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SAN FRANCISCO
HISTORIC PRESERVATION
COMMISSION
Meeting Minutes
Hearing Room 400
City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
11:30 A.M.
Regular Meeting
_______________ ______________
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Hasz, Johns, Martinez, Wolfram, Damkroger, Chase
COMMISSIONER ABSENT: Matsuda
THE MEETING WAS CALLED TO ORDER BY PRESIDENT CHASE AT 11:41 AM
STAFF IN ATTENDANCE: Jeff Joslin – Current Planning Director, Pilar LaValley, Mary Brown, AnMarie Rodgers, Sara Jones, Shelley Caltagirone, Tim Frye – Preservation Coordinator, and Jonas P. Ionin – Acting Commission Secretary
A. PUBLIC COMMENT
SPEAKERS: None
B. STAFF REPORT AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. Director’s Report – was included as part of the packet.
2. Review of Past Week’s Events at the Planning Commission (PC).
Preservation Coordinator Frye reported that the PC recommended approval to the Board of Supervisors (BOS) the amendments to establish the Divisadero Neighborhood Commercial District between Haight to O’Farrell Streets, permitting commercial uses at the 2nd floors and implementing a maximum parking ratio of 0.75 spaces. PC also repealed the Divisadero Street Alcoholic Restricted Special Use District and moved it to the BOS for hearing before the end of the year.
Mr. Frye updated the following:
· San Jordan’s Bar and Twin Peaks Tavern would be heard at the Land Use Committee on December 10th.
· Sunset Walking Tour had a large turn-out. Another walking tour would be schedule early next year.
· The Fleishhaker Pool Building, along with the Mother’s Building, was burned from a fire on December 1st. The Department of Building and Inspection had reviewed and evaluated the condition and would make a determination on whether an emergency order is warranted to demolish the building. Planning staff would report to the HPC when the result is received.
C. MATTERS OF THE COMMISSION
3. President’s Report and Announcements - None
4. Consideration of Adoption:
a. Draft minutes of the December 5, 2012 Regular Hearing
Acting Commission Secretary Ionin stated the date of the minutes was mislabeled and postponed the adoption to the next hearing on December 19th.
5. Disclosures
Commissioner Damkroger spoke briefly with Aaron Peskins regarding Item 12, the CEQA Appeals Amendments, on the agenda.
Commissioner Martinez also spoke with Aaron Peskins and received many emails from different people regarding Item 12.
President Chase received a number of emails regarding Item 12.
6. HPC Review of Future Agenda Items and Requests
Commissioner Damkroger asked whether the Holiday Gathering would be on December 19th. Mr. Ionin responded that he would send out invitations and investigate a venue for a Holiday Gathering that would be scheduled on December 19th.
7. Commissioner Comments/ Questions - NONE
8. Consideration of Adoption the Draft 2013 Hearing Schedule
SPEAKERS: None
ACTION: Adopted
AYES: Hasz, Johns, Martinez, Damkroger, Chase
ABSENT: Matsuda, Wolfram
D. CONSENT CALENDAR
9. 2012.1320A (PILAR LAVALLEY: 415/575-9084)
631 HOWARD STREET, south side of Howard between 2nd and Hawthorne Streets, in Assessor’s Block 3736, Lot 005. Request for a Permit to Alter to construct exterior alterations to the existing building. The proposed scope of work includes: (1) replacement of roll up door at loading dock with new exterior wall and pedestrian doors; and, (2) removal of unreinforced hollow clay tile penthouse at roof. The subject building, historically known as the Volker Building, is a Category II (Significant) Building in the C-3-O (SD) (Downtown Office (Special Development)) District and the 150-S Height and Bulk District.
Recommendation: Approval
SPEAKERS: None
ACTION: Adopted
AYES: Hasz, Johns, Martinez, Damkroger, Chase
ABSENT: Matsuda, Wolfram
MOTION NO: M0179
E. REGULAR CALENDAR
10. 2011.0617A (PILAR LAVALLEY: 415/575-9084)
1 JONES STREET (FORMER HIBERNIA BANK), northwest corner of Jones and McAllister Streets, in Assessor’s Block 0349, Lot 003. Request for a Certificate of Appropriateness for seismic, fire/life-safety, and accessibility upgrades associated with a potential new “assembly” use for the existing vacant building. Proposed exterior work includes two new stair penthouses, replacement of the existing elevator penthouse, enlargement of three existing window openings for new exit doors at north and west elevations, removal of portion of the existing wrought iron gate at west elevation, installation of exterior seismic strengthening in perimeter granite walls, at roof, and at parapet, and rehabilitation of existing windows, steel roll-up security grilles, and granite. At the interior, new shear walls and an elevator will be installed, a fire suppression system will be installed, portions of the existing teller counter will be removed and stored on site, and character-defining features and materials such as the extensive decorative marble, plaster, and stained glass will be protected in place and cleaned and repaired only as necessary. The subject building, historically known as Hibernia Bank, is Landmark #130, is a contributing resource to the National Register-listed Market Street Theater Loft Historic District, and is a Category I (Significant) Building in the C-3-G (Downtown General Commercial) District and the 80-120-T Height and Bulk District.
Preliminary Recommendation: Approval with Conditions
(Continued from November 7, 2012)
PRESENTERS: Alice Barkley, attorney for Project Sponsor; Terry Peret, Sr. Principal of Wiss, Janney, Elstner Association, Inc.; Jonathan Pearlman, from Elevation Architects; Chris VerPlanck,, Principal and Owner of VerPlanck Historic Preservation and Consulting.
SPEAKERS: Don Roberts, Resident of 50 McAllister Street and Mike Levine would like to find out what the assembly use would be of the proposed building that has not yet been defined; Mike Buhler, SF Architectural Heritage, and Randy Shaw, Director of Tenderloin Housing, supported the proposed project.
ACTION: Approved with conditions, including the conclusion to rehabilitate the existing neon sign, or, go back to the original, or, come back to the HPC with an alternative.
AYES: Hasz, Johns, Martinez, Damkroger, Chase
ABSENT: Matsuda, Wolfram
MOTION NO: M0180
11. 2011.0683L (MARY BROWN: 415/575-9074)
DUBOCE PARK LANDMARK DISTRICT – BOUNDED BY wALLER sTREET, sTEINER sTREET, SCOTT STREET, AND THE NORTHERN BOUNDARY OF DUBOcE PARK. Consideration to initiate Landmark designation process of all 87 properties located in Assessor’s Block 0863, 0864, 0865, and 0866 and the three interior block park entrances at Carmelita, Pierce, and Potomac Streets as an Article 10 Landmark District pursuant to Section 1004.1 of the Planning Code. Further consideration by the Historic Preservation Commission and the Board of Supervisors will occur at a future public hearing and will be noticed separately for a future date.
Preliminary Recommendation: Confirm Nomination and Initiate.
SPEAKERS in favor of the project:
Peter Strauss, Resident of 79 Pierce Street; Mike Buhler, SF Architectural Heritage
SPEAKERS who have concerns about the project:
Jonathan Goldberg, Resident of 60 Natoma Street; David Fix, Resident of the District; Jean-Paul [Bohadia], Resident of 47 Pierce Street; John Shambray, Resident of 75 Pierce Street; Suasn [Porter-Bichstead], Resident of 47 Pierce Street
ACTION: Confirmed and Initiated
AYES: Hasz, Johns, Martinez, Wolfram, Damkroger, Chase
ABSENT: Matsuda
RESOLUTION NO: R696
NOTE: Commissioners Damkroger, Martinez and Chase commented that the process is still open for more discussion at another hearing and invited everyone who spoke today about their concerns and any interested public to return to see if a consensus could be reached.
12. 2012.1329U (ANMARIE RODGERS: 415/558-6395)
CEQA APPEALS AMENDMENTS. The Commission will consider a proposed Ordinance amending Administrative Code Chapter 31 to reflect revisions in the California Environmental Quality Act and to update and clarify certain procedures provided for in Chapter 31, including without limitation: codifying procedures for appeals of exemptions and negative declarations; providing for the Board to make the final CEQA decision on projects requiring Board legislative action, negating the need to file formal CEQA appeals; revising noticing procedures for environmental impact reports and negative declarations for plan area projects exceeding five acres; expanding noticing requirements for certain exempt projects; and clarifying existing noticing requirements for exempt projects. The Commission may recommend approval, disapproval, or approval with modifications.
Preliminary Recommendation: Approval with Modifications.
(Continued from November 21, 2012)
SPEAKERS: Jeanne Quock, Representing Self, asked HPC to safeguard and oversee opportunities for public inputs; Eric Brooks, SF Green Party, said this legislation would damage public access; asked Supervisor Wiener to meet with the different groups for their inputs; and has reservation about the first digressional approval; Nancy Wuerfel, from SPEAK, addressed the issues of demolition of potential designated historical resources and asked to continue the discussion until the original intent of CEQA is well protected and implemented; [Tazewell Bourne], from Haight Ashbury Council, stated that the proposed legislation needed to include public inputs also; not just the developers’; Mike Buhler, SF Architectural Heritage, asked the difference between city adopted surveys and city recognized surveys; asked would surveys done under Section 106 review be subjected to mandatory public notice requirement; preferred the appeal clock to start after the last digressional approval and notice provision fully complied; suggested a built-in mechanism in the system that would track all approval actions; Rose Hillson was concerned about surveys more than five years old might not be updated, surveys done by other groups, and the definition of demolition. She urged Supervisor Wiener to work and engage the public directly for further discussion.
ACTION: Adopted a resolution supporting the Planning Commission (PC) Resolution, recommending public engagement, specifically the preservation community, and to have any amended legislation to return to the HPC prior to being considered by the PC.
AYES: Hasz, Johns, Martinez, Wolfram, Damkroger, Chase
ABSENT: Matsuda
RESOLUTION NO: R697
13. (SHELLEY CALTAGIRONE: 415/558-6265)
ADMINISTRATIVE CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS DELEGATION -Renewal of Motion No. 0158 to delegate to Planning Department Preservation staff the review and approval of administrative Certificates of Appropriateness for individual Landmarks and Landmark districts pursuant to Article 10 Section 1006.2(a) of the Planning Code.
Preliminary Recommendation: Approval
SPEAKERS: None
ACTION: Approved with modifications as read into the record for a two-year period of extension.
AYES: Hasz, Johns, Martinez, Damkroger, Chase
ABSENT: Matsuda, Wolfram
MOTION NO: M0181
14. (SHELLEY CALTAGIRONE: 415/558-6265)
SOCIAL AND CULTURAL HERITAGE DOCUMENTATION, DESIGNATION, AND INCENTIVES - Discussion of the development of incentives associated with the documentation and designation of social and cultural resources. The Commission’s discussion may include the Department’s current work in the Japantown and West SOMA communities related to social and cultural heritage.
SPEAKERS: Desiree Smith, SF Heritage, supported the establishment of a citywide designation program for social heritage resources and the incentives that support the viability of these resources; Kenneth Kaji, Resident of Japantown and Business Owner, supported the proposal and stated the real test of continuing social heritage resources have to come from the community and that the effort developed last year in Japantown could serve as a model for the rest of the city; Karen Kai, Member of Japantown Organizations, talked about receiving funding that would help develop social heritage districts; Rose Hillson, 3rd generation Japanese American, hoped that the intangible things from the surveys would also be considered as historical resources and that there would be a discussion on state language being reflected in the proposed CEQA amendments; Bernadette Sy, Executive Director of the Filipino American Development Foundation of South of Market, stated the organization worked with Paul Lord over the years to develop the Filipino Social Heritage District and said it is critical for the community to support this type of heritage designation since it has close roots with many immigrants and is less well known than Chinatown and Japantown.
ACTION: Adopted a Motion of Intent that recognizes the efforts by the Planning Department and the communities, endorsing the letter submitted by Commissioners Matsuda and Martinez, recognizing that more work needs to be done, and that the HPC would like to put forward a forum for that work; and continued the item to December 19, 2012.
AYES: Hasz, Johns, Martinez, Wolfram, Damkroger, Chase
ABSENT: Matsuda
ADJOURNMENT: 3:55PM
The minutes was proposed for adoption at the Regular Meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission on Wednesday, December 19, 2012.
ACTION: Approved
AYES: Hasz, Johns, Matsuda, Wolfram, Damkroger, Chase
ABSENT: Martinez
