SAN FRANCISCO
PLANNING COMMISSION
Meeting Minutes
Commission Chambers - Room 400
City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
Thursday, July 1, 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, Adrian Putra, Elizabeth Watty, Kelley Amdur, Sarah Dennis-Philips, Steve Wertheim, Ben Fu, Erika Jackson, Mary Woods, and Linda Avery – 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.
1a. 2004.0946EKC (D. Sanchez: (415) 575-9082)
1717 17th Street - south side of 17th Street, between De Haro and Carolina Street; Lot 007 of Assessor's Block 3980 - Request for Adoption of Findings pursuant to Section 295 of the Planning Code regarding a Shadow Study that concluded that the shadow cast by the construction of a four-story, 48-foot tall mixed use building would not be adverse on Jackson Playground, land under the jurisdiction of the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department. The property is within a UMU (Urban Mixed Use) District and a 48-X Height and Bulk District.
Preliminary Recommendation: Adopt Findings.
(Proposed for Continuance to July 15, 2010)
SPEAKERS: None
ACTION: Continued as indicated
AYES: Antonini, Borden, Lee, Olague, Miguel, Moore, Sugaya
1b. 2004.0946EKC (C. Teague: (415) 575-9081)
1717 17th Street - south side between Carolina and De Haro Streets, Lot 007 in Assessor's Block 3980 - Request for Conditional Use Authorization for a Planned Unit Development with an exception for the rear yard pursuant to Planning Code Sections 134, 215, 304 and 175.6. The proposal is to demolish the existing industrial buildings and construct two adjacent four-story, 48-foot tall buildings that combine to include up to 41 dwelling units, approximately 8,000 square feet of retail space, approximately 7,000 square feet of PDR (Production/Distribution/Repair) space, up to 36 residential parking spaces, and up to 22 commercial parking spaces in the UMU (Urban Mixed Use) District and 48-X Height and Bulk District. The proposal is subject to the Eastern Neighborhood "Pipeline" controls of Planning Code Section 175.6 and the original zoning and height/bulk districts on the application filing date, which were M-1 (Light Industrial) District and a 40-X Height and Bulk District.
Preliminary Recommendation: Approval with Conditions
(Proposed for Continuance to July 15, 2010)
SPEAKERS: None
ACTION: Continued as indicated
AYES: Antonini, Borden, Lee, Olague, Miguel, Moore, Sugaya
2. 2010.0265C (D. Sánchez: (415) 575-9082)
2601 Mission Street- southeast corner of Mission and 22nd Streets, Lot 069 in Assessor’s Block 3637 - Request for Conditional Use Authorization under Planning Code Sections 736.83 and 303 to install a wireless transmission facility consisting of three panel antennas on an existing commercial structure. The antennas and equipment are proposed in Location Preference 4 (Preferred Location - Industrial/Commercial Site) according to the Wireless Telecommunications Services Siting Guidelines, as part of the Clearwire Wireless’ telecommunications network within the Mission Street Neighborhood Commercial Transit District and a 40-X/65-B Height and Bulk District.
Preliminary Recommendation: Approval with Conditions
(Proposed for Continuance to July 15, 2010)
SPEAKERS: None
ACTION: Continued as indicated
AYES: Antonini, Borden, Lee, Olague, Miguel, Moore, Sugaya
3. 2010.0211C (D. Sánchez: (415) 575-9082)
888 Brannan Street- southeast corner of 8th and Brannan Streets, Lot 007A in Assessor’s Block 3780 - Request for Conditional Use Authorization under Planning Code Sections 843.93 and 303 to install a wireless transmission facility consisting of three panel antennas on an existing commercial structure. The antennas and equipment are proposed in Location Preference 4 (Preferred Location – Industrial/Commercial Site) according to the Wireless Telecommunications Services Siting Guidelines, as part of the Clearwire Wireless’ telecommunications network within the Urban Mixed Use District (UMU) and a 68-X Height and Bulk District.
Preliminary Recommendation: Approval with Conditions
(Proposed for Continuance to July 15, 2010)
SPEAKERS: None
ACTION: Continued as indicated
AYES: Antonini, Borden, Lee, Olague, Miguel, Moore, Sugaya
4. 2010.0172D (A. STARR: (415) 558-6362)
(Continued from Regular Meeting of June 3, 2010)
(Proposed for Continuance to August 12 September 2, 2010)
SPEAKERS: None
ACTION: Continued as amended
AYES: Antonini, Borden, Lee, Olague, Miguel, Moore, Sugaya
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
5a. 2009.1002CP (A. Putra: (415) 575-9079)
100 Armory Drive - southern terminus of Armory Drive between Zoo Road and Skyline Boulevard, Lot 004 in Assessor’s Block 7281 - Request for Conditional Use Authorization pursuant to Planning Code Sections 234.2(a) and 303 to establish a new wireless telecommunications services (WTS) facility consisting of six panel antennas mounted on a 53-foot tall monopole with related equipment cabinets located at grade, as part of the T-Mobile telecommunications network in a P (Public Use) Zoning District, Coastal Zone Permit Area, and a OS (Open Space) Height and Bulk District.
Preliminary Recommendation: Approval with Conditions
SPEAKERS: None
ACTION: Approved
AYES: Antonini, Borden, Lee, Olague, Miguel, Moore, Sugaya
MOTION: 18124
5b. 2009.1002CP (A. Putra: (415) 575-9079)
100 Armory Drive - southern terminus of Armory Drive between Zoo Road and Skyline Boulevard, Lot 004 in Assessor’s Block 7281 - Request for Coastal Zone Permit, pursuant to Planning Code Section 330.1 to establish new wireless telecommunications services (WTS) facility consisting of six panel antennas mounted on a 53-foot tall monopole with related equipment cabinets located at grade, as part of the T-Mobile telecommunications network in a P (Public Use) Zoning District, Coastal Zone Permit Area, and a OS (Open Space) Height and Bulk District.
Preliminary Recommendation: Approval
SPEAKERS: None
ACTION: Approved
AYES: Antonini, Borden, Lee, Olague, Miguel, Moore, Sugaya
MOTION: 18125
C. COMMISSIONERS’ QUESTIONS AND MATTERS
Adoption of Commission Minutes – Charter Section 4.104 requires all commissioners to vote yes or no on all matters unless that commissioner is excused by a vote of the Commission. Commissioners may not be automatically excluded from a vote on the minutes because they did not attend the meeting.
6. Consideration of Adoption:
Draft Minutes of Regular Meeting of April 1, 2010
Draft Minutes of Special Meeting of June 3, 2010
Draft Minutes of Regular Meeting of June 17, 2010
SPEAKERS: None
ACTION: Approved
AYES: Antonini, Borden, Lee, Olague, Miguel, Moore, Sugaya
7. 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:
- A couple of things. I noticed today that there is a proposal that's being considered for development and we aren't supposed to comment on the viability, but I thought it was good to be aware of this one, because what we always deal with is making San Francisco as family-friendly as possible and I am happy to hear that a group is working on a school's measure and talking about neighborhood schools. It is good people are aware of this, because in addition to the cost of housing and the available of the types of housing, the thing we hear most often are schools, so that's a move in the right direction.
- Last week we closed our meeting in memory of Jo Costello, a young lady on the crew team at U.C. Berkeley and died at the age of 22 what she did in addition to graduating from Cal, made the public aware of lung cancer which kills more than all the other cancers in America, and surprisingly a considerable percentage of people who contract this disease are nonsmokers and people who are not exposed to any environment that would support that kind of thing. She took it upon herself to become a spokesperson for this and that's a wonderful thing.
- They are having an event September 12th, at Golden Gate Park and I think it's great that the public is aware of it and the fact that we haven't really improved the life expectancy for people who have contracted lung cancer in the past 18 years, it's still only 18%, and this is an area where we have to focus on a cure or better treatment options.
Vice President Olague:
- I want to congratulate Commissioner Sugaya and Commissioner Moore, and request that we close the hearing today in memory of Rene Caravaning who worked on issues such as affordable housing. If it weren't for people like him working quietly behind the scenes, then the City wouldn't be as diverse economically and racially so, I just wanted to thank him for his work and close the meeting in his honor. He worked with people like Calvin Welsh and Sue Hestor, that whole group that have worked so hard for keeping those values.
Commissioner Sugaya:
- It' is been a while since some of the news became public respect to Planning Department staff. Must have been -- I don't know how many months ago, or a month ago, at least, and then more recently, there's rumors about another staff being let go. I would like to ask for a closed session with the Director so that the Planning Commission can be informed as far as what -- within the limits of human resources, and other city regulations, not after information about specific staff people, I would just like to know in more general terms, the status of the department and plans for positions, like the Zoning Administrator, so it's not a witch-hunt and there are strict limits, I know on what can be talked about anyway, within those guidelines if there's interest on the Commission.
Commission Secretary:
- Commissioner before any other Commissioners weigh in, which the subject is not on your which the subject is not on your calendar, I might point out, but I would just -- if you would give me an opportunity to talk with the City Attorney.
- I know closed sessions on personnel issues are pretty much restricted to the hiring, firing and performance evaluation of myself as your Commission Secretary and the director of planning and would not extend to other members of the Planning Department, so let us have a chance to discuss before we say yea or nay on your request.
President Miguel:
- I also would very much like to congratulate Commissioner Moore and Commissioner Sugaya on their reappointment to another four-year term on this Commission, very aptly deserved. It will be my pleasure to continue to serve with them at least for the next two years of my term. I would like to mention something, an insert that was in the San Francisco’s Business Times last week, entitled San Francisco’s Structures It goes into such things as the problems of housing, instead of cobbling together the financing for low income house, but the center of it has some very interesting statistics, what is in under construction approved, and in planning in San Francisco's office and research development pipeline, as well as residential development pipeline, maps, other things, and the entire insert is well worth getting your hands on, if you haven't seen it.
- It was an excellent production by them, been aware they were putting this out, and I can't vouch to the absolute accuracy of all their statistics in there. Just in general they usually do a pretty good job of putting everything into current numbers. So if anyone hasn't seen it, you might enjoy it.
Commissioner Sugaya:
- I found it fascinating because it's not just a lip, it's on maps of the City and Downtown and South of Market, etcetera. There's also an interesting article in that issue about the Historic Preservation Commission and it is a fairly positive, I would say article and kind of says a lot of the fears people had when proposition J had with respect to the powers of the Commission and their ability or what they thought would be a Commission holding up projects, hasn't materialized, and there was a nice quote from the source over blowed shares, and the people sponsoring 150 Otis, the veterans housing project saying they had no problems going through the City commission in there review process. I thought it was a nice article.
Commissioner Antonini:
- I also noticed that and the Business Times has been doing that structure, what was disturbing
to me, the number of projects, both residential and commercial, usually 15 to 20 of them, five
of one and six of the other.
Commissioner Borden:
- I wanted to recognize Walter Shorestein who passed this passed week who has been a major force in the community and the real estate community. He supported a lot of causes and caused a lot of fights but had an illustrious career as not only a great, you know, business person, but also a person who supported the City.
Commissioner Lee:
- Two weeks ago, San Francisco did an article about UCSF and generated jobs, and also generates more income for the city, about 6-point-some-billion that has to do with Mission Bay
and there was an issue about patented last year for the university was zero was previous year they had quite a few patents. That's very important because of the stem cell technology at UCSF
has been able to spin off over 800 corporations, which gives us the economic base that we need to meet the future, and I think one thing about structures I noticed what Commissioner Antonini noticed, we don't have a lot of building. The average person in San Francisco doesn't understand. We don't create jobs. Most of the jobs are union jobs, plus all the entitlements. Whether for affordable housing, daycare or the school district, we don't get that, one day I will talk with Mayor Haas of the San Francisco Time to take a look at what we approve and don't approve, if we don't have any kind of development in the City, we are not going to have a tax base.
D. DIRECTOR’S REPORT
8. Director’s Announcements
9. Review of Past Week’s Events at the Board of Supervisors, Board of Appeals, and Historic Preservation Commission.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS:
no report
BOARD OF APPEALS:
no meeting
Historic Preservation Commission:
No meeting
10. (E. WATTY/K. AMDUR: (415) 558-6620/558-6351)
Interim Discretionary Review Procedures: Proposed changes to staff reports and presentations. Informational only
(Continued from Regular Meeting of May 20, 2010)
SPEAKERS: Penelope Clark, Erick Brooks, John Barlett, John Bardis, Hiroshi Fukuda
ACTION: Informational only
11. Informational Item on the Academy of Art University (AAU) Enforcement Program
SPEAKERS: David Cincotta, Erick Brooks, John Bardis, Sue Hestor, Hiroshi Fukuda
ACTION: Bring back on September 16, 2010.
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.
SPEAKERS: Eric Brooks
F. REGULAR CALENDAR
12. 2010.0068m (S. DENNIS PHILLIPS: (415) 558-6314)
Pursuant to San Francisco Charter Section 4.105, Planning Code § 340(c) and § 306.3,consideration of a Resolution of intention to initiate an amendment to the San Francisco General Plan, including amendments updating the acoustical noise levels for the City currently contained in Maps 1 and 2 of the Environmental Protection Element. At the hearing, the Planning Commission may consider adopting a Resolution of Intention to initiate amendments to the General Plan, and schedule a public hearing to consider adopting the proposed General Plan amendment.
Preliminary Recommendation: Approval
(Continued from Regular Meeting of June 3, 2010)
SPEAKERS: Rondan Klein, Debra Freedman,
ACTION: Approved
AYES: Antonini, Borden, Lee, Olague, Miguel, Moore, Sugaya
MOTION: 18126
13. 2010.0194T (S. WERTHEIM: (415) 558-6612)
DEPARTMENT-SPONSORED PLANNING CODE AMENDMENTS RELATED TO RECENTLY ADOPTED AREA PLANS AND THE JOBS-HOUSING LINKAGE FEE - The Planning Commission will consider a Resolution to approve amendments to the Planning Code. The amendments are intended to 1) improve Planning Code readability and ease of application with regard to impact fees; 2) create consistent definitions and application across the Area Plan Impact Fees (Rincon Hill, Market and Octavia, Eastern Neighborhoods, and Balboa Park); 3) better recognize and account for the impact of existing conditions on development sites in the Area Plan Impact Fees and the Jobs-Housing Linkage Fee; 4) promote adaptive re-use of existing buildings in the Eastern Neighborhoods; 5) clarify the impact fees associated with the Eastern Neighborhoods’ on-going “legitimization” program. These amendments reflect the changes made to the Code by Ordinance 108-10 that moved much of the Planning Code’s fee-related language into a new Article 4. As such, Planning Code sections proposed for amendment include Sections 179.1, 401, 413.3, 413.5, 413.6, 413.8, 418, 418.2, 418.3, 418.5, 418.6, 418.7, 421.1, 421.3, 421.7, 422.3, 423.2, 423.3, 423.5 and 428.
Preliminary Recommendation: Approval of proposed Ordinance to the Board of Supervisors.
(Continued from Regular Meeting of June 3, 2010)
SPEAKERS: None
ACTION: Approved as amended
AYES: Antonini, Borden, Lee, Miguel, Sugaya
NAYES: Moore, Olague
RESOLUTION: 18127
14. 2009.1049c (D. SANCHEZ: (415) 575-9082)
3400 MISSION STREET - southwest corner of 30th Street and Mission Street, Lot 060 in Assessor’s Block 6660 - Request for Conditional Use Authorization, pursuant to Planning Code Sections 303, 703.4 and 712.40 to allow a formula retail use (dba 7-11) at an existing gasoline service station (dba 76) within an NC-3 (Moderate Scale Neighborhood Commercial) District and a 40-x Height and Bulk District.
Preliminary Recommendation: Approval with Conditions
(Continued from Regular Meeting of May 27, 2010)
SPEAKERS: Somil Gandhi, Somal Gindie, Hardeep Gill, Fred Naranj, Binul Patel, Sureh Gandhi, Sarah Holt, Joe Belen, Jose Muniz
ACTION: Approved
AYES: Antonini, Borden, Lee, Miguel, Sugaya
NAYES: Moore, Olague
MOTION: 18128
15. 2010.0248X (B. FU: (415) 558-6613)
399 FREMONT STREET - northeast corner of Harrison and Fremont Streets, Lot 002 in Assessor’s Block 3747 - Request under Planning Code Sections 309.1, 825 and 827 to allow a 12-month time extension for a previously approved project within the RH DTR (Rincon Hill Downtown Residential Mixed Use) District with a 85/400-R Height and Bulk Designation. The approved proposal was to construct a new residential project in a 400-foot building that would consist of approximately 452 dwelling units and up to 238 off-street parking spaces.
Preliminary Recommendation: Approval with Conditions
(Continued from Regular Meeting of June 17, 2010)
SPEAKERS: Andrew Junius, Alan Phifell, Sue Hestor
ACTION: Approved
AYES: Antonini, Borden, Olague, Miguel, Moore, Sugaya
ABSENT: Lee
MOTION: 18129
16. 2010.0288C (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 6 hybrid dual panel antennas and 2 internet exchange antennas on an existing 4 story public parking garage structure at San Francisco General Hospital. The project also includes the installation of associated equipment racks within an existing equipment room. The project site is within a P (Public) Zoning District and a 40-X Height and Bulk District.
Preliminary Recommendation: Approval with Conditions
SPEAKERS: Joyce Chu, Ted Nace, Kent Swisher
ACTION: Approved
AYES: Antonini, Borden, Olague, Miguel, Moore, Sugaya
ABSENT: Lee
MOTION: 18130
17. 2010.0306C (E. Jackson: (415) 558-6363)
10 Bernal Heights Boulevard - west side of Bernal Heights Park, Lot 003 in Assessor’s Block 5548 - Request for Conditional Use Authorization under Planning Code Sections 209.6(b) and 303 to install a wireless telecommunications facility consisting of 5 round dish antennas on an existing communications tower at the top of the hill in Bernal Heights Park. The CU will modify the Conditional Use approval under Case No. 2008.1157C to change the amount of allowed antennas on the site. The project site is within a RH-1(D) (Residential, House, Single-Family, Detached) Zoning District, and a 40-X Height and Bulk District.
Preliminary Recommendation: Approval with Conditions
SPEAKERS: Joyce Chu, Bud Ryerson, Ryan McKee
ACTION: Approved
AYES: Antonini, Borden, Olague, Miguel, Moore, Sugaya
ABSENT: Lee
MOTION: 18131
18. 2007.1135EKX (J. MILLER: (415) 558-6344)
562 – 564 HOWARD STREET - north side between First and Second Streets - Review under Planning Code Section 309 of an 11-story addition to an existing two story building, to contain approximately 13 dwelling units, second-story offices and ground-story retail, approximately 130 feet in height, Lot 019 in Assessor's Block 3721, in a C-3-O(SD) (Downtown Office – Special District) and a 450-S Height and Bulk District.
Preliminary Recommendation: Approval with Conditions
SPEAKERS: None
ACTION: Continued to 7/22/10
AYES: Antonini, Borden, Lee, Olague, Miguel, Moore, Sugaya
19. 2009.1033D (M. WOODS: (415) 558-6315)
1256 Lombard Street - north side between Polk and Larkin Streets; Lot 13 in Assessor’s Block 0500 - Mandatory Discretionary Review, pursuant to Planning Code Section 317(e) of Building Permit Application No. 2010.03.04.7543, proposing to legalize the merger of two dwelling units into one dwelling unit in a three-unit residential building within the RH-3 (Residential, House, Three- Family) District and 40-X Height and Bulk District.
Preliminary Recommendation: Do not take Discretionary Review and approve
SPEAKERS: Andrew Junius, Richard Harrington
ACTION: Approved
AYES: Antonini, Borden, Olague, Miguel, Moore, Sugaya
ABSENT: Lee
DRA: 0159
G. 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))
Adjournment: 7:14 PM, in memory of Rene Cazenave and Walter Shorenstein
