June 06, 2007
FINAL ACTION MINUTES
OF THE
SAN FRANCISCO
LANDMARKS PRESERVATION ADVISORY BOARD MEETING
CITY HALL
1 DR. CARLTON B. GOODLETT PLACE, ROOM 400
June 6, 2007
12:40 P.M. ROLL CALL
FOR FULL LANDMARKS BOARD CONSIDERATION
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Cherny, Damkroger, Hasz, Martinez, Street
BOARD MEMBER(S) ABSENT: Chan, Dearman, Maley
STAFF IN ATTENDANCE: N. Moses Corrette, acting Preservation Coordinator; April Hesik; Sophie Middlebrook; Matt Weintraub; Viktoriya Wise; Sonya Banks, Commission Secretary; Marlena Byrne, City Attorney
PUBLIC COMMENT
Steve Williams: He requested the investigation of a potential landmark site (630 Leavenworth Street).
REPORTS
1. STAFF REPORT AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
N. Moses Corrette, acting Preservation Coordinator:
i He announced Maya Haptas as the Planning staff new intern, who will be working with Matt Weintraub on the Mission Historical Context Statement.
i A draft outline of the Preservation Element objective and policy have been completed by Rachel Force, planning staff member. The next step will be to implement a document identifying which staff member will be responsible for implementing text for each objectives and policy. A draft Preservation Element will be presented to the Landmarks Board tentatively in August.
i The EIR for the Market/Octavia Plan has been appealed and will be heard before the Board of Supervisors on June 12th.
i On April 19th, the Planning Commission approved the Mills Act application for 1735 Franklin Street. It is now scheduled before the budget committee.
i On May 9th, the Budget and Finance Committee approved the Mills Act application for 1080 Haight Street.
i On June 14th, the Planning Commission will hear the landmark designation for 55 Laguna Street.
i The planning for the Geary Bus Rapid Transit project in the preliminary stages right now. The EIR process is expected to begin in the fall. Rachel Force will be meeting with the Community Transportation Authority and will be collaborating on the cultural of resource study as both the Japantown and the Geary Bus Rapid Transit moves forward.
The Board members designated Board Member Alan Martinez to attend the Planning Commission hearing scheduled for June 14th, regarding 55 Laguna.
2. PRESIDENT'S REPORT AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
None
3. MATTERS OF THE BOARD
Martinez
He provided an update on the Market and Octavia appeal. The Preservation Consortium filed the appeal because they felt the survey wasn't complete (there weren't enough B forms being done), the adequacy of the survey, the definition of a comprehensive survey and how to fund a comprehensive survey. Any recommendations should be forwarded to Supervisor Peskin.
4. LANDMARKS WORK PROGRAM 2005-2007 UPDATE
ACTION ITEM (S)
5. APPROVAL OF THE MAY 16, 2007 DRAFT ACTION MINUTES
Speaker(s):
None
Board Action
It was moved to adopt the draft action minutes with the following amendment; suggested that there be a more thorough written history of the existing building . The vote was unanimous.
AYES: Cherny, Damkroger, Hasz, Martinez, Street
NOES: None
ABSENT: Chan, Dearman, Maley
6. ELECTION OF ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE MEMBER
Speaker(s):
None
It was moved by Board Member Damkroger to nominate Board Member Hasz to the Architectural Review Committee. FOR THE RECORD: In the event if the President is unable to serve as an alternate then the Vice President will serve as the alternate committee member. The vote was unanimous.
AYES: Cherny, Damkroger, Hasz, Martinez, Street
NOES: None
ABSENT: Chan, Dearman, Maley
CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS
7. 2007.0467A (A. HESIK: 415/558-6602)
843-847 MONTGOMERY STREET, west side between Jackson and Pacific Streets, Assessor's Block 0176, Lot 029 (formerly Lots 003 and 003A). Request for a Certificate of Appropriateness to install one blade sign, and one identifying sign. The site is contributory to the Jackson Square Historic District and is within a C-2 (Community Business) District, the Washington-Broadway Special Use District No. 2, the Jackson Square Special Sign District, and a 65-A Height and Bulk District. The site is occupied by two three-story masonry buildings constructed in 1911 that read as one continuous façade. A storefront rehabilitation and two-story vertical addition with penthouses are currently under construction as approved under a separate, previously issued Certificate of Appropriateness (Case No. 2004.0924A).
Preliminary Recommendation: Approval
Speaker(s):
None
Board Action
It was moved by Board Member Martinez (seconded by Damkroger) to approve the Certificate of Appropriateness based on staff recommendations. The vote was unanimous.
AYES: Cherny, Damkroger, Hasz, Martinez, Street
NOES: None
ABSENT: Chan, Dearman, Maley
Tape No.: 1a
ARTICLE 11 – CHANGE OF DESIGNATION
8. 2007.0301G (A. HESIK: 415/558-6602)
225-227 FRONT STREET, west side between Sacramento and California Streets, Assessor's Block 0237, Lot 005 -- Request for Landmarks Board Review and Comment on a proposal to change the Article 11 designation of the subject property from Category V (Unrated) to Category IV (Contributory). The subject property is a two-story, reinforced concrete commercial building with Gothic Revival-style details constructed in 1907 and 1929. The building is within a C-3-0 (Downtown Office) District and a 75-X Height and Bulk District. It is designated as a Category V Building (Unrated) under Article 11 of the Planning Code and is within the Front-California Conservation District. The building is listed in the San Francisco Architectural Heritage Survey with a rating of C and the Citywide Architectural Survey with a rating of 1 .
Preliminary Recommendation: Approval
Speaker(s):
Rich Sucre
Edward Suharski
Board Action
It was moved by Board Member Street (seconded by Martinez) to adopt the resolution. The vote was unanimous.
AYES: Cherny, Damkroger, Hasz, Martinez, Street
NOES: None
ABSENT: Chan, Dearman, Maley
REVIEW AND COMMENT
9. 2001.1056E (V. WISE: 415/ 575-9049)
280 DIVISADERO STREET CARRIAGE HOUSE PROJECT: Public Hearing to assist the Landmarks Preservation Advisory Board to prepare a comment letter on the Draft Environmental Impact Report. The project site (Assessor's Block 1238, Lot 23) is located at 280 Divisadero Street, between Page and Haight Streets, in the Lower Haight neighborhood of the Western Addition district. The site consists of a single parcel, and is 6,875 square feet in area; it is within a NC-2 (Small-Scale Neighborhood Commercial) Zoning District and within a 40-X Height and Bulk District. The project site is City Landmark No. 190, the Charles L. Hinkel House and Carriage House, and contains two structures: a four-story single-family dwelling (the main house ) and a two-story building that originally served as a carriage house for the property (the carriage house ). The project sponsor's proposal includes both exterior alterations and interior structural repairs, so that the resulting, essentially new building can be legalized as a second residential unit on the lot. Based on the proposed scope of work, the Planning Department has determined that the project would be considered demolition of the carriage house under the standards set forth in Article 10 of the Planning Code. The project is limited to the carriage house; no physical changes to the main house are proposed.
NOTE: The Draft Environmental Impact Report was published on May 5, 2007. The Draft EIR identifies the following impact as significant and unavoidable: Historic
Resources: the carriage house is a contributing element to City Landmark No. 190, and as such, a historical resource under CEQA. The proposed project would result in the demolition of the carriage house and therefore, would have a significant and unavoidable impact. The proposed project would also involve the construction of a new structure, which would be inconsistent with the Secretary's Standards for Rehabilitation, and therefore, would result in a significant adverse effect on the overall property, City Landmark No. 190.
This hearing is intended to assist the Landmarks Board in preparing written comments on the Draft EIR to submit to the Planning Department. The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing to receive comments on the Draft EIR on June 14, 2007. Written comments on the Draft EIR will be accepted at the Planning Department until 5:00 p.m. on Monday, June 18, 2007.
Speaker(s):
None
Board Comments
A Board member recommended that pages 49 and 53 of the draft EIR make clear that these are only examples of the kind of alternatives that can be done. Board members concur with staff findings.
10. 2004.0075E (S. MIDDLEBROOK: 415/558-6372)
200 DOLORES STREET, west side, on the corner of Dolores and 15th Streets, Assessor's Block 3557, Lot 063, located in an RM-2 (Residential, Mixed-Use, Moderate Density) Zoning District, in a 40-X Height and Bulk District. The First Southern Baptist Church was located on the same Block and Lot, prior to loss of the church building due to a fire. The block and lot were included in both the Here Today Survey and the 1976 Architectural Survey. The proposed project includes demolition of the existing parish house and the construction of a four-story, thirteen unit residential building. Request for Review and Comment, pursuant to the Market and Octavia Interim Procedures for Permit Review based on the submitted Historic Resource Evaluation. The Department is requesting the comments of the LPAB prior to the Department's issuing of a Historic Resource Evaluation Response.
Speaker(s):
Lu Blazej
Tony Pantaleoni
Gideon Kramer
Peter Lewis
Charles Chase
Board Comments
The Board members are in agreement that the building is a resource, that there is evidence the property is a potential contributor to a historic district. A Board member stated that the property could be individually eligible, because of its close association with a city landmark building and for surviving the 1906 fire. A Board member requested that the developer consult with the Architectural Review Committee and S.F. Heritage Issues Committee as a better way of refining the design and incorporating the parsonage. A Board member stated that the proposed massing of the new project does not fit the context of the surrounding area so it should be possible to incorporate the existing residential structure into a residential housing project. The Board believes that the demolition of the existing structure is not consistent with the Secretary of Interior standards and the project sponsor should now be looking for alternatives including conserving the façade, form, and massing of the existing structure and bringing it into the proposed project. On page 26, under criteria 2 (important persons), would like to see more discussion on the late 19th /early 20th century Swedish community, they are currently dismissed as being not significant. A Board member stated that single-family homes in this neighborhood are highly desirable and sought after.
Tape No.: 1a/b
11. 2006.1409E (S. MIDDLEBROOK: 415/558-6372)
2200 MARKET STREET, west side, on the corner of Market and 15th Streets, Assessor's Block 3560, Lot 001, located in the Upper Market Zoning District, within the Upper Market Sign District, and a 50-x Height and Bulk District. According to County Assessor Records, the building was constructed in 1950. The proposed project includes demolition of the existing structure and construction of a 6-story mixed-use building with twenty residential units over 5,000 square feet of commercial space. Request for Review and Comment, pursuant to the Market and Octavia Interim Procedures for Permit Review based on the submitted Historic Resource Evaluation. The Department is requesting comments of the LPAB prior to the Department's issuing of a Historic Resource Evaluation Response.
Speaker(s):
Reza Khoshnevisan
Charles Chase
Board Comments
A Board member feels that the proposed project is not a resource because of the loss of integrity. Suggested a brief discussion added into the report on the building as a typology, the history of the building, how it fits into Market Street, and whether or not if they were trying to build building that incorporated cars. A Board member questioned the elevation and boundaries adjacent to Duboce Triangle?
Tape No.: 1b
12. (M. WEINTRAUB: 415/575-6812)
MISSION DISTRICT HISTORICAL CONTEXT STATEMENT, PART 1
The Planning Department is producing the Mission District Historical Context Statement for the purpose of facilitating cultural resources surveys in the Eastern Neighborhoods Mission Plan Area. The document identifies historical themes, periods, and property types that have occurred in the Mission District, and provides criteria for evaluating existing resources. The document expands upon the previously adopted Inner Mission North 1853-1943 Context Statement, 2005, which focused on the northern portion of the Mission District. Part I of the document is presented at this time; Part II will be presented at the June 20 meeting. The Planning Department is seeking the Landmarks Preservation Advisory Board's comments on Part I of the document.
Speaker(s):
None
Board Comments
The Board members agreed that the context statement was well written and very helpful. Suggested adding a Political/Economical Context and acknowledging the Western Addition as a contemporary streetcar suburb. Would like to see agency and purpose regarding various infrastructure developments. A Board member congratulated Matt Weintraub, for doing an outstanding job of tracing the geography, using the Sanborn maps effectively, and the tracking of the development of urban infrastructure. A Board member suggested using another word other than urban ecology (because it may be misleading to use scientific terminology for history). A Board member was concerned with the names we call time-periods because most American historian don't use the term Victorian or Edwardian to designate periods of American history, would like to separate the names that apply to a type of house from the time-period in which those houses were constructed. A Board member feels it would be helpful to indicate the main streets (on the maps) and to include more names of significant people.
Tape No.: 1b/2a
ADJOURNMENT: 3:00 P.M.
Respectfully Submitted,
Sonya Banks,
Recording Secretary
ADOPTED: June 20, 2007
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