FINAL ACTION MINUTES

OF THE

SAN FRANCISCO

LANDMARKS PRESERVATIN ADVISORY BOARD MEETING

 

CITY HALL

1 DR. CARLTON B. GOODLETT PLACE, ROMM 400

November 16, 2005

 

 

12:00 P.M. ROLLCALL

 

FOR FULL BOARD CONSIDERATION

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:  CHAN, CHERNY, KOTAS, MALEY, MARTINEZ, SHATARA, SKRONDAL AND STREET

 

MEMBER(S) ABSENT:  DEARMAN

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

 

Marie France Ladine:  Speaking on behalf of the San Francisco Rescue Mission.  The rescue mission is opposed to the landmarking of 230 Jones Street.

 

Cris Hart:  Requested finding a new location and preserving San Francisco Landmark state belt railroad steam engine #4.

 

Kathy Howard:  Announced the land use committee of the Board of Supervisor hearing will be held today regarding the music concourse.

 

REPORTS

 

            1.            STAFF REPORT AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

                        Mark Luellen, Planning Staff:

                        i            The music concourse will be heard at the land use hearing today.

i            St. Brigid Church was continued until December 7^th land use hearing.

i            April Hesik has joined the Landmarks Northeast team as a tech spec. She will be working with Adam Light.

i            Deputy City Attorney Sarah Owsowitz has accepted another position; replacing her will be Deputy City Attorney Marlena Byrne.

 

• PRESIDENT’S REPORT AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

M. Bridget Maley, President:

i            Met with Mark Luellen and other city departments regarding moving forward with the implementation of universal access to the Board of Supervisor’s room at City Hall.

i            She ahs also been working on getting the Landmarks Board minutes completed.

 

1. MATTERS OF THE BOARD

Elizabeth Skrondal:

i            Announced that this would be her last day as a member on the Landmarks Board.  She thanked Mayor Newson and Former Mayor Brown for allowing her the opportunity to serve the city of San Francisco.

 

Robert Cherny:

i            He questioned if the work that has been proposed to the old mint will be heard at the Landmarks Board.

 

Alan Martinez:

i            He requested to have calendar for discussion the four proposals for survey work presented by the public for the work program.

 

Jeremy Kotas:

i            He announced that today’s hearing will be his last day as a member on the Landmarks Board.

 

• LANDMARKS WORK PROGRAM 2005-2006

 

Mark Luellen, Planning Staff:

i            He stated the Mission High School project would be a good candidate for the work program.

 

            Board Comments

 

                        M. Bridget Maley, President

i            Requested more details and a meeting with the School District before moving forward with the Mission High School proposal.

 

Alan Martinez:

i            He questioned what are the procedures for the work program?

 

ACTION ITEM(S)

 

5.         Formal presentation and adoption of a Resolution honoring Sarah Ellen Owsowitz, former Deputy City Attorney.

 

            Board Action:

It was moved by Board Member Cherny (seconded by Chan) to adopt the resolution honoring Sarah Ellen Owsowitz, Deputy City Attorney.  The vote was unanimous.

 

            AYES:  Chan, Cherny, Lotas, Maley, Martinez, Shatara, Skrondal and Street

            NOES:  None

            ABSENT:  Dearman

 

Tape No(s):  1a

 

 

6.         ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE (ARC) BYLAWS, The Landmarks Board will consider an amendment to the bylaws to change the number of members the Architectural Review Committee and that the Board President will be able to appoint a temporary member should there be a lack of quorum.  (Note:  Continued from the October 19, 2005 Landmarks Board hearing.)

 

                        Board Actions:

It was moved by Board Member Skrondal (seconded by Kotas) to amend the Architectural Review Committee (ARC) Bylaws.  The vote was unanimous.

 

AYES:            Chan, Cherny, Kotas, Maley, Martinez, Shatara, Skrondal and Street

                        NOES:                        None

                        ABSENT:            Dearman

 

Review and Comment

 

• 72 TOWNSEND STREET

Mark Luellen, Planning Staff

72 Townsend Street, north side, between Colin P. Kelly and 2^nd Streets.  Assessor’s Block 3789, Lot 003 – Request for review and comment on the proposed project, which is located in the Rincon Point-South Beach Redevelopment Area.  The proposal is to construct vertical addition on the existing single-story historic warehouse; this addition would contain 74 condominium dwelling units.  Two retail/commercial spaces would front on Townsend Street.  The subject single-story building, the Hooper’s South End Grain Warehouse, is a contributory building in the South End Historic District; it is zoned M-2 (Heavy Industrial) and is in a 105-F Height and Bulk District.  (Note:  This project was originally presented on October 5, 2005 and has since been revised.)

 

Speaker(s):

            Charles Chase

 

Board Comment(s):

i            Are there any other vacant lot’s, how long have this building been vacant, review of the stucco on the building and suggested not using the Townsend Street side for the alterations, the column seen to large.  Is there a height limit in that area?

 

Action:            It was moved by Member Skrondal (seconded by Shatara) to approve the recusal of Member Street from items #8 and #9.  The vote was unanimous.

 

AYES:                        Chan, Cherny, Kotas, Maley, Martinez, Shatara, Skrondal and Street

NOES:                        None

ABSENT:            Dearman

 

 

 

Tape No(s):  1a & b

 

NON-ACTION ITEMS

 

            Informational Presentation

 

            8.            2001.1149E                                        D. SOKOLOVE:  415/558-5971

SUNOL/NILES DAM REMOVAL PROJECT.  The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission is sponsoring the proposed project, which consists of the partial removal of Sunol and Niles dams to allow fish passage in the Niles Canyon reach of Alameda Creek.  An informational presentation on the proposed project.

 

                        Speaker(s):

                                    Michael Levin

 

                        Board Comments:

iIs it possible to reveal the old Mexican dam?  What are the affects on the Sunol Water Temple does it needs repairs?  Appropriate signage needed in the area acknowledging the dams history.  What is the depth of the settlement?

 

ACTION ITEM(S)

 

            Review and Comment

 

1. 2001.1149E

Diana Sokolove, Planning Staff

Public Hearing to assist the Landmarks Preservation Advisory Board to prepare comment letter on the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR).  The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission is sponsoring the proposed project, which consists of the partial removal of Sunol and Niles dams to allow fish passage in the Niles Canyon reach of Alameda Creek and to address liability and public safety issues.  In association with the removal of the dams, impounded sediment would either be left in place, or would be off-hauled except for a portion of the sediments to fill in the plunge pools downstream of the dams.  The proposed project is located in unincorporated Alameda County.  The Landmarks Preservation Advisory Board will receive public testimony and discuss the DEIR in order to frame their written comments on the adequacy of the DEIR, pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

 

                        Board Comments:

1. No distinction made in the drawing between the extent of the historic Vallejo dam, no discussion of the loss of the body of water and how it will affect the historic resources and what about the disposal of materials.  Would not encourage the Board to approve because this project is destruction of historic resources.  Concern with the blasting.  Recommended looking into alternative resources.  Explore moving the new dam to the level of the Vallejo dam.

 

Board Member Shatara left the hearing.

 

NON-ACTION ITEM(S)

 

            Informational Presentation

 

Action:            It was moved by Member Skrondal (seconded by Shatara) to approve the recusal of President Maley from items #10 and #11.  The vote was unanimous.

 

AYES:            Chan, Cherny, Kotas, Maley, Martinez, Shatara, Skrondal and Street

NOES:            None

ABSENT:            Dearman

 

ITEMS #10 AND #11 WERE HEARD TOGETHER

 

            10.            WHARF J-10 DEMOLITION AND IMPROVEMENTS

                        Nannie Turrell, Planning Staff

Wharf J-10 Demolition and Improvements.  The proposed project is located on land under the jurisdiction of the Port of San Francisco (Port) at 2936 Hyde Street on Wharf J-10 (Assessor’s Block 007/Lot001), along Fish Alley in the Fisherman’s Wharf area between Leavenworth and Hyde Streets.  An informational presentation on the proposed project.

 

Tape No(s):  1b

 

ACTION ITEM(S)

 

            Review and Comment

 

            11.            Nannie Turrell, Planning Staff

WHARF J-10 DEMOLITION AND IMPROVEMENTS, Public Hearing to assist the Landmarks Preservation Advisory Board to prepare a comment letter on the Draft Environmental Impact Report.  The proposed project is located on land under the jurisdiction of the Port of San Francisco (Port) at 2936 Hyde Street on Wharf J-10 (Assessor’s Block 007/Lot 001), along Fish Alley in the Fisherman’s Wharf area between Leavenworth and Hyde Streets.  The project would include the demolition of the existing 24,400-square-foot (sq-ft) wharf, including substructure and pilings, and an approximately 21,00-sq-ft, 18-foot tall fish processing building.  Following demolition, the Port of San Francisco would install guardrails and new riprap (rock to protect the shoreline).  Existing Port tenants of Wharf J-10 could pursue reuse of the site, including a new fish processing building for use by F. Alioto Fish Company; an outdoor platform for use by California Shellfish Company; and possible Port-sponsored improvements that might include a public fish receiving dock at the each end or west end of Wharf J-10, a second new building for use by the fishing industry, and/or a new floating boat repair dock at Wharf J-10 or at the foot of Leavenworth Street.  The project site is within C-2 (Community Business) Zoning District, Waterfront Special Use District No. 1, and a 40-X Height and Bulk District.  NOTE:  The Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) was published on October 15, 2005.  The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing to receive comments on the adequacy, accuracy, objectivity and completeness of information in the Draft EIR on November 17, 2005.  This hearing is intended to assist the Landmarks Board such that the Board may prepare written comments on the Draft EIR to submit to the Planning Department.  Written comments on the Draft EIR will be accepted at the Planning Department until 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 29, 2005.

 

Board Comments:

i            Questioned where the Flagship was located.  Asked if the structural report was prepared for the EIR or for the emergency problems.  Was the conclusion made from the structural report and if so why didn’t we receive that report.  How as it determined that the cost was too expensive?  Is it feasible to move the building and construct a pier underneath?  Requested a cost estimate and maintenance schedule.  The alternatives were inadequate.

 

Speaker(s):

            Charles Chase

            Nan Roth

            Arthur Chang

            Chris Martin

            Tom Createn

 

Tape No(s):  2a

 

ADJOURNMENT:

 

                                                                                    Respectfully Submitted,

                                                                                    Sonya Banks

                                                                                    Recording Secretary

 

Adopted:  March 15, 2006

 

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