New Page 1
SAN FRANCISCO
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
Meeting Minutes
Hearing Room 400
City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
12:30 P.M.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
Regular Meeting
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Hasz, Martinez, Matsuda, Wolfram, Damkroger, Chase
COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Johns
THE MEETING WAS CALLED TO ORDER BY PRESIDENT CHASE AT 12:36 P.M.
STAFF IN ATTENDANCE: Kelley Amdur – Current Planning, Shelley Caltagirone, Pillar LaValley, Sophie Hayward, Don Lewis, Sara Jones, Tina Tam, Rich Sucre, Tim Frye – Preservation Coordinator, and Linda Avery – Commission Secretary
A. CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS PROPOSED FOR CONTINUANCE
1. 2011.0651A (S. CALTAGIRONE: 415/558-6625)
1109-1121 GEARY STREET – south side between Van Ness Avenue and Franklin Street; Lot 018 in Assessor’s Block 0714 – Request for Certificate of Appropriateness to legalize an existing roof deck located at the second floor level at the rear of the subject apartment building. The subject property is Landmark No. 71 and is located within a NC-3 (Neighborhood Commercial Shopping Center District) Zoning District and 40-X Height and Bulk District.
Preliminary Recommendation: Approval
(Proposed for Continuance to December 7, 2011)
SPEAKERS: None
ACTION: Approved continuance to December 7, 2011
AYES: Hasz, Martinez, Matsuda, Wolfram, Damkroger, Chase
ABSENT: Johns
B. PUBLIC COMMENT
SPEAKERS: None
C. STAFF REPORT AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Tim Frye, Preservation Coordinator, extended his welcome to Planning Department’s interns in the audience.
D. MATTERS OF THE COMMISSION
2. President’s Report and Announcements - None
3. Consideration of Adoption:
a. Draft minutes of Hearing of November 2, 2011
SPEAKERS: None
ACTION: Approved
AYES: Hasz, Martinez, Matsuda, Wolfram, Damkroger, Chase
ABSENT: Johns
4. Disclosures
[On August 17, 2011, at a public hearing on its Rules and Regulations, the HPC approved continuing its practice of allowing Ex Parte Communications with required disclosure.]
Commissioner Wolfram had a meeting and a site tour of 1355 Market with Elisa Skaggs from Page and Turnbull, and Todd [Esquire] from Shorenstein.
Commissioner Matsuda had the same meeting and site tour as Commissioner Wolfram.
Commissioner Martinez had the same meeting and site tour as Commissioner Wolfram; and had a meeting with Recreation and Park about the Draft EIR of the Beach Chalet Athletic Fields Renovation.
Commissioner Damkroger had the same meeting and site tour as Commissioner Wolfram; and received emails about Beach Chalet Draft EIR and 850 Brannan Street.
5. Commissioner Comments/ Questions
Commissioner Wolfram proposed a hearing under Matters of the Commission to discuss HPC members forming a liaison with different Landmarks Commissions in other cities to discuss their approaches in designating historic districts.
Commissioner Damkroger reported that Preservation Coordinator Tim Frye participated and spoke at the California Preservation Foundation Workshop on historic designation.
E. REGULAR CALENDAR
6. 2011.0926H (P. LAVALLEY: 415/575-9084)
1355 MARKET STREET (aka 1301-1363 MARKET STREET), south side of Market between 9th and 10th Streets, in Assessor’s Block 3508, Lot 001. Request for a Permit to Alter to demolish the 9th floor addition (added in 1941) on the western portion of the building, to construct a new mechanical room on roof, and to install a roof deck with amenities including benches, planter boxes, and a green wall. New openings for access to the roof deck would be made in the newly exposed west elevation of central tower portion of the building. The subject building, historically known as the Western Furniture Exchange & Merchandise Mart, is a Category I (Significant) Building in the C-3-G (Downtown General Commercial) District and the 120-X-200-S Height and Bulk District.
Recommendation: Approval
SPEAKERS: None
PRESENTER: Elisa Skaggs, Preservation Architect from Page and Turnbull, made a PowerPoint presentation on the project
ACTION: Approved as recommended and with the comment that HPC encouraged the Project Owner to refurbish the tower.
AYES: Hasz, Martinez, Matsuda, Wolfram, Damkroger, Chase
ABSENT: Johns
MOTION NO: M0141
7. 2010.0613AE (S. CALTAGIRONE: 415/558-6625)
2055 UNION STREET – south side between Webster and Buchanan Streets; Lot 018 in Assessor’s Block 0541 – Request for Certificate of Appropriateness to seismically retrofit the 670-seat Metro Theater building and convert it to a private fitness facility, restaurant, and a retail use. The subject property is Landmark No. 261 and is located within the Union Street NCD (Neighborhood Commercial District) and 40-X Height and Bulk District.
Preliminary Recommendation: Approval with Conditions
SPEAKERS: Catherine Stefani, Legislative Aide for Supervisor Mark Farrell; Lee Moulton, Architect; and Katherine Petrin from SF Neighborhood Theater Foundation – all spoke in support of the project.
PRESENTER: Charles Kahn, Project Architect; Keith Brown, from CMA, represented Equinox
ACTION: Approved as recommended by Staff, and with HPC comments regarding text size in the area between the edge of building, 2nd floor windows closest to the building and the mid height of those windows; that either text or graphic could be on the marquee; that blade signs in the tenants signage area as permitted by code; that the HPC encouraged the storefront be bronze or bronze color.
AYES: Hasz, Martinez, Matsuda, Wolfram, Damkroger, Chase
ABSENT: Johns
MOTION NO: M0142
8. 2011.0167T (S. HAYWARD: 415/558-6372)
PLANNING CODE CONTROLS FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION. The Commission will consider proposed amendments to Articles 10 and 11 as suggested by Supervisor Scott Wiener. Supervisor Wiener has submitted five memos to the Historic Preservation Commission, dated September 7, October 3, October 13, October 17, and October 27, 2011 with proposed modifications. The Historic Preservation Commission is considering amendments based on Supervisor Wiener’s suggestions prior to sending recommendations to the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors.
(Continued from Regular meeting of November 2, 2011)
SPEAKERS: Mike Buhler from SF Heritage and G.G. Platt commented on economic hardship; Andrew Solow and Nancy Wuerfel spoke against Supervisor Wiener’s proposal; Steve Vettle and Mike Buhler contributed to the discussion of Supervisor Wiener’s proposal on Article 11.
ACTION: Approved sending a letter drafted by the HPC to the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors (BOS) based on staff recommendations and summary comments from Commissioner Damkroger along with additional comments of Commissioners, including that the HPC should have the opportunity to review any new introductions by members of the BOS.
AYES: Hasz, Martinez, Matsuda, Wolfram, Damkroger, Chase
ABSENT: Johns
COMMENT LETTER NO: L0009
9. 2001.0016E (D. LEWIS: 415/575-9095)
BEACH CHALET ATHLETIC FIELDS RENOVATION – Commission Review and Comment on the Draft Environmental Impact Report. The San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department is proposing to renovate the Beach Chalet Athletic Fields facility, an approximately 9.4-acre public sports field facility located at 1500 John F. Kennedy Drive, along the western edge of Golden Gate Park. The Athletic Fields currently include four grass turf athletic fields surrounded by an 8-foot-tall metal chain link fence, an approximately 25,320‑square-foot, 50‑space asphalt parking lot (including one disabled-accessible space), a restroom building, and a cargo container being used as a maintenance shed. The project would include replacing the existing grass turf fields with synthetic turf, installing field lighting, renovating the existing restroom building, installing player benches and seating, and completing other modifications for parking, circulation, and spectator amenities to improve the overall conditions of the facility and increase the amount of play time available on the athletic fields. With project implementation, the project site would remain in its current use as an athletic field complex within an urban park.
This public hearing is intended to assist the Commission in its preparation of comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR). Comments made by members of the public at this hearing will not be considered comments on the DEIR and may not be responded to in the Final EIR (FEIR). The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing to receive comments on the DEIR on December 1, 2011. Written comments on the DEIR will be accepted at the Planning Department until 5:00 p.m., December 12, 2011.
Preliminary Recommendation: The Commission may direct staff to draft written comments of the Commission.
PRESENTERS: Dan Mauer, Landscape Architect and Project Manager with Recreation and Park
SPEAKERS in favor of the proposed project: Guy Milano, CYSA; Justin Rubovits – Referee & Coach in SF; Tom Mack – Dad; Luke Gilligan – Coach with SF Glens Soccer Club; Andrew L. Solow – Mission Youth Soccer League; Fred Hewett – Resident of SF; Jill Lounsburg – Manager of SF Nighthawks; Timothy O’Sullivan – Coach; Edgar Mayora – SF Soccer Papy League; Mark Iverson – Resident of Sunset; Colin Schmidt – Executive Director of America Scores Bay Area; Emily Queliza – Associate Director of America Scores Bay Area; David Wilkinson – Founder of Project Vega, a non-profit organization; Ric Olivas – President of California Soccer Association; Richard Cross – Founder of SF Nighthawks; Joe Morford – SF Native; Mike Gerrily – Coach of SF Riptide Lacrosse; Jim Ketchan – Resident; Eric Hanson – Resident of Outer Sunset; Po Bronson – Vice President of SF Vikings League
SPEAKERS in opposition of the proposed project: Chris Pattillo, Landscape Architect; George Wooding – Soccer Dad; Kelly Watts – Corporate Eagle; Nancy Wuerfel – GGPPA; Inge Horton, SPEAK; Margaret Mori – FASLA; Katherine Howard – GGPPA; Greg Miller – Resident of SF; Jim Chappell – Represented Self; Mike Buhler – SF Heritage;
ACTION: Review and Comments only; no action required
NOTE: The Commission will issue a comment letter to the Planning Commission.
COMMENT LETTER NO: L0010
(Item 10 was taken out of order and heard after Item 7.)
10. 2011.0583B (R. SUCRE: 415/575-9108)
850-870 BRANNAN STREET, located at the corner of Brannan and 8th Streets, Assessor’s Block 3780, Lots 006, 007, 007A, and 077. Review of the Proposed Project pursuant to Planning Code Section 803.9(c), involving the retention of the gift and jewelry showroom, and conversion of the first, second and fifth floors to office, which involves an office allocation of more than 25,000 sq ft. The proposed project includes window rehabilitation and replacement, and ground floor alterations. The subject property at 870 Brannan Street is listed in the National Register of Historic Places as the National Carbon Company Building. It is located within the UMU (Urban Mixed Use) Zoning District, the Showplace Square Special Sign District, and a 68-X Height/Bulk Limit.
Preliminary Recommendation: Adoption of Resolution regarding the proposed project's compliance with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and its ability to enhance the feasibility of preserving the historic building.
PRESENTERS: Dan Kingsley, SKS Investment, together with Vantage Investors, as Project Sponsors; Dan Baroni with Gensler
SPEAKERS: None
ACTION: Approved as proposed by staff
AYES: Hasz, Martinez, Matsuda, Wolfram, Damkroger, Chase
ABSENT: Johns
RESOLUTION NO: R668
ADJOURNMENT: 4:30 P.M.
The minutes was proposed for adoption at the Regular Meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission on Wednesday, December 7, 2011
ACTION: Approved
AYES: Hasz, Johns, Martinez, Wolfram, Damkroger and Chase
ABSENT: Matsuda
