SAN FRANCISCO
PLANNING COMMISSION
&
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
Notice of Special Joint Meeting
Commission Chambers - Room 400
City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
Thursday, October 21, 2010
10:30 A.M.
Special Hearing
Planning Commission Calendars are available on the Internet at http://www.sfgov.org/planning
or as a recorded message at (415) 558-6422.
Case reports and relevant materials are linked to the items on calendar at the above web site.
View the meeting online at: http://www.sfgov.org/site/sfgtv_index.asp
Or
View the broadcast live, Thursdays on Cable Channel 78.
And
The re-broadcast on Fridays at 8:00 p.m., Cable Channel 26
THE AGENDA PACKET IS ALSO AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW AT THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT
1650 MISSION STREET, 4TH FLOOR RECEPTION
Commission Meeting Procedures
Material submitted by the public for Commission review prior to a scheduled hearing should be received by the Planning Department reception counter at 1650 Mission Street, 4th floor, no later than 5:00 PM the Wednesday (eight days) prior to the scheduled public hearing. Persons unable to attend a hearing may submit written comments regarding a calendared item to: Planning Commission, 1650 Mission Street, Suite 400, San Francisco, CA 94103-2414. Comments received by 11:00 AM on the day of the hearing will be made part of the official record and will be brought to the attention of the Planning Commission at the public hearing. Otherwise, submit material related to a calendared item at the scheduled hearing for distribution. For complete distribution to all Commissioners, necessary staff and case/docket/correspondence files, submit an original plus 10 copies. When sending e-mail correspondence to Commissioners, please copy the Commission Secretary at: linda.avery@sfgov.org
Pursuant to Government Code Section 65009, if you challenge, in court, (1) the adoption or amendment of a general plan, (2) the adoption or amendment of a zoning ordinance, (3) the adoption or amendment of any regulation attached to a specific plan, (4) the adoption, amendment or modification of a development agreement, or (5) the approval of a variance, conditional-use authorization, or any permit, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the Planning Commission, at, or prior to, the public hearing.
Commission action on conditional-uses and reclassification may be appealed to the Board of Supervisors within 30 days. Call (415) 554-5184 for more information. Commission actions after Discretionary Review may be appealed to the Board of Appeals within 15 days of action by the Central Permit Bureau. Call (415) 575-6880 for more information. Zoning Administrator action on a variance application may be appealed to the Board of Appeals within 10 days of issuance of the written decision.
The Commission has instituted a policy that, in most cases, they will not call an item for consideration after 10:00 PM. If an item is scheduled but not called or introduced prior to 10:00 PM, the Commission may continue the matter to the next available hearing. Items listed on this calendar will not be heard before the stated time.
Policy on Commissioner’s requests for hearings: There must be consensus of the Commission (four commissioners) or direction from the President/Chair to schedule a hearing that otherwise would not be scheduled.
Cell Phone and/or Sound-Producing Electronic Devices Usage at Hearings
Effective January 21, 2001, the Board of Supervisors amended the Sunshine Ordinance by adding the following provision: The ringing of and use of cell phones, pagers and similar sound-producing electronic devices are prohibited at this meeting. Please be advised that the Chair may order the removal from the meeting room of any person(s) responsible for the ringing or use of a cell phone, pager, or other similar sound-producing electronic devices (67A.1 prohibiting the use of cell phones, pagers and similar sound-producing electronic devices at and during public meetings).
For more information related to Planning Commission matters, please call Linda D. Avery, Commission Secretary, at (415) 558-6407.
San Francisco Lobbyist Ordinance
Attention: Individuals and entities that influence or attempt to influence local legislative or administrative action my be required by the San Francisco Lobbyist Ordinance [SF Campaign and Governmental Conduct Code Section 21.00-2.160] to register and report lobbying activity. For more information about the Lobbyist Ordinance, please contact the Ethics Commission at 30 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 3900, San Francisco, CA 94102; telephone (415) 581-2300; fax (415) 581-2317; and web site http//www.sfgov.org/ethics.
Accessible Meeting Policy
Hearings are held at City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 400, fourth floor, San Francisco, CA. The closest accessible BART station is the Civic Center station located at the intersection of Market, Hyde and Grove Streets. Accessible curbside parking has been designated at points along McAllister Street. Accessible MUNI lines serving City Hall are the 9 San Bruno and 71 Haight/Noriega and the F Line. Accessible MUNI Metro lines are the J, K, L, M, and N. For more information regarding MUNI accessible services, call (415) 923-6142. Requests for American Sign Language interpreters, sound enhancement systems and/or language translators will be available upon request by contacting Lulu Hwang at (415) 558-6318 at least 48 hours prior to a hearing. A sound enhancement system will be available upon request at the meetings. Please contact Services for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired at 557-5533 (TDD) or 557-5534 (Voice) at least 48 hours prior to the meeting. Late requests will be honored if possible. A person who is deaf or hearing impaired may gain meeting information prior to the meeting by calling 557-4433 (TDD) or 557-4434 (Voice). In addition, the California Relay Service can be used by individuals with hearing and speech impairments by calling 1-800-735-2929 (TDD) or 1-800-735-2922 (Voice). Minutes of the meetings are available in alternative formats. If you require the use of a reader during the meeting, please contact the Library for the Blind and Print Handicapped at 292-2022 at least 48 hours in advance of need. Accessible seating for persons with disabilities (including those using wheelchairs) will be available at meetings. Individuals with severe allergies, environmental illnesses, multiple chemical sensitivity or related disabilities should call our accessibility hotline at (415) 554-8925 to discuss meeting accessibility. In order to assist the City’s efforts to accommodate such people, attendees at public meetings are reminded that other attendees may be sensitive to various chemical-based products. Please help the City to accommodate these individuals.
Know Your Rights Under the Sunshine Ordinance
Government's duty is to serve the public, reaching its decisions in full view of the public. Commissions, boards, councils and other agencies of the City and County exist to conduct the people's business. This ordinance assures that deliberations are conducted before the people and that City operations are open to the people's review.
For more information on your rights under the Sunshine Ordinance (Chapter 67 of the San Francisco Administrative Code) or to report a violation of the ordinance, contact Adele Destro, Interim Administrator, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 409, by phone at (415) 554-7724, by fax at (415) 554-7854 or by E-mail at sotf@sfgov.org.
Copies of the Sunshine Ordinance can be obtained from the Clerk of the Sunshine Task Force, the San Francisco Library and on the City’s website at www.sfgov.org/bdsupvrs/sunshine.
COMMUNICATIONS
Note: Each item on the Consent or Regular calendar may include the following documents:
1) Planning Department Case Executive Summary
2) Planning Department Case Report
3) Draft Motion or Resolution with Findings and/or Conditions
4) Public Correspondence
These items will be available for review at the Planning Department, 1650 Mission St., 4th floor reception.
Roll Call:
PLANNING
COMMISSION: President: Ron Miguel
Vice-President: Christina R. Olague
Commissioners: Michael J. Antonini; Gwyneth Borden;
Kathrin Moore; Hisashi Sugaya
HISTORIC PRESERVATION
COMMISSION: President: Charles Chase
Vice-President: CourtneyDamkroger
Commissioners: James M. Buckley; Karl Hasz; Diane Matsuda;
Alan Martinez; Andrew Wolfram
A. SPECIAL CALENDAR:
1. 2010.0080T (T. Sullivan: (415) 558-6257)
Amendments to the Planning Code including but not limited to Articles 10 and 11 - Ordinance sponsored by the Planning Department that would amend the Planning Code including but not limited to Sections 121.2, 136.1, 151, 185, 186, 201, 204.2, 205, 205.1, 205.3, 207.2, 209.3, 209.8, 217, 249, 303, 309, 311, 340, 317, 602.25, 602.26, 607.1, 790.44, 803.2, 803.3, 3 890.133, 890.44, 703.2, and Articles 7, 10, and 11 being amended. The Planning Commission reviewed the proposed amendments on August 5, 2010 and recommended approval with minor modifications of various Code Sections to the Board of Supervisors. The Historic Preservation Commission reviewed the proposed amendments on July 21st, August 4th, 18th, September 1st, 15, 29th, October 6th, and 15th, and recommended approval with modifications to Articles 10 and 11 to the Board of Supervisors. The Department is bringing Articles 10 and 11 to the Planning Commission with the Historic Preservation Commission’s proposed modifications for discussion and possible modification to Resolution 18157, passed by the Planning Commission on August 5, 2010.
Please note: both the Planning Commission and the Historic Preservation Commission will forward separate recommendations on Case No. 2010.0080T to the Board of Supervisors.
The focus of this hearing will be on Articles 10 and 11.
1:30 P.M. – (Although the following items will not be heard prior to 1:30 p.m., they could be heard after that time.)
B. 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.
C. CONSIDERATION OF FINDINGS AND FINAL ACTION – PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED
2. 2008.0081E (D. JAIN: (415) 575-9051)
950 Mason Street – Fairmont Hotel Project - Certification of the Final Environmental Impact Report - The project site is located at 950 Mason Street (Assessor’s Block 0244, Lot 001). The proposed project includes: 1) renovation of portions of the landmark 1906 Fairmont Hotel building (City Landmark # 185), including consolidation of up to 60 hotel rooms; 2) reconfiguration of some existing hotel uses; 3) demolition of the 1961 23-story Fairmont Hotel tower above the five-story podium; and 4) construction of a new 160–unit, 26-story residential tower and five-story midrise residential component, both above a five-story podium, on the site of the existing hotel tower and podium (proposed to be demolished). The proposed project would include below-grade parking for about 350 vehicles. The 113,400-square-foot project site is located in an RM-4 (Residential Mixed-High Density) Use District and the Nob Hill Special Use District (SUD), and in 200-E, 300-E and 320-E Height and Bulk Districts. The proposed project would require Conditional Use (CU) authorization for height and bulk and for a Planned Unit Development (PUD) including exceptions to the 25 percent rear yard requirement, as well as require Planning Commission approval under the “Large Tourist Hotel Conversion Ordinance,” Administrative Code 41F.3(f), among other approvals. The proposed exterior changes to the historic 1906 Fairmont Hotel building would also require a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic Preservation Commission. The Draft EIR found that implementation of the proposed project would result in a significant unavoidable environmental impact on cultural resources, related to demolition of the Tonga Room, which has been identified as a historic resource under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
NOTE: The action for this item falls under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Planning Commission
Preliminary Recommendation: Certify the Final Environmental Impact Report.
Note: The public review period for the Draft Environmental Impact Report ended at 5:00 pm, June 16, 2010. 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.
D. SPECIAL CALENDAR:
3. 2008.0081ACEKU (T. FRYE: (415) 575-6822)
950 MASON STREET - Bound by Mason, Powell, Sacramento, and California Streets, Lot 001; Assessor’s Block 0244. Adoption of California Environmental Quality Act Findings - The Project includes: 1) renovation of portions of the landmark 1906 Fairmont Hotel building (City Landmark # 185), including consolidation of up to 60 hotel rooms; 2) reconfiguration of some existing hotel uses; 3) demolition of the 1961 23-story Fairmont Hotel tower above the five-story podium; and 4) construction of a new 160–unit, 26-story residential tower and five-story midrise residential component, both above a five-story podium, on the site of the existing hotel tower and podium (proposed to be demolished). The proposed project would include below-grade parking for about 350 vehicles. The CEQA Findings include a statement of overriding benefits and a mitigation monitoring and reporting program (MMRP) associated with approving the proposed 950 Mason Street Project. They include a rationale for rejecting alternatives identified in the EIR, and a statement of overriding considerations that lists technical, social and economic reasons for approving the proposed project despite identified significant, adverse environmental impacts.
NOTE: The action for this item falls under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Planning Commission
Preliminary Recommendation: Adopt CEQA Findings Motion
4. 2008.0081ACEKU (T. FRYE: (415) 575-6822)
950 MASON STREET - bound by Mason, Powell, Sacramento, and California Streets, Lot 001; Assessor’s Block 0244 - Request for a Certificate of Appropriateness for the exterior rehabilitation of portions of the California Street elevation; the restoration and the rehabilitation of the exterior of the building at the location of the Venetian Room (east elevation); seismic work as it relates to the exterior of the historic building at the location of the new podium, mid-rise component, and tower; removal of the existing connections that lead from the historic portion of the hotel to the 1961 podium and tower and the introduction of new connections; and exterior alterations to a loading dock on the Sacramento Street elevation. A portion of the lot is City Landmark No. 185, the Fairmont Hotel. The subject building is located at 950 Mason Street, within the Nob Hill Special Use District, and a 200-E-2/300-E-2/320-E Height and Bulk District.
NOTE: The action for this item falls under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Historic Preservation Commission
Preliminary Recommendation: Approval with Conditions
5a. 2008.0081ACEKU (T. FRYE: (415) 575-6822)
950 MASON STREET - bound by Mason, Powell, Sacramento, and California Streets, Lot 001; Assessor’s Block 0244 - Request for Authorization for the conversion and consolidation of up to 286 tourist hotel rooms pursuant to the Large Tourist Hotel Conversion Ordinance, Chapter 41f of the Administrative Code. A portion of the lot is City Landmark No. 185, the Fairmont Hotel. The subject building is located at 950 Mason Street, Lot 0244 in Assessor's Block 001, within the Nob Hill Special Use District, and a 200-E-2/300-E-2/320-E Height and Bulk District.
NOTE: The action for this item falls under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Planning Commission
Preliminary Recommendation: Approval with Conditions
5b. 2008.0081ACEKU (T. FRYE: (415) 575-6822)
950 MASON STREET - bound by Mason, Powell, Sacramento, and California Streets, Lot 001; Assessor’s Block 0244 - Request for a Conditional Use Authorization for a Planned Unit Development and the consolidation and conversion of tourist hotel rooms to residential pursuant to the Large Tourist Hotel Conversion Ordinance, and pursuant to sections 263.5, 238, 303, 304, of the Planning Code, with specific modifications to Planning Code regulations related to Height & Bulk, Rear Yard, and Permitted Obstructions with respect to a proposal to demolish the existing 1961 podium and tower structure and remove up to 226 and consolidate up to 60 tourist hotel rooms and construct a new 26-story and a 5-story mid-rise component that are located on a 5-story podium structure (for a total height of 317-feet excluding mechanical appurtenances) with up to 160 residential units, the addition of up to 185 off-street parking spaces (for a total of 350 independently-accessible off-street spaces). A portion of the lot is City Landmark No. 185, the Fairmont Hotel. The subject building is located at 950 Mason Street, Lot 0244 in Assessor's Block 001, within the Nob Hill Special Use District, and a 200-E-2/300-E-2/320-E Height and Bulk District.
NOTE: The action for this item falls under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Planning Commission
Preliminary Recommendation: Approval with Conditions
Adjournment:
