April 14, 2011

SAN FRANCISCO

PLANNING COMMISSION

Notice of Meeting

&

Calendar

Commission Chambers - Room 400

City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place

Thursday, April 14, 2011

* * * 1:00 PM * * *

Regular Meeting

 

President: Christina R. Olague

Vice-President:  Ron Miguel

                        Commissioners: Michael J. Antonini; Gwyneth Borden; Rodney Fong; Kathrin Moore;

Hisashi Sugaya

 

Commission Secretary: Linda D. Avery

 

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 9:30 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.

 

 

 

1:00 PM   _________

 

ROLL CALL:                                                     

                        President:                                 Christina R. Olague

                        Vice-President:                          Ron Miguel

Commissioners:                                                                                                Michael J. Antonini; Gwyneth Borden; Rodney Fong; Kathrin Moore; Hisashi Sugaya

 

NOTE:  For the next few weeks, the Commission’s Order of Business has been altered to accommodate the new start time and honor the 1:30 p.m. noticed time for most cases.

 

A.         GENERAL PUBLIC 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.

 

B.         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.

 

1.         Consideration of Adoption:

 

·         Draft Minutes of Special Meeting of February 24, 2011

·         Draft Minutes of Regular Meeting of February 24, 2011

·         Draft Minutes of Regular Meeting of March 17, 2011

·         Draft Minutes of Regular Meeting of March 24, 2011

 

2.         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.

 

C.         DIRECTOR’S REPORT

 

3.         Director’s Announcements

           

4.         Review of Past Week’s Events at the Board of Supervisors, Board of Appeals, and Historic Preservation Commission.

 

5.                                                                                                (J. SWITZKY: (415) 575-6815)

CENTRAL CORRIDOR PLANNING PROJECT - Informational Item - Staff will provide a brief introduction to the new comprehensive planning effort to evaluate land use, urban form, and public realm issues in the Central Subway corridor south of Market Street.

 

                                                                                   

            6.                                                                                                       (B. SMITH: (415) 575-6835)

                        DemoNstration of new property information map

 

1:30 P.M.

 

D.            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.

               

7          2006.0428C                                                                   (D. SANCHEZ: (415) 575-9082)

                        2401 16^TH STREET - south side between Bryant and Florida Streets; Lot 001 in Assessor's Block 3965 - Request for Conditional Use Authorization pursuant to Planning Code Sections 134, 175.6(e)(1), 215(a) and 303 to allow new construction of a 4 story 40 foot tall building containing 12 dwelling units and 12 off-street parking spaces utilizing its Eastern Neighborhoods Pipeline Status to elect to conform to the controls under the M-1 (Light Industrial) Zoning District and the 68-X Height and Bulk District, while conforming to Articles 1, 1.2, 1.5, 2.5, as amended by the Eastern Neighborhoods Controls, or requesting Conditional Use authorization to seek relief from those amended Articles.

                        Preliminary Recommendation: Approval with Conditions

(Proposed for Continuance to April 21, 2011)

                                                                                     

8          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).

Preliminary Recommendation: Certify the Final Environmental Impact Report. 

Response to the Planning Commission Draft EIR questions.

(Proposed for Continuance to June 23, 2011)

 

 

 

 

                       

E.         REGULAR CALENDAR 

 

9.         2009.1163E                                                                 (D. LEWIS: (415) 575-9095)

17^th and Folsom Park - north side of 17^th Street between Folsom and Shotwell Streets; Lot 18 in Assessor’s Block 3571 - Appeal of a Preliminary Mitigated Negative Declaration. The proposed project would subdivide the 60,925-square-foot parcel, which is currently a 219-space surface parking lot, and construct a 34,300-square-foot neighborhood park that would front on 17^th, Folsom, and Shotwell Streets. No structures, including restrooms, are proposed. The remaining 26,625 square feet of the lot would remain in its current use. The project site is located within the Eastern Neighborhoods Rezoning and Area Plans, a Public Use District, and a 50-X Height and Bulk District.

Preliminary Recommendation: Uphold the Preliminary Mitigated Negative Declaration

                        (Continued from Regular Meeting of March 17, 2011)

 

10                                                                                           (D. Alumbaugh (415) 558-6601)

Infrastructure Finance District Partnerships - Informational presentation by the Office of Economic and Workforce Development on the idea of Infrastructure Finance District partnerships.

Preliminary Recommendation: Informational only, no action requested.

 

11         2010.1044X                                                                                 (B. FU: (415) 558-6613)

45 LANSING STREET - south side of Lansing Street on a through lot that also fronts Harrison Street, between First and Essex Streets, Lot 059 in Assessor’s Block 3749 -Request under Planning Code Sections 309.1, 352, 825 and 827 to allow modification and re-entitlement of a project approved under Motion No. 17397 within the RH-DTR (Rincon Hill Downtown Residential Mixed Use) Zoning District and 65/400-R Height and Bulk District.  The proposal would increase the number of dwellings from 227 to 320 and number of parking spaces from 227 to 265, and require a determination of compliance under Planning Code Section 309.1, including exceptions to allow greater than one parking space for every two dwelling units, provide off-site open space in lieu of on-site, and allow dwelling units without Code-required exposure.

Preliminary Recommendation: Approval with conditions.

                        (Continued from Regular Meeting of March 17, 2011)

 

12         2010.1045C                                                                         (M. SMITH: (415) 558-6322)

401 TARAVAL STREET – southwest corner at 14^th Avenue; Lot 001 in Assessor’s Block 2411 - Request for Conditional Use Authorization, pursuant to Planning Code Section 711.81 to convert the existing two-story over basement, 13,666 square-foot office building into a church (dba San Francisco Bible Church), located within a NC-2 (Neighborhood Commercial – Small Scale) District and 40-X Height and Bulk Districts.

Preliminary Recommendation:  Approval with Conditions

 

13.        2009.0155                                                                          (M. SMITH: (415) 558-6322)

3987 20^TH STREET - south side  between   Sanchez  and  Church  Streets;  Lot 055A  in

Assessor's Block 3605 - The hearing will be held to clarify a previous Planning Commission decision (Discretionary Review Action No. 0193 - adopted on February 3, 2011) for Building Permit Application No. 2010.07.06.6032, proposing to construct a roof deck and a three-story horizontal addition at the rear of a single-family dwelling, located in a RH-1 (Residential, House, One-Family) District, the Dolores Heights Special Use District, and a 40-X Height and Bulk District.

                       

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))

 

 

Adjournment: