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SAN FRANCISCO
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
Meeting Minutes
Commission Chambers, Room 400
City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
San Francisco, CA 94102-4689
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
12:30 p.m.
Regular Meeting
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Hasz, Hyland, Johnck, Johns, Matsuda, Pearlman, Wolfram
THE MEETING WAS CALLED TO ORDER BY PRESIDENT HASZ AT 12:33 p.m.
STAFF IN ATTENDANCE: Jeff Joslin – Director of Current Planning, Kelly Wong, Keith DeMartini, Susan Parks, Aaron Starr, Richard Sucre,Tim Frye - Preservation Coordinator, and Jonas P. Ionin - Commission Secretary.
SPEAKER KEY:
+ indicates a speaker in support of an item;
- indicates a speaker in opposition to an item; and
= indicates a neutral speaker or a speaker who did not indicate support or opposition.
A. PUBLIC COMMENT
SPEAKERS: Katherine Howard, Golden Gate Park Preservation Alliance with the ROSE working group - explained why ROSE (Recreation and Open Space Element) should return to the 1986 ROSE restrictions and hoped the HPC would agendize an item to hear and make comments on ROSE.
B. DEPARTMENT MATTERS
1. Director’s Announcements
Preservation Coordinator Frye, on behalf of Planning Director Rahaim, would answer questions on the Development Impact Fee increase.
2. Mr. Frye reported on past week’s events at Planning Commission and staff reports and announcements:
· Sam Woo Restaurant at 813 Washington Street located in Chinatown - Department Staff and an Enforcement Planner conducted a site visit last December. Notice of Violations were filed on the substantial interior work performed without a permit and a Building Permit Application to convert ground floor to retail and upper floors to office have been submitted to the Planning Department for review. ADA upgrades and exterior signage of the building would be submitted at a separate time;
· Proposed landmark designation for Marcus Bookstore and Jimbo Bob City at 1712 Fillmore Street was considered and unanimously supported by the Land Use Committee at the January 13th hearing. The proposed designation will probably be heard by the Board of Supervisors (BOS) at their January 28th hearing;
· Ten Mills Act contracts were unanimously approved by the BOS. The BOS’s Finance Committee held a special hearing on December 16th to consider the contracts and unanimously approved them on December 17th;
· The Department would present the Certified Local Government Annual Report to the HPC on February 5th, and then forward it to the State Office of Historic Preservation (OHP) for review for compliance.
· On January 8th, the Finance Committee of the BOS considered a resolution to authorize the City to sell 1.1 Million gross-square-feet of Transfer Development Right (TDR) from the War Memorial Complex. The item was continued to January 15th hearing pending questions raised by Ms. G. G. Platt on how the calculation was determined for the amount of TDR to sell, the process for authorization, and the role of the Planning Department in that process were addressed. Mr. Frye would let the HPC know the outcome of the hearing.
C. COMMISSION MATTERS
3. 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.
ACTION: Elected Commissioner Hasz to server as President and Commissioner Wolfram to serve as Vice President
AYES: Hyland, Johnck, Johns, Matsuda, Pearlman Wolfram, Hasz
4. Appointment of HPC’s Architectural Review Committee Members
President Hasz appointed Commissioners Wolfram, Hyland and Pearlman as the ARC Committee Members, and himself as the Ex-Officio.
5. HPC 2014 Hearing Schedule
ACTION: By voice vote – Adopted as proposed.
6. 2013.1478A
280-284 UNION STREET, north side of Union Street between Sansome and Montgomery Streets (Block 0106/Lots 063-065). Request for Hearing before the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC). The HPC has received a letter from members of the public requesting a hearing on the Planning Department’s approval of an Administrative Certificate of Appropriateness (ACOA13.0092) for the property located 280-284 Union Street, located within the Telegraph Hill Landmark District. It is located within a RH-3 (Residential, Three Family) Zoning District, Telegraph Hill-North Beach Residential Special Use District, and 40-X Height and Bulk limit
The HPC may consider the request and schedule the review of the project at a future public hearing. Should the HPC decide not to hear the project, the Department will approve the building permit associated with the above ACOA. Should the HPC decide to hear the project, the Department will not approve the building permit associated with the above ACOA approval until a final decision is made by the HPC.
REQUESTER: Teresa Votruba, represented the Tenants and Owners on Union Street - related to the HPC various existing building violations and asked Project Sponsor to provide elevations for this application.
SPONSOR: Melinda Sajapur, from Reuben, Junius and Rose, represented the Project Sponsor - requested a hearing of the project be denied and the proposed project to move forward as the work is within the scope of work delegated to the staff for the Minor Permit to Alter, and as well as there is no impact on the historic character of the district.
SPEAKERS: - Monica Kadner, Owner of 282 Union Street - requested that a hearing be denied;
- Richard Green, Brother of Owner of 280 Union Street - requested the proposed project to continue;
+ John Votruba, Joint Property Owner of 218 Union Street - urged HPC to continue with full proceedings.
ACTION: Denied the request for hearing
AYES: Hyland, Johnck, Johns, Matsuda, Pearlman, Wolfram, Hasz
7. President’s Report and Announcements
President Hasz asked when would HPC revisit its Rules and Regulation and agreed that Commission Secretary, Mr. Ionin, to prepare a draft and to calendar the item for the HPC to consider.
8. Consideration of Adoption:
· Draft Minutes for the December 4, 2013 – ARC Meeting;
SPEAKERS: None
ACTION: Adopted as corrected to change:
Page 2 and 10, change James McGraffe McGrath;
Page 2, slither slider;
Page 3, Pali Paley Park; Dow Dallas Museum;
Page 5, Biers to De Beers
Page 8, like an ingenuous a disingenuous argument;
Page 11, a bit on the defense fence
AYES: Hyland, Johnck, Johns, Matsuda, Pearlman, Wolfram, Hasz
· Draft Minutes for the December 4, 2013 – Regular Meeting
SPEAKERS: None
ACTION: Adopted
AYES: Hyland, Johnck, Johns, Matsuda, Pearlman, Wolfram, Hasz
9. Commission Comments & Questions
· Disclosures
Commissioner Matsuda had a meeting with Apple project team last week; and had phone conservation with Supervisor Breed’s Office regarding Marcus Bookstore’s fundraising to buy back the building. She asked Mr. Frye to relate further information of the fundraising to the other Commissioners. Mr. Frye responded that he would get the information and disseminate it to the HPC later.
Commissioner Hasz visited the Veterans Memorial Building to understanding light impact on the rooms below.
· Inquiries/Announcements
Commissioner Pearlman commented on an article by the Chronicle last December about a proposed alternate location at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium for the arena. He was astounded by the remarks made by former Supervisor Quentin Kopp on tearing down the Auditorium, and the public’s response from social media blogs agreeing that it should be torn down. He suggested the HPC needs to continue to promote what it does, to educate the public, and to write a letter to the Chronicle, or Quintin Kopp to express their concerns. Commissioner Johns asked about the status of the Realtors’ Preservation Training Program that trains realtors to explain preservation to their clients. President Hasz responded that the California Preservation Foundation has the Program infrastructure set up in four components. Pacific Union Realty would more than likely launch the Program in March.
· Future Meetings/Agendas.
Commissioner Matsuda would like to 1) follow-up the status update on 813 Washington Street, and 2) agendize an informational presentation on the Recreation and Open Space Element brought to the attention to the HPC by Speaker Katherine Howard.
D. CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS PROPOSED FOR CONTINUANCE
10. 2013.0628H (PILAR LAVALLEY: 415/575-9084)
345 STOCKTON STREET (aka 300 POST STREET) - west side of Stockton Street between Post and Sutter Streets, in Assessor’s Block 0294, Lot 016. Request for a Permit to Alter to demolish the existing Levi’s store building at south end of parcel (300 Post Street) and construct a new two- to three-story building with an L-shaped plan, and to reconfigure and rehabilitate the Grand Hyatt Hotel plaza, including relocating and reinstalling the existing Ruth Asawa fountain. The subject property contains two buildings - the Grand Hyatt Hotel at 345 Stockton Street and the subject building (Levi’s store) at 300 Post Street – and is a Category V (Unrated) property in the Kearny-Market-Mason-Sutter Conservation District in a C-3-R (Downtown Retail) District and 80-130-F Height and Bulk District. The project also requires Downtown Project Authorization pursuant to Section 309 of the Planning Code, including findings outlined in the Board File No. 131059 to allow for the demolition and reconstruction of noncomplying floor area, and a Variance from the Street Frontage Transparency requirements of Planning Code Section 145.1(c). The Downtown Project Authorization and Variance requests will be heard by the Planning Commission and Zoning Administrator at a regularly scheduled joint hearing on February 6, 2014.
(Proposed for Continuance to February 5, 2014)
Preliminary Recommendation: Approve
SPEAKERS: Jason Oringer, representing SEIU (Service Employees International Union) - in support of the continuance but was concerned that the proposed date is insufficient to consider CEQA at the same time of the project scheduled for 2/5/14.
ACTION: Continued as proposed to February 5, 2014
AYES: Hyland, Johnck, Johns, Matsuda, Pearlman, Wolfram, Hasz
E. CONSENT CALENDAR
11. 2013.1707A (KELLY WONG: 415/575-9100)
900 NORTH POINT STREET – north side of North Point Street between Polk Street and Larkin Street, Assessor’s Block 0452, Lot 004. Request for a Certificate of Appropriateness for the expansion of the existing porch landing constructed for Unit #228 of the Clock Tower Building to meet private usable open space requirements per Section 135 of the Planning Code. The porch was constructed in 2006 and is not historic. The Clock Tower Building is situated within 900 North Point Street and originally constructed in 1859 by Architects William Mooser, Senior and Junior and later renovated and expanded in 1962. The subject property is Landmark No. 30, historically known as Ghirardelli Square. It is located within a C-2 (Community Business) Zoning District, the Waterfront 2 Special Use District, and 40-X Height and Bulk Limit.
Preliminary Recommendation: Approve
SPEAKERS: None
ACTION: Approved
AYES: Hyland, Johnck, Johns, Matsuda, Pearlman, Wolfram, Hasz
MOTION: M-0221
F. REGULAR CALENDAR
Item 12 was heard after Item 15
12. (KEITH DeMARTINI: 415/575-9118)
FY 2014-2016 PROPOSED DEPARTMENT WORK PROGRAM - A presentation of the high-level work program activities for the department in FY 2014-2015 and FY2015-2016 based on the current staffing levels in FY 2013-2014, performance measures and proposed dates where budget items will be discussed during the budget process.
Preliminary Recommendation: None – Informational Only
SPEAKERS: Jim Haas, One of the Directors of the Civic Center Community Benefits District - responded to Item 8, Sustainable Civic Center, of the Proposed Work Program, pushed for the Draft Plan developed in 1998 by Karen Alchuler and Cathy Simon as a template to begin developing a public realm conceptual design plan that would improve the areas around Civic Center’s Plaza, Grove and Fulton Streets for the Centennial of Civic Center in 2015.
ACTION: None - Informational
13. 2013.1593L (SUSAN PARKS: 415/575-9101)
2 HENRY ADAMS STREET, bound by Division, Henry Adams, Alameda, and Vermont Streets Street; Assessor’s Block 3910; Lot 001. Consideration to initiate Landmark designation of 2 Henry Adams Street, historically known as the Dunham, Carrigan, & Hayden Building, as an Article 10 Landmark pursuant to Section 1004.1 of the Planning Code at the request of the property owner. 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: Adopt a Resolution to Initiate
PRESENTER(S): Tim Kelly; Shaun Murphy, Bay West Development; Larry Badiner, Badiner Urban Planning.
SPEAKERS: None
ACTION: Adopted a Resolution to Initiate
AYES: Hyland, Johnck, Johns, Matsuda, Pearlman, Wolfram, Hasz
RESOLUTION NO: R-728
14. 2013.1663ZM (AARON STARR: 415/558-6362)
133-135 GOLDEN GATE AVENUE - Amendments to the Zoning Map and Map 1 of Downtown Area Plan, for 133-135 Golden Gate Avenue (APN 0349/12 & 13) [Board File No. 130999]. Ordinance amending Zoning Map ZN01 and Map 1 of the Downtown Area Plan, to rezone the subject property, an Article 10 Landmark Site, from RC-4 to C-3-G in order to provide for eligibility to sell transferable development rights for property at 133-135 Golden Gate Avenue (St. Boniface Church and Rectory); and making environmental findings, and findings of consistency with the General Plan, and the eight priority policies of Planning Code, Section 101.1.
Preliminary Recommendation: Adopt a Recommendation for Approval
PRESENTER: Edward Suharski, Fortress Property Group, assists the Group through the rezoning process - briefed about the Church’s financial need to repair and maintain the 27 hand-painted stain glass windows.
SPEAKERS: None
ACTION: Adopted a Recommendation for Approval
AYES: Hyland, Johnck, Johns, Matsuda, Pearlman, Wolfram, Hasz
MOTION: R-729
15. 2013.1764A (RICHARD SUCRE: 415/575-9108)
VETERAN’S BUILDING, 401 VAN NESS AVENUE, located on the southwest corner of McAllister Street and Van Ness Avenue, Assessor’s 0786A, Lot 001. Request for a Certificate of Appropriateness for replacement of the upper skylights on the angled roof of the north, south and east facades. This project is a revision to the previously approved Certificate of Appropriateness reviewed and approved by the Historic Preservation Commission at its July 18, 2012 Hearing (Case No. 2011.0420A). The subject property is Landmark No. 84 and is also a contributor to the Civic Center Landmark District. It is located within a P (Public) Zoning District, the Civic Center Special Sign District, and OS/96-X Height and Bulk Limit.
Preliminary Recommendation: Approve with Conditions
PRESENTERS: Tara Lamont, City Project manager for the Veterans Building Seismic Upgrade and Improvement Project - described the three Options, the reasons behind the difficulty of replacing the skylights to their original design conditions, related the change-of-use on the fifth floor by the Opera House, and suggested to cover the skylights with metal panels (Option B) thus achieving the symmetry of the Veterans Building and the Opera House as desired by the original Architect; Nancy Goldberg, Preservation Architect - summarized Tara Lamont’s presentation and stated the proposed Option B’s design would meet the Secretary of Interiors Standards.
SPEAKERS: = Jerome Sapiro, Jr., on behalf of the SF Posts of the American Legion - requested notice of mock-up presentation be given to the American Legion, the beneficiaries of the Veterans’ Building, so they could review and comment on it;
+ Paul Cox, Vice Chair of the War memorial Commission - urged the HPC to support Option B;
= Jim [Hsieh], Member of the Commission and Executive Director of the Veterans Success Center - related to the HPC that residents of the War Memorial for the last eight months have been conducting their business of assisting and training veterans to gain employment are operating with reduced efficiency in an alternate location. He urged the HPC to move in full speed to get them back to the building;
= Jim Haas, involved in Civic Center matters - corrected that Arthur Brown was the sole designer of the War Memorial and the fact that many historic documents related to the Civic Center suffered from errors and omissions alike. He said, “The importance of Civic Center is not the individual building, it is the complex,” and when this case is made clear, dismissing Bill Graham Civic Auditorium by Quentin Kopp might not happen.
ACTION: Approved Option B with Conditions as amended to include a member of the Veteran’s team be invited to review the mock-up.
AYES: Hyland, Johnck, Johns, Matsuda, Pearlman, Wolfram, Hasz
MOTION: M-0222
Adjournment: 3:18 PM
The minutes was proposed for adoption at the Regular Meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission on Wednesday, February 5, 2014.
ACTION: Adopted
AYES: Hasz, Hyland Johnck, Johns, Matsuda, Pearlman, Wolfram
