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SAN FRANCISCO
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
Meeting Minutes
Hearing Room 400
City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
12:30 P.M.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
Regular Meeting
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chase, Damkroger, Hasz, Johns, Martinez, Matsuda, Wolfram
THE MEETING WAS CALLED TO ORDER BY PRESIDENT CHASE AT 12:20 P.M.
STAFF IN ATTENDANCE: John Rahaim –Planning Director, Keith DeMartini – Finance Manager, Johnny Jaramillo, AnMarie Rogers, Sophie Hayward, Tim Frye – Preservation Coordinator, and Linda Avery – Commission Secretary
A. PUBLIC COMMENT
SPEAKERS: Stewart Morten concerned about the window treatments at 888 Brannan - the Gift Center; Gloria Ramos concerned about landmark 204, the former Guadalupe Church – that it would not be restored to its original condition.
B. STAFF REPORT AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Director Rahaim introduced the Department’s new Communication Manager, Joanna Linsangan, who would work on communication protocol, media strategies, and public outreach, including historic surveys.
C. MATTERS OF THE COMMISSION
1. President’s Report and Announcements - None
2. Consideration of Adoption:
· Draft minutes of the December 7, 2011 Regular Meeting
SPEAKERS: None
ACTION: Approved as corrected – page 7, Item 13, change “HPC recommended the Department be involved as an integral party in the process and to design the platforms, shelters and landscapes for compatibility” to “HPC recommended the Department be involved as an integral party in the process to insure compatibility of the design of the platforms, shelters and landscapes.”
AYES: Hasz, Johns, Martinez, Matsuda, Wolfram, Damkroger, Chase
3. Proposed appointment of a representative to the Preservation Funds Committee
SPEAKERS: None
ACTION: President Chase reappointed Commissioner Martinez to the Preservation Funds Committee
AYES: Hasz, Johns, Martinez, Matsuda, Wolfram, Damkroger, Chase
4. Disclosures
All HPC Commissioners received emails from the San Francisco Architectural Heritage regarding Articles 10 and 11.
5. Commissioner Comments/ Questions
Commissioner Martinez would like to calendar an information presentation on the status of Guadalupe Church, to consider landmarking its interior, and to hear from the Latino communities.
Commissioner Damkroger would like to follow up on 888 Brannan Street at the next hearing. She attended the Mayor’s Budget Meeting for the Commission Chairs, and shared one of the highlights - that the Building Inspection Commission (BIC) was starting a program on retrofitting soft story buildings in the City. She suggested that it would be worthwhile to form a partnership between the HPC and the BIC, at least in the provision of information about incentives and resources. President Chase thought it a valuable connection because it fits into the interest the HPC would have.
D. REGULAR CALENDAR
6. ELECTION OF OFFICERS
Pursuant to the Rules and Regulations of the Historic Preservation Commission, Article II, Section 1, the Commission shall elect a President and Vice-President at the first Regular meeting of the Commission held after the first day of January each year or may vote to continue this item to a specific date.
SPEAKERS: None
ACTION: Approved the nomination of Commissioner Chase as President and Commissioner Damkroger as Vice President
AYES: Hasz, Johns, Martinez, Matsuda, Wolfram, Damkroger, Chase
7. (T. FRYE/K. DEMARTINI: (415) 575-6822/575-9118)
FY 2012-2014 DEPARTMENT WORK PROGRAM BUDGET – Informational Presentation of the high-level work program activities for the department in FY 2012-2013 and FY 2013-2014 based on the current staffing levels in FY 2011-2012 and proposed dates where budget items will be discussed during the budget process.
SPEAKERS: G.G. Platt wanted the Planning Department to maintain the A1 and A2 forms, and the planning activities which once were the properties of the Redevelopment Agency. She had questions about the Department’s Draft Work Program, the status of the Sunset and Japantown surveys, and the allocations of the Preserve America Funds.
NOTE: Commissioner Martinez asked when HPC’s hearings would be televised. Commission Secretary Avery will look into the cost to televise the hearings.
Information only – no action
8. (T. OJEDA/J. JARAMILLO: 415/558-6251;415/558-6818)
25 YEARS: DOWNTOWN PLAN MONITORING REPORT, 1985 - 2009 - Informational Presentation of the summary of findings from 25 Years Downtown Plan Monitoring Report 1985-2009. This report analyzes development and economic trends since the adoption of the Downtown Plan in 1985 and includes an assessment of the Plan’s implementing actions. The first section of the report, “Downtown Plan: 25 Years,” evaluates to what extent the Plan’s primary objectives were achieved. The second section, “Economic Change and Regional Growth Since 1985,” explores the impact of larger economic forces on Downtown San Francisco and how these affected the ability of the Plan to achieve its objectives.
SPEAKERS: GG Platt asked about TDR shown in the appendix of the report.
Information only – no action
9. 2011.0532T (ANMARIE ROGERS for A. STARR: 415/558-6362
USES, SIGNS, BUILDING FEATURES, FLOOR AREA RATIO, PARKING, AND COMPLIANCE IN SPECIFIED USE DISTRICTS - Review and Comment on a proposed Ordinance [BF 110548] amending the San Francisco Planning Code by repealing Sections 136.2, 136.3, 158, 187, 249.15, 263.2, 263.3, 602.25, 602.26, 607.3 and 607.4 and amending various other Code sections to as well as additional recommendations by Planning staff. Specifically, the proposed Ordinance would (1) increase the amount of principally permitted parking spaces for dwellings in RC-4 and C-3 Districts; (2) make off-street parking requirements in the Van Ness Special Use District and RC-3 Districts consistent with those of RC-4 Districts; (3) eliminate minimum parking requirements for the Chinatown Mixed Use Districts and North Beach Neighborhood Commercial Districts; (4) allow exceptions from required parking under specified circumstances; (5) amend the restrictions on off-street parking rates and extend them to additional zoning districts, (6) revise sign, awning, canopy and marquee controls in specified zoning districts; (7) increase the permitted use size for limited corner commercial uses in RTO and RM districts, and allow reactivation of lapsed limited commercial uses in R districts; (8) revise the boundaries of and modify parking and screening requirements in the Washington-Broadway and Waterfront Special Use Districts; (9) modify controls for uses and accessory uses in Commercial and Residential-Commercial Districts; (10) permit certain exceptions from exposure and open space requirements for historic buildings; and (11) modify conformity requirements in various use districts; adopting findings, including environmental findings, Section 302 findings, and findings of consistency with the General Plan and the Priority Policies of Planning Code Section 101.1.
(Continued from December 7, 2011 Hearing)
SPEAKERS: Mike Buhler clarified the incentive for the City of Portland, and supported the removal of minimum parking requirements proposed in Supervisor Chiu’s legislation.
ACTION: Approved adoption per staff recommended modifications.
AYES: Hasz, Johns, Martinez, Matsuda, Wolfram, Damkroger, Chase
RESOLUTION: R670
10. 2011.0613A (S. HAYWARD: 415/558-6372)
130 SUTTER STREET, north side between Kearny and Montgomery Streets, Assessor’s Block 0288, Lot 027. Informational Presentation to update the Historic Preservation Commission on an approved project to restore and to repair exterior structural and decorative metal elements, including the curtain wall, on the Sutter Street elevation of the subject building. The subject property is San Francisco Landmark No. 37, and is a Category 1 building as described in Article 11 of the Planning Code. The Hallidie building is located within the Downtown Plan Area. The subject property is located within a C-3-O (Downtown Office) Zoning District and a 80-130F Height and Bulk District. Case No. 2010.0613A was issued a Certificate of Appropriateness, Motion No 0131, by the Historic Preservation Commission at its July 6, 2011 hearing.
ACTION: Without hearing, continued to February 1, 2012
AYES: Hasz, Johns, Martinez, Matsuda, Wolfram, Damkroger, Chase
(Item 11 was taken out of order and followed item 9)
11. 2011.0167T (S. HAYWARD: 415/558-6372)
PLANNING CODE CONTROLS FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION. Review and Comment on the proposed amendments to Articles 10 and 11 as suggested by Supervisor Scott Wiener. Supervisor Wiener has distributed two draft Ordinances, based on the versions of Articles 10 and 11 adopted by the Historic Preservation Commission, that propose further modifications. The Historic Preservation Commission is considering the amendments proposed by Supervisor Wiener prior to sending a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors.
Preliminary Recommendation: Approval with Modifications
SPEAKERS: Katherine Howard, G.G. Platt, Mike Buhler, and Howard Wong contributed to the discussion.
ACTION: Following discussion, continued to February 1, 2012; the public hearing remains open.
AYES: Hasz, Johns, Martinez, Matsuda, Wolfram, Damkroger, Chase
NOTE: The HPC went through Ms. Hayward’s PowerPoint presentation of proposed amendments of Article 10 by Supervisor Wiener in this hearing. There are some outstanding topics that need further discussion.
ADJOURNMENT: 4:29 P.M.
The minutes was proposed for adoption at the Regular Meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission on Wednesday, February 15, 2012
ACTION: Approved
AYES: Johns, Martinez, Wolfram, Damkroger, Chase
ABSENT: Hasz, Matsuda
