March 19, 2008 FINAL ACTION MINUTES
OF THE
SAN FRANCISCO
LANDMARKS PRESERVATION ADVISORY BOARD MEETING
CITY HALL
1 DR. CARLTON B. GOODLETT PLACE, ROOM 400
March 19, 2008
12:35 P.M. ROLL CALL
FOR FULL LANDMARKS BOARD CONSIDERATION
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Chan (arr. @ 12:40), Cherny, Damkroger, Hasz, Martinez, Samaha, and Street
BOARD MEMBER(S) ABSENT: Dearman, Maley
STAFF IN ATTENDANCE: Mark Luellen, Preservation Coordinator; T. Frye; P. LaValley; Shelley Perdue; Sonya Banks, Commission Secretary; Marlena Byrne, Deputy City Attorney
PUBLIC COMMENT
None at this time.
REPORTS
- STAFF REPORT AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mark Luellen, Preservation Coordinator:
i On March 27th, the Planning Commission will hear the Article 11 designation and Mills Act application for 690 Market Street.
i On March 31st, the Land Use Committee will hear the landmark designation report for 900 Innes Avenue.
i On April 2nd, the draft EIR for San Francisco General Hospital Seismic Compliance Hospital Replacement Program will be heard by the Landmarks Board.
i Today is Rachel Force and Dan DiBartolo's last day with the Planning Department. The Department thanks them for their hard work and great contributions they will be missed.
2. PRESIDENT'S REPORT AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
None at this time.
3. MATTERS OF THE BOARD
Street
She requested to adjourn today's hearing in memory of former Landmarks Board Member Enid Ng Lim, who passed away on February 27th.
- LANDMARKS WORK PROGRAM 2005-2007 UPDATE
None at this time.
5. HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMITTEE UPDATE
The Committee reviewed a couple of projects: 1) Parkside District Context Statement (the Landmarks Board will be reviewing this document soon for adoption); 2) Update on the Western SOMA grant (the end results will be to establish design guidelines for commercial buildings); 3) In terms of the Survey work, funds have been added back to finish the Market/Octavia plan (this survey will proceed under a separate contract). There was some extra money found to complete the Castro Context Statement (which was going to be placed on hold) and the Van Ness Auto Showroom (automotive support structures contract). The Japantown and Balboa Park surveys are moving forward.
ACTION ITEM(S)
Speaker(s):
None
Board Action
It was moved by Board Member Street (seconded by Samaha) to adopt the draft action minutes. The vote was unanimous.
AYES: Chan, Cherny, Damkroger, Hasz, Martinez, Samaha, Street
NOES: None
ABSENT: Dearman, Maley
CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS
7. 2007.1458A (P. LaVALLEY: 415/575-9084)
367 Lexington Street, is located in Assessor's Block 3609, Lot 065. Request for a Certificate of Appropriateness to replace existing windows on all elevations. The existing wood windows visible from public right-of-way will be replaced in-kind. The subject property is a contributing structure to the Liberty-Hill Historic District and is located within a RH-2 (Residential House – Multi-Family) District with a 50-X Height and Bulk limit.
Preliminary Recommendation: Approval
Speaker(s):
David Peterson
Board Action
It was moved by Board Member Street (seconded by Samaha) to approve the request for a Certificate of Appropriateness with the following condition: to change the wording in Findings from in-kind to compatible replacement of windows. The vote was unanimous.
AYES: Chan, Cherny, Damkroger, Hasz, Martinez, Samaha, Street
NOES: None
ABSENT: Dearman, Maley
8. 2008.0138A (T. FRYE: 415/575-6822)
634 2ND STREET, west side of 2nd Street between Brannan and Townsend Streets, Assessor's Block 3788; Lots 038. Request for a Certificate of Appropriateness for exterior alterations, including, a new elevator override, the installation of new metal windows, and infill behind historic window openings on the 2nd street elevation. The subject building is historically known as the Crane Company Warehouse, a contributing structure to the South End Historic District. The site is located within an SSO (Service, Secondary Office) District with a 50-X Height and Bulk limit.
Preliminary Recommendation: Approve with Conditions.
Speaker(s):
None
Board Action
It was moved by Board Member Hasz (seconded by Martinez) to approve the request for a Certificate of Appropriateness. The vote was unanimous.
AYES: Chan, Cherny, Damkroger, Hasz, Martinez, Samaha, Street
NOES: None
ABSENT: Dearman, Maley
REVIEW AND COMMENT
9. (R. FORCE: 415/558-6418)
DRAFT PRESERVATION ELEMENT OF THE SAN FRANCISCO GENERAL PLAN Planning Department seeks comments from the Landmarks Preservation Advisory Board and members of the public on the proposed draft Preservation Element of the San Francisco General Plan. This is one of a series of public hearings providing an update on the progress of the Element. The Planning Department seeks comments on the summary of public input received to date.
Speaker(s):
None
Board Comments
The Landmarks Board members were concerned with:
- How the comments would be incorporated into the final draft of the Preservation Element.
- Requested that the draft Preservation Element be broken down into components on the agenda and calendared as soon as possible.
- Requested a current version of the draft Preservation Element with the comments incorporated and requested that the proposed consultant attend the hearings.
- Questioned the process/procedures for completing the draft Preservation Element.
Board Action
It was moved by Board Member Martinez (seconded by Samaha) to continue this item to the earliest available date and that upon returning to the Landmarks Board that the item be broke down into components on the agenda. The vote was unanimous.
AYES: Chan, Cherny, Damkroger, Hasz, Martinez, Samaha, Street
NOES: None
ABSENT: Dearman, Maley
LANDMARK DESIGNATION
10. 2008.0022L (S. PERDUE: 415/558-6625)
1969 California Street, Tobin House, south side of California Street between Gough and Octavia Streets, on Assessor's Block 0649, Lot 016. The subject property is a Tudor-style, single-family residence, designed by Willis Jefferson Polk and constructed in 1915. The property is zoned RH-2 (Residential, House, Two-Family) and is in a 40-X Height and Bulk District. Consideration to initiate landmark designation and to adopt a resolution initiating and recommending landmark designation to the Planning Commission, 1969 California Street, Tobin House, as a San Francisco Landmark under Article 10 of the Planning Code.
Preliminary Recommendation: Recommendation of Approval to the Planning Commission
Speaker(s)
Anthony Meier
Karen McNeill
Board Action
It was moved by Board Member Damkroger (seconded by Hasz) to accept the recusal of Board Member Street from this item. (Board Member Chan was not present during voting to recuse Board Member Street)
AYES: Cherny, Damkroger, Hasz, Martinez, Samaha
NOES: None
ABSENT: Chan, Dearman, Maley
RECUSED: Street
Board Comments
The Landmarks Board members had the following comments:
- Questioned if there were any historic photos of the house.
- Requested including the origins of Hibernia Bank, the importance of an ethnic savings institution (at the time when the Bank was created), and the relationship of the Tobin family with the founding of the bank.
Board Action
It was moved by Board Member Damkroger (seconded by Chan) to approve the initiation of the landmark designation, adopt the resolution, and to recommend landmark designation to the Planning Commission. The vote was unanimous.
AYES: Chan, Cherny, Damkroger, Hasz, Martinez, Samaha
NOES: None
ABSENT: Dearman, Maley
RECUSED: Street
Tape No. 1A
REVIEW AND COMMENT
11. (S. PERDUE: 415/558-6625)
1450 Franklin Street, between Bush and Fern Streets. Assessor's Block 0671, Lot 006 - Request for Review and Comment on the Historic Resources Evaluation Report prepared for the Draft Environmental Impact Report for the proposed demolition of the existing structure and construction of a new building on a parcel currently under the jurisdiction of the Redevelopment Agency (RDA). The RDA is preparing an EIR for the proposed project and has requested comments on the draft Historic Resource Evaluation from the Planning Department. The site is zoned NC-3 (Moderate Scale Neighborhood Commercial District) and is in as 130-E Height and Bulk District.
Speaker(s)
Andres?
Board Comments
The Landmarks Board had the following concerns:
- The HRER is inadequate as it does not evaluate the building individually or within a context. There is no information on the original owner, original use, or changes made to the building or in its use over time.
- Noted that on page 5 of the report it is not clear why within a discussion of eligibility for the California Register, the National Register criteria are referenced.
- Noted that on page 6 of the report, the evaluation relies on outdated survey information.
- Suggested conducting a windshield survey of the surrounding Van Ness Auto Row area in order to identify the rough boundaries and character defining features of the potential Van Ness Auto Row Historic District and to evaluate the building's significance within the context of a possible historic district or multi-property resource.
- In the future, the Board requests that the Redevelopment Agency require HRERs to conform to the scope of work outlined in the Planning Department's Preservation Bulletin #16 and to include the surrounding buildings (for comparison with the new proposed project as it relates to the district).
- Urged that the proposed building should be compatible with the potential Auto Row Historic District.
- The Board recommended that a Preservation Architect should develop the preservation alternative of the Environmental Impact Report.
- Suggested that more mitigation measures be included in the draft EIR.
- The lost of a significant building cannot be mitigated, partially or in whole, through recordation (see pages 1 and 9).
- Appreciates the opportunity to comment on the draft EIR.
Tape No. 1a and b
INFORMATIONAL PRESENTATION
- (N. TURRELL: 415/575-9047)
Hunters View Redevelopment Project, An informational presentation on the proposed project.
Speaker(s)
Margaret Campbell
Laura Brown
Board Action
It was moved by Board Member Martinez (seconded by Damkroger) to accept the recusal of Board Member Street from this item. The vote was unanimous.
AYES: Chan, Cherny, Damkroger, Hasz, Martinez, Samaha
NOES: None
ABSENT: Dearman, Maley, Street
REVIEW AND COMMENT
13. (N. TURRELL: 415/575-9047)
Hunters View Redevelopment Project, Public Hearing to assist the Landmarks Preservation Advisory Board to prepare a comment letter on the Draft Environmental Impact Report.
The 22.5-acre project site, the existing Hunters View Public Housing, is comprised of two adjacent properties. The first is at Middle Point and West Point Roads and Wills and Hare Streets, Assessor's Block 4624, Lots 3, 4 and 9. The second is along Keith Street, Assessor's Block 4720, Lot 27. The San Francisco Housing Authority and Hunters View Associates, LP, assisted by the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency and the Mayor's Office of Housing propose to construct up to 800 residential units in multiple buildings. The project would replace one-for-one the existing 267 public housing units, and would result in a mixed-income community comprised of for-rent and for-sale units at and below market rate, as well as public housing units. The project would also include housing constructed by Habitat for Humanity and resident-serving retail and community space, and up to 816 off-street parking spaces. The project would include improvements to access and circulation including realignment of some existing streets, and addition of new streets and sidewalks as well as areas of outdoor open space. Most of the project site is located within an RM-1 (Residential, Mixed-Use, Low Density) zoning district and a 40-X height and bulk district. A portion of the site is zoned RH-2 (Residential, House, Two-Family), NC-2 (Neighborhood Commercial, Small-Scale), and M-1 (Light Industrial). The proposed project would require a Zoning Map Amendment to rezone the site to 65-X, and Conditional Use Approval for a Planned Unit Development.
- NOTE: The Draft Environmental Impact Report (SCH No. 2007112086) was published on March 1, 2008. An informational presentation on the proposed project will be made before the Planning Commission on March 27, 2008. The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing to receive comments on the Draft EIR on April 3, 2008. This hearing is intended to assist the Landmarks Board to 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 Monday, April 14, 2008.
Speaker(s):
None
Board Comments
A Board member had the following comments:
- Suggested listing the history of Black San Francisco The Struggle for Racial Equality in the West by Albert Broussard and including the history of the neighborhood as an African American community and the role this project played in the community.
- Recommended including more information on the relationship between the housing project and the African American community in Hunters Point.
- Recommended an interpretative display at the new site.
- A Board member felt that the draft EIR was very thorough.
Tape No: 1b
ADJOURNMENT IN MEMORY OF ENID NG LIM: 2:20 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Sonya Banks
Recording Secretary
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