San Francisco Planning Department : September 03, 2008

September 03, 2008

FINAL ACTION MINUTES

OF THE

SAN FRANCISCO

LANDMARKS PRESERVATION ADVISORY BOARD MEETING

CITY HALL

1 DR. CARLTON B. GOODLETT PLACE, ROOM 400

SEPTEMBER 3, 2008

12:40 P.M. ROLL CALL

FOR FULL LANDMARKS BOARD CONSIDERATION

BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Chan, Cherny, Damkroger, Hasz, Maley, Martinez, Samaha, Street

BOARD MEMBER(S) ABSENT: Dearman

STAFF IN ATTENDANCE: Mark Luellen, Preservation Coordinator; S. Francisco; A. Heitter; P. LaValley; S. Perdue; T. Sullivan-Lenane; 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 Reminder: Today, September 3^rd, the Market & Octavia Area Plan meeting will be held at the Rainbow Room, LGBT Community Center (1800 Market Street) from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

2. PRESIDENT'S REPORT AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

None at this time.

3. MATTERS OF THE BOARD

Cherny

The Landmarks Board letter regarding the Presidio Trust has received a lot of complimentary comments.

Samaha

He requested any communication from planning staff to the Landmarks Board members be coordinated by one staff person.

Martinez

He requested that documents that are to be kept (for future hearings) be labeled.

LANDMARKS WORK PROGRAM 2005-2007 UPDATE

Maley

As a follow-up - was there a landmark designation report submitted by Aaron Goodman to the department regarding Park Merced.

Luellen

No, the department has not received a landmarks designation report from Mr. Goodman. Furthermore, only the property owner can submitted a designation application.

Martinez

The Mission Bank has been reassigned, he requested the status.

Luellen

The planner assigned to the Mission Bank is Ben Fu, he is actively working on the report.

ACTION ITEM(S)

ITEM #9 WAS HEARD NEXT

REVIEW AND COMMENT

5. 2008.1008T (T. SULLIVAN-LENANE: 415/558-6257)

ARTICLE 10, APPENDIX K: BUSH STREET/COTTAGE ROW HISTORIC DISTRICT. Request for Review and Comment on a Resolution introduced by Supervisor Mirkarimi initiating amendments to Appendix K of Article 10 of San Francisco Planning Code: Bush Street/Cottage Row Historic District, by adding a new Section 7 to set forth additional requirements for Certificates of Appropriateness

Preliminary Recommendation: Approval

Speaker(s):

None

Board Comments

The Landmarks Board members had the following concerns:

i Recommended providing a definition for fence . If the aim is to keep it open, suggested using other language regarding the openness or the unobstructed view.

i Requested clarification as to why the trash receptacles were included in the proposed amendments.

6. (S. FRANCISCO: 415/575-9100)

SAN FRANCISCO'S GOLDEN AGE OF SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION CONTEXT STATEMENT. The San Francisco Planning Department is requesting Review and Comments and to consider endorsement of the statement from the Landmarks Preservation Advisory Board on a historic context statement that identifies San Francisco's Golden Age of School Construction. The period of significance is 1918-1940 when major school reform incited the construction of 60 new public school buildings in the city and county of San Francisco.

Speaker(s):

Gee Gee Platt

Board Comments

The Landmarks Board members had the following comments:

Suggested including in the context statement how the upgrades (that were required) by the Fields Act in the 70's impacted these buildings .
The Board would like a summary of the 43 contributors, 19 non-contributors and the breakdown of styles to be included in a chart.
The Board requested to make a recommendation to school officials regarding moving forward with landmark designation for properties that meet the Landmark criteria.
There was no mention of 55 Laguna Street in the roll of the Normal Schools. There should be something about the Normal Schools that were built during the Progressive reform.
Spanish, Spanish Colonial, Portuguese, and Portuguese Colonial architecture are very complex subject with many different styles and combinations. To group them together is misleading.
The Board feels there is a need to discuss the way in which these public buildings represent an effort to find a regional architectural style, by reviewing some of the historic styles and putting them into a regional context.
The Board hopes that by completing this document it will prevent the demolishing of other schools in the future because it will make clear the school's importance as part of the history of the city.
The Board appreciates the opportunity to review this document and look forward to providing additional history comments at a later date.

Tape No. 1a

ACTION ITEM(S)

REVIEW AND COMMENT

7. (S. MURAOKA: 415/749-2577)

1407 gough street, between Sutter and Post Streets. Assessor's Block 0688, Lot 002 - Request for Review and Comment with a Informational Presentation by the Redevelopment Agency on the Historic Resources Evaluation Report prepared for the proposed demolition of the existing structure and construction of a new building on a parcel currently under the jurisdiction of the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency (RDA). The RDA is preparing an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the proposed project, because the project sponsor proposes demolition of the existing building and has issued a Notice of Preparation of an EIR. The RDA has requested comments on the Historical Resource Evaluation Report (HRER) and Notice of Preparation (NP) from the Planning Department. The Board will submit written comments on the HRER and NP to the Planning Department. The site is zoned RM-4 (Residential, Mixed District, High Density) and is in as 50-X Height and Bulk District.

Speaker(s):

Stanley Muraoka

Moshe Dinar

Gee Gee Platt

Board Comments

The Landmarks Board members had the following comments:

Questioned if this project was going before the Arts Commission? She asked if the Arts Commission would have any comments/interest/suggestions for preparing the EIR.
The Arts Commission might have suggestions and ideas for mitigation measures. Establishing creative mitigation measures is very important.
Since the building has no full time tenants, there should be an opportunity to investigate the interior and suggested that Page & Turnbull continued with the historical report (there might be something useful or salvageable).
The Board suggested more photography of the DuBois period should be included in the report.
On page 6, there seem to be a discrepancy with the condition of the building. Suggested revising the Page & Turnbull statement that the building is in fair condition.

Board Action

It was moved by Board Member Cherny (seconded by Hasz) to continue this item to September 17, 2008 hearing. The vote was unanimous.

AYES: Chan, Cherny, Damkroger, Hasz, Maley, Martinez, Samaha, Street

NOES: None

ABSENT: Dearman

Tape No. 1a and b

8. (s. mURAOKA: 415/749-2577)

1450 Franklin street, between Bush and Fern Streets. Assessor's Block 0671, Lot 006 - Request for Review and Comment with a Information Presentation by the Redevelopment Agency on 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 Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the proposed project and has requested comments on the draft report from the Planning Department. The Board will submit written comments on the DEIR to 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):

Stanley Mukaoka

Andres Grechi

Gee Gee Platt

Alex Bevk

Board Comments

The Landmarks Board members had the following comments:

The Board was disappointed that so few of their comments from the March 19, 2008 hearing on the review of the HRER had not been addressed.
The EIR does not evaluate the individual historic significance of the existing building per the California Register criteria.
The report should further address the boundaries of the potentially eligible Auto Row Historic District and the number and type of contributors. The Board suggested using the finding of the recently initiated Automotive Support Structures Survey led by Bill Kostura to inform the EIR.
Recommended citing the Van Ness Area Plan with its date of completion, should be more fully discussed, and should be appended to the report.
On page 48, last full paragraph, Criterion 3 (Architecture) is too narrowly applied.
On page 50, 2^nd paragraph, the statement that Although the Van Ness Area Plan defined several Significant and contributing structures, it did not indicate the presence of an historic district because the area lacks sufficient concentration of the automobile-themed buildings to qualify as a traditional historic district& is false. This was not the intent of the Van Ness Area Plan.
Suggested creative mitigations should be developed for the EIR and submitted to the Preservation Coordinator for review. Mitigations should include: additional survey work, existing condition drawings at the HABS Level I Standards, and a salvage plan.
The photographs of the building and surroundings are inadequate.
The Alternatives should be further flushed out and supported by drawings. An adaptive reuse alternative should be able to meet the project sponsor's requirement for higher density.
The HRER does not comply with the outline provided in Preservation Bulletin #16, making it difficult to follow.
The Board recommends using a different historic resource consultant.

Tape No. 1b

CONSENT CALENDAR

All matters listed hereunder constitute a Consent Calendar, are considered to be routine by the Planning Department, and will be acted upon by a single roll call vote of the Landmarks Board. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a member of the Board, the public, or staff so requests, in which event the matter shall be removed from the Consent Calendar and considered as a separate item at this or a future hearing.

9. 2008.0978A (P. LaValley: 575-9084)

243 BRANNAN STREET, is located in Assessor's Block 3789, Lot 020 (also known as 239 Brannan Street, Assessor's Block 3789, Lots 518-856). Request for a Certificate of Appropriateness to install two tenant signs; one sign on Brannan Street façade and one sign on Colin P. Kelly, Jr. Street façade. The subject property, constructed in 2002, is a non-contributing structure to the South End Historic District and is located within a M-2 (Heavy Industrial) District with a 105-F Height and Bulk limit.

Preliminary Recommendation: Approval

Speaker(s):

None

Board Action

It was moved by Board Member Cherny (seconded by Martinez) to approve the request for a Certificate of Appropriateness. The vote was unanimous.

AYES: Chan, Cherny, Damkroger, Hasz, Maley, Martinez, Samaha, Street

NOES: None

ABSENT: Dearman

Tape No. 1a

CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS

10. 2008.0806A (S. PERDUE: 415/558-6625)

635 STEINER STREET, east side between Hayes and Fell Streets. Assessor's Block 0823, Lot 003 – Request for a Certificate of Appropriateness to install a garage opening in the existing retaining wall to create a below-grade single-car garage in the front setback area. The Queen Anne-style, two-story, single-family residence is a contributor to the Alamo Square Historic District and is listed on the 1976 Architectural surveys; it is zoned RH-3 (Residential, House, Three-Family) District and is in a 40-X Height and Bulk District.

Preliminary Recommendation: Approval

(Continued from 8/20/08 hearing)

Speaker(s):

Alex Chiappetta

Board Action

It was moved by Board Member Cherny (seconded by Chan) to approve the request for a Certificate of Appropriateness. The vote was unanimous.

AYES: Chan, Cherny, Damkroger, Hasz, Maley, Martinez, Samaha, Street

NOES: None

ABSENT: Dearman

Tape No. 1b

11. 2008.0306A (A. HEITTER: 415/558-6602)

99 MISSION STREET (aka 121 SPEAR STREET), RINCON ANNEX U.S. POSTAL OFFICE, located on the parcel bound by Spear, Mission, Howard and Steuart Streets, Assessor's Block 3716, Lot 23. Request for a Certificate of Appropriateness for a signage program consisting of internally-illuminated blade signs, fabric banners, and internally-illuminated directory signs for Rincon Center. The subject property is Landmark No. 107 and is zoned Downtown Office (C-3-O) and is in an 84-X/200-S Height and Bulk District.

(Continued from 5/21/08, 7/16/08, 8/6/08, 8/20/08 hearing)

This item is being proposed for a continuance indefinitely.

Speaker(s):

None

Board Action

It was moved by Board Member Chan (seconded by Samaha) to approve the request for a continuance indefinitely. The vote was unanimous.

AYES: Chan, Cherny, Dearman, Hasz, Maley, Martinez, Samaha, Street

NOES: None

ABSENT: Dearman

12. 2008.0202A (A. HEITTER: 415/558-6602)

491 POST STREET, The First Congregational Church, located at the southeast corner of Mason and Post Streets, Assessor's Block 307, Lot 9. Request for a Certificate of Appropriateness to install two bronze statues on the Post Street façade, previously installed without the benefit of a permit, business signage and exterior lighting fixtures. The subject property is Landmark No. 177 and is zoned Downtown General Commercial (C-3-G) and is in a 80-130-F Height and Bulk District. The building is rated as Category 1 (Significant) under the Downtown Plan, and a contributor to the Kearny-Market-Mason-Sutter Conservation District.

(Continued from 4/2/08, 8/20/08 hearing)

This item is being proposed for a continuance indefinitely.

Speaker(s):

None

Board Action

It was moved by Board Member Cherny (seconded by Damkroger) to accept the request for a continuance to the September 17, 2008 hearing. The Board requested an update on the project. The vote was unanimous.

AYES: Chan, Cherny, Damkroger, Hasz, Maley, Martinez, Samaha, Street

NOES: None

ABSENT: Dearman

Tape No. 1b and 2a

ADJOURN: 3:00 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,

Sonya Banks

Recording Secretary

ADOPTED: October 15, 2008

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Last updated: 11/17/2009 9:59:44 PM