SAN FRANCISCO
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
Meeting Minutes
Hearing Room 400
City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
12:30 P.M.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
Regular Meeting
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Hasz, Johns, Martinez, Matsuda, Wolfram, Damkroger, Chase
THE MEETING WAS CALLED TO ORDER BY PRESIDENT CHASE AT 12:44 P.M.
STAFF IN ATTENDANCE: John Rahaim – Planning Director, Thomas DiSanto – Chief Administrative Officer, Mat Snyder, Sara Jones, Mary Brown, Tina Tam, Aaron Hollister, Pilar LaValley, Rich Sucre, Tim Frye – Acting Preservation Coordinator, Linda Avery – Commission Secretary
A. PUBLIC COMMENT
SPEAKERS: Stephen Antonaros expressed concern about repeated fee incurred for a full C of A review for a minor revision to a small cottage in the back yard of a landmarked building. He would like to have some guidelines from the HPC or the Department on what threshold below which a project would not have to go back for a C of A, or if it is deemed to go back for a full review under the Commission, it could be on the Consent Calendar or have a reduced fee; Bradley Weidermier, Architectural Historian, commented on news media inaccuracies regarding facts about preservation. He urged HPC to write a letter to Will Cane of the Chronicle to correct the error.
B. STAFF REPORT AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Director Rahaim welcomed Commissioner Johns and congratulated Commissioners Wolfram and Hasz on their reappointment.
Acting Preservation Coordinator Frye:
Beach Chalet Soccer Fields Scoping Meeting – He invited the HPC and the public to attend the Department sponsored meeting on 2/27/11 at 6:30 p.m. at Golden Gate Park Senior’s Center.
The 2/1/11 Park and Recreation and Open Space Advisory Committee (PROSAC) meeting – was attended by the Department and Commissioner Martinez. Staff, Mary Brown, presented the Golden Gate Park (GGP) designation status report, landmark designation, and Certificate of Appropriate process at the meeting. PROSAC has some concerns about the initiation process and invited the Department back after HPC has initiated the GGP designation in March.
The Department presented the same GGP status report on 2/17/11 to the full Recreation and Park Commission instead of to the Capital Committee of Recreation and Park.
C. MATTERS OF THE COMMISSION
Commission Secretary Avery noted that today’s addendum item for Election of Officers would be heard as the first item under the Regular Calendar.
1. President’s Report and Announcements
Commissioner Chase introduced Commissioner Johns and gave an overview of his credentials, professional background and interests. He congratulated Commissioners Wolfram and Hasz on their reappointment.
2. Minor Permits to Alter: In accordance with HPC Motion No. 0083 the following Minor Permits to Alter have been delegated to the Planning Department and are pending approval. The HPC may request to review one or all of these items at a future hearing.
a. 185 Sutter Street, Case No. 2011.0040H
b. 112 Grant Avenue, Case No. 2011.0019H
SPEAKERS: None
NOTE: Commissioner Chase directed staff to approve the permits since there were no expressed comments or concerns by the public or commissioners.
3. Disclosures
Commissioner Wolfram met with contractor Tom Lewis to inspect the GFRC installation and to examine the glaze at 211 Sutter Street; he conversed with staff member Mary Brown on the Modern Design Context Statement in the last six months.
Commissioner Damkroger received email from Suzanne Dumont requesting Stow Lake Boat House be an action item before the designation process of the entire park.
Commissioner Johns has visited 147 South Park, 237 Post Street, 211Sutter Street and 970-974 Valencia Street
4. Commissioner Comments/Questions
Commissioner Wolfram requested to calendar a discussion on downtown facade conditions, maintenance, and potential concerns about safety and hazards.
Commissioner Hasz spoke with Jonathan [ ] regarding the second floor level of the Alexandria Theater that was present at last hearing. He appreciated the way it was done.
Commissioner Martinez requested to review fee structures for smaller projects, and to define when a project doesn’t have to come back to the HPC.
Commissioner Damkroger requested to agendize Stow Lake Boat House as a separate action item in March to give staff time to work with Ms. Dumont to gather more information for initiation if needed. She requested a vote to send a commissioner to the 2/17/11 Park and Recreation meeting at the HPC’s 2/16/11 meeting.
D. REGULAR CALENDAR
Addendum Item – Election of Officers
ACTION: Nomination to retain the status quo of Charles Chase as President and Courtney Damkroger as Vice President
AYES: Hasz, Johns, Martinez, Matsuda, Wolfram, Damkroger, Chase
5. Presentation of budget-balancing options and final review of proposed FY 2011-12 Historic Preservation Budget and Work Program. (T. DiSantos: 415/575-9113)
Planning Director Rahaim stated that today’s update on how to balance the budget on the revenue side would be the final presentation to the HPC. The Planning Commission is scheduled to vote on the budget 2/10/11 and it is due in the Mayor’s office on 2/22/11.
· the budget maintains a status quo for the most part – not projecting major increase or decrease; no layoffs this year; and it proposes to fill the holes the Department is projecting through means the Department has on hand; and there is a slight fee increase for price index adjustment of about 1-1/2%;
· He asked Mr. Disanto to look into the fee structure for small projects for Certificates of Appropriateness as part of the budget process. If there is not any serious fiscal impact, the Department might be able to include a fee ordinance change with the budget;
· the America’s Cup and the Health Care Master Plan have substantial costs associated with them, but they are not reflected in the budget presented today
Chief Administrative Officer Disanto gave a PowerPoint presentation on the FY2010-11 Budget Update and FY2011-12 Proposed Budget and Revenue Options.
SPEAKERS: Ingle Horton, Board Member of Sunset Parkside Education and Action Committee and Chair of it’s Preservation Committee, asked that the second part of the survey for the former Ocean Neighborhood in the Outer Sunset be reviewed and finalized this FY 2010-11 by Department staff and be brought before the HPC for approval.
NOTE: Commissioner Martinez would like to discuss projects funded by the Preservation Funds Committee as well as the remainder of the one FTE is [not?] spent. Commissioner Chase thought the 3/2/11 HPC hearing may be an appropriate time to discuss the issue as part of the work program. He request Mr. Frye provide items that are pending and what is necessary in terms of FTE to get a better idea of those items that have been indicated to be completed this year.
6. ACTION PLAN UPDATE INFORMATIONAL PRESENTATION – Planning Staff will highlight the accomplishments of the Action Plan (2008-2010) and present the Revised Development Review Process (M. Snyder: 415/558-6478 &
Sara Jones : 415/575-9034)
SPEAKERS: Gee Gee Platt, commented that the graphic chart presented does not have the HPC component.
7. 2011.0059U (M. Brown: 415/575-9074)
MODERN DESIGN HISTORIC CONTEXT STATEMENT - The San Francisco Modern Architecture and Landscape Design 1935-1970 Historic Context Statement documents the development of Modern architecture and landscape design in San Francisco and outlines significance, integrity considerations, and registration requirements. Consideration to adopt, modify, or disapprove the San Francisco Modern Architecture and Landscape Design 1935-1970 Historic Context Statement.
Preliminary Recommendation: Motion to Adopt the San Francisco Modern Architecture and Landscape Design 1935-1970 Historic Context Statement.
SPEAKERS: Ingle Horton, member of Docomomo, read a letter of support of the Modern Design Historic Context Statement from Docmomo; Bradley Weidermier stated some other practitioners are left out in the Statement and disagreed with the definition of bay divisions.
ACTION: Approved as modified
AYES: Hasz, Johns, Martinez, Matsuda, Wolfram, Damkroger, Chase
MOTION NO: M0099
8. 2010.0959E (T. Tam: 415/558-6325)
147 SOUTH PARK – located on the south side between 2nd and 3rd Streets, in Assessor’s Block 3775, Lot 031. Request for review pursuant to the Eastern Neighborhoods Interim Permit Review Procedures for Historic Resources. The proposed project is to demolish the existing vacant single-family building and construct a new 4-story, 40’-0” tall, mixed-use building, with a restaurant on the first floor and two residential units on the upper floors. The subject parcel is located within the SPD (South Park District) District, in a 40-X Height and Bulk District, and within the East SoMa Area Plan. The Department is reviewing an Environmental Evaluation application and Historic Resource Evaluation Report for the project.
Preliminary Recommendation: Adopt Motion
PRESENTER: Karen Sidwell, Tim Kelley Consulting; Geddes Ulinskas, Architect
SPEAKERS: None
ACTION: Adopted as recommended by the Department
AYES: Hasz, Johns, Martinez, Matsuda, Wolfram, Chase
NAY: Damkroger
MOTION NO: M0100
9. 2006.0536F (T. TAM: 415/558-6325)
LOWER CRYSTAL SPRINGS DAM IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. The Lower Crystal Springs Dam Improvement Project is located in an unincorporated area of San Mateo County on lands owned by the City and County of San Francisco (CCSF). Request for Review and Comment on the documentation and draft Memorandum of Agreement prepared by United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) for Section 106 review of the proposed modification of various features of the Lower Crystal Springs Dam (LCSD) to comply with requirements of the California Department of Water Resources, Division of Safety of Dams (DSOD). The primary alterations at the top of the dam include raising the parapet wall, widening the spillway, and reshaping the spillway crest. At the toe of the dam, the existing stilling basin will be demolished and replaced with a larger stilling basin. Downstream of the stilling basin, riprap grouted with concrete will be installed within the creek channel to protect the dam abutments and creek banks from erosion. Upon completion of construction, the SFPUC will raise the maximum operating level of the reservoir from the current DSOD-permitted water level elevation of 283.8 feet to a normal maximum elevation of 287.8 feet, with an occasional increase in elevation up to 291.8 feet, the historical maximum elevation of the reservoir. The project will improve reliability of the SFPUC’s water supply system which serves customers in San Francisco and San Mateo Counties.
Preliminary Recommendation: Direct staff to draft written comments of the Commission to be forwarded to the US Army Corps of Engineer (USACE) and State Office of Historic Preservation (SHPO).
PRESENTER: Debbie [Cravengreen] - SF Public Utility Commission; Brad Brewster – Cultural Specialist from ESA
SPEAKERS: None
ACTION: Concurred with staff recommendations and directed staff to send a concurrence letter to the US Army Corps of Engineer
AYES: Hasz, Johns, Martinez, Matsuda, Wolfram, Damkroger, Chase
MOTION NO: L0003
10. 2006.1388F (T. TAM: 415/558-6325)
SEISMIC UPGRADE OF BAY DIVISION PIPELINE NOS. 3 AND 4. The Seismic Upgrade of Bay Division Pipeline (BDPL) Nos. 3 and 4 cross the Hayward Fault in the City of Fremont, Alameda County, California. The sections of the pipeline to be upgraded are located within the 24.4-meter (80-foot) SFPUC ROW between the existing South and North Shutoff Stations near the intersection of Interstate 680 (I-680) and Mission Boulevard. Within the project area, the pipelines cross I-680, three I-680 on-ramps, Mission Boulevard, Agua Caliente Creek (contained within a concrete culvert), and Agua Fria Creek (a creek that crosses the pipeline ROW and flows within its natural bed within the ROW). The SFPUC ROW traverses residential areas on both the north and south ends. Request for Review and Comment on the documentation and draft Memorandum of Agreement prepared by United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) for Section 106 review of the proposed installation of approximately 719 meters (2,360 feet) of 1.8- to 2.0-meter (72- to 78-inch) diameter welded steel pipe (BDPL No. 3X) directly adjacent to the existing 2.0-meter (78-inch)-diameter BDPL No. 3 between the North and South Shutoff Stations. In addition, upgrades to the existing BDPL No. 4 will be implemented to seismically strengthen the pipeline where it crosses all three traces of the Hayward fault, and to prevent damage to the new BDPL No. 3X should BDPL No. 4 fail. The new BDPL No. 3X will parallel the two existing pipelines at a depth comparable to or below the existing BDPL Nos. 3 and 4, and all facilities with the exception of access structures will be constructed below ground. All improvements will be constructed within the 24.4-meter (80-foot) SFPUC ROW between the existing South and North Shutoff Stations, and temporary bridges will be constructed across Mission Boulevard and the I-680 on-ramps where they are crossed by the ROW to facilitate traffic flow during construction. For planning purposes, the project area has been divided into eight construction zones and includes four staging areas where grading (but no excavation) will occur.
Preliminary Recommendation: Direct staff to draft written comments of the Commission to be forwarded to the US Army Corps of Engineer (USACE) and State Office of Historic Preservation (SHPO).
ACTION: Following staff presentation, the item was continued to the 2/16/11 hearing to allow complete distribution of case materials
AYES: Hasz, Johns, Martinez, Matsuda, Wolfram, Damkroger, Chase
11. 2010.1084H (A. Hollister: 415/575-9078)
237 POST STREET, south side between Stockton Street and Grant Avenue, Assessor’s Block 0309, Lot 025. Request for a Major Permit to Alter to replace the front façade of the subject building. The subject building is a Category V Building within the Kearny-Market-Mason-Sutter Conservation District and is in the C-3-R (Downtown Retail) District with an 80-130-F Height and Bulk limit.
Recommendation: Approval with Conditions
PRESENTER: George [Popaldopolis] – Graff Holdings; Larry Archer – Peter [Marinol], Architect from New York
SPEAKERS: None
ACTION: Approved as drafted with conditions 1, 3, 4, & 5; and with language in HPC findings that the ornamental screens are not a precedent for other projects in the Kearny-Market-Mason-Sutter Conservation District.
AYES: Hasz, Johns, Martinez, Matsuda, Wolfram, Damkroger, Chase
MOTION NO: M0101
12. 2010.0964H and 2010.0448H (P. LaValley: 415/575-9084)
211 SUTTER STREET, southwest corner of Kearny and Sutter Streets, Assessor’s Block 0293, Lots 001. Request for Review & Comment on proposed glaze samples for replacement glass fiber reinforced concrete (GFRC) per conditions of approval for Major Permit to Alter for Case No. 2010.0448H, which was approved by the Historic Preservation Commission at the regular hearing on July 7, 2010, and for Major Permit to Alter for Case No. 2010.0964H, which was approved by the Historic Preservation Commission at the regular hearing on November 3, 2010. The subject building, historically known as the Sherman Clay & Company Building, is a Category I Building within the Kearny-Market-Mason-Sutter Conservation District and is in C-3-O (Downtown Office) District with an 80-130-F Height and Bulk limit.
PRESENTER: Mr. Lewis - Project Sponsor
SPEAKERS: Mr. Dillon – Historic Preservation in San Francisco
NOTE: Concurred with staff recommendations
AYES: Hasz, Johns, Martinez, Matsuda, Wolfram, Damkroger, Chase
13. 2009.0601A (R. Sucre: 415/575-9108)
970-974 VALENCIA STREET, west side of street between Liberty and 21st Streets, Assessor’s 3608, Lot 007. Request for a Certificate of Appropriateness to legalize the existing storefront, constructed without benefit of a permit and Certificate of Appropriateness, and install new signage. The subject property is a contributing structure to the Liberty-Hill Historic District and is located within the Valencia Street Neighborhood Commercial Transit District with a 50-X Height and Bulk limit. Preliminary Recommendation: Approval with Conditions
SPEAKERS: None
ACTION: Approved with conditions as recommended by staff
AYES: Hasz, Johns, Martinez, Matsuda, Wolfram, Damkroger, Chase
MOTION NO: M0102
ADJOURNMENT: 3:55 P.M.
The minutes was proposed for adoption at the Regular Meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission on Wednesday, March 2, 2011.
ACTION: Approved
AYES: Chase, Damkroger, Hasz, Matinez, Matsuda, Wolfram, Johns
