plant.
Preliminary Recommendation: Certify the Environmental Impact Report
NOTE: The public hearing on the Draft EIR is closed. The public comment period for the Draft EIR ended on December 19, 2009. The Planning Commission does not conduct public review of Final EIRs. Public comments on the certification may be presented to the Planning Commission during the Public Comment portion of the Commission calendar.
SPEAKERS: None
ACTION: Final EIR certified
AYES: Antonini, Lee, Moore, Sugaya, and Miguel
ABSENT: Borden and Olague
MOTION: 18075
C. COMMISSIONERS’ QUESTIONS AND MATTERS
5. 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:
- Request for 555 Washington CEQA Appeal findings; India Basin Notice of Preparation for the DEIR, expiring on April 22nd comments - need to analyze adequacy of transportation; request to staff for information re: stimulus package and the project on Market St. bet. 5th & 6th Streets; Condo unit statistics for those at lower price points are encouraging; information regarding multi-use turf for the Hunter's Point Shipyard will be forthcoming in early May.
Commissioner Moore:
- Asked if other Commissioners received a letter from Director Rahaim re: DR Reform; questioned the Department's pursuit of DR Reform policy given the Land Use Committee's position and current staffing levels; questioned conducting public meetings without consulting the Commission first.
Zoning Administrator:
- Responded that the current DR Policy is in-line with the Land Use Committee's desires.
Commissioner Miguel:
- Explained that his view was that participants in the DR Reform process supported changes that did not involve new legislation, and were interested in pursuing ways to implement the parts of the Reform proposal that were appropriate. There was no intent to circumvent the Planning Commission.
Zoning Administrator:
- The draft proposal is available on the Planning Department's website.
Commissioner Sugaya:
- Would have like to have received the Draft Policy with the letter from the Director.
Commissioner Miguel:
- Met with CPMC re: St. Luke's; a project on Quintara; had extensive conversations re: transportation coordination between San Mateo County (Brisbane, Mission Bay, India Basin, Candlestick Point, Hunter's Point); attended the Mayor's signing of the Green Landscaping Ordinance with the Zoning Administrator Larry Badiner, AnMarie Rodgers, and Supervisor Carmen Chu; complemented Department Staff on the recently released guide to implementing the Ordinance and encouraged anyone who hasn't yet, to visit Mission Bay.
Commissioner Lee:
- Encourage everyone to tour Mission Bay; noted the Budget implications, Bio-tech leadership in research and the impacts to City residents job growth.
Commissioner Miguel:
- Also noted the presence of families in Mission Bay.
D. DIRECTOR’S REPORT
6. Director’s Announcements
Larry Badiner, Acting Director of Planning:
- Announced that the Planning Department received an ABAG award for the Eastern Neighborhood Plan.
7. Review of Past Week’s Events at the Board of Supervisors, Board of Appeals, and Historic Preservation Commission.
E. 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.
SPEAKERS: Zach Stewart
F. PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS WHERE THE PUBLIC HEARING HAS BEEN CLOSED
At this time, members of the public who wish to address the Commission on agenda items that have already been reviewed in a public hearing at which members of the public were allowed to testify and the public hearing has been closed, must do so at this time. Each member of the public may address the Commission for up to three minutes.
SPEAKERS: None
G. REGULAR CALENDAR
8. 2009.0557C (E. JACKSON: (415) 558-6363)
2500 24TH STREET - on the block situated between 23rd Street, 24th Street, Utah Street, and San Bruno Avenue; Lot 001, Assessor’s Block 4213 - Request for Conditional Use Authorization under Planning Code Sections 209.6(b) and 234.2 to install a wireless telecommunications facility consisting of 8 new panel antennas on an existing 4 story public parking garage structure at San Francisco General Hospital. The project also includes the installation of 5 new equipment cabinets on the third floor of the parking structure. The project will serve part of T-Mobile’s wireless telecommunications network on a Location Preference 1 (Preferred Location – Publicly-used structures) according to the Wireless Telecommunications Services (WTS) Siting Guidelines. The project is located within a P (Public) Zoning District and a 40-X Height and Bulk District.
Preliminary Recommendation: Approval with Conditions
SPEAKERS: Rick Hirsch – Project Sponsor
ACTION: Approved
AYES: Antonini, Lee, Moore, Sugaya, and Miguel
ABSENT: Borden and Olague
MOTION: 18076
9a. 2008.1398RTZ (D. SÁNCHEZ: (415) 575-9082)
150 OTIS STREET - west side of Otis Street between McCoppin Street and Duboce Avenue, Lot 007 in Assessor’s Block 3513 - Request for a Planning Code Amendment proposed to be added as Section 249.46, “Veterans Commons” Special Use District, with associated amendments to the Zoning Map Sheet SU07, which would overlay the site and which would permit uses consistent with the RTO (Residential Transit Oriented) Zoning District subject to exceptions from the rear yard, useable open space, exposure, bicycle parking, dwelling unit mix and dwelling unit density requirements to allow the establishment of 76 units of affordable housing. The site is currently zoned P (Public Use). The Planning Commission will consider a resolution recommending this Text Amendment to the Board of Supervisors.
Preliminary Recommendation: Recommend Approval to the Board of Supervisors
SPEAKERS: Samuel Bibbens, David Zielke, Sam Nava, Jerry Amons, Paul Stewart
ACTION: Approved
AYES: Antonini, Lee, Moore, and Miguel
RECUSED: Sugaya
ABSENT: Borden and Olague
RESOLUTION: 18077
9b. 2008.1398RTZ (D. SÁNCHEZ: (415) 575-9082)
150 OTIS STREET - west side of Otis Street between McCoppin Street and Duboce Avenue, Lot 007 in Assessor’s Block 3513 - Request for a Zoning Map Amendment pursuant to Planning Code 302 to amend MapSU07 of the Official Zoning Map of the City and County of San Francisco, to establish the "Veterans Commons” Special Use District (SUD) and to amend Map HT07 of the Zoning Map to change the height and bulk district from 85-X to 125-X at the subject site. The Planning Commission will consider a resolution recommending these Zoning Map Amendments to the Board of Supervisors.
Preliminary Recommendation: Recommend Approval to the Board of Supervisors
SPEAKERS: Same as those listed for item 9a
ACTION: Approved
AYES: Antonini, Lee, Moore, and Miguel
RECUSED: Sugaya
ABSENT: Borden and Olague
RESOLUTION: 18077
9c. 2008.1398RTZ (D. SÁNCHEZ: (415) 575-9082)
150 OTIS STREET - west side of Otis Street between McCoppin Street and Duboce Avenue, Lot 007 in Assessor’s Block 3513 - Consideration of a Motion making General Plan consistency findings on the Planning Code Text Amendments and Zoning Map Amendments regarding the establishment of the Veterans Commons Special Use District, Lot 007 in Assessor’s Block 3513, in a P (Public Use) Zoning District.
SPEAKERS: Same as those listed for item 9a
ACTION: Approved
AYES: Antonini, Lee, Moore, and Miguel
RECUSED: Sugaya
ABSENT: Borden and Olague
MOTION: 18078
10. 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 April 15, 2010)
SPEAKERS: Loretta Penning
ACTION: Without hearing, continued to 5/20/2010
AYES: Antonini, Lee, Moore, Sugaya and Miguel
ABSENT: Borden and Olague
11. 2010.0092DD (E. OROPEZA: (415) 558-6381)
675 ARKANSAS STREET - between 20th and 22nd Streets; Lot 029 in Assessor’s Block 4099 - Request for Discretionary Review of Building Permit Application No. 2009.0529.9359 R1, proposing a one story vertical addition to the existing two story single family dwelling, all within the RH-2 (Residential, Two-Family) District, and a 40-X Height and Bulk District.
Preliminary Recommendation: Do not take Discretionary Review and approve as proposed.
SPEAKERS: Jeanine Vaughn, Philip Makanna, Jean Makanna, Dick Millet, Susan Shurman, Karen Ingleby, Billie Mitell, Susan Collins
ACTION: The Commission did not take DR and approved as proposed
AYES: Antonini, Lee, Moore, Sugaya and Miguel
ABSENT: Borden and Olague
DRA: 0148
H. 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: 3:43 p.m.
Adopted: May 13, 2010
