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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, June 4, 2014
11:30 a.m.
ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE
Regular Meeting
COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Hyland, Pearlman, Wolfram
THE MEETING WAS CALLED TO ORDER BY COMMISSIONER WOLFRAM AT 11:39 a.m.
STAFF IN ATTENDANCE: Allison Vanderslice, 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.
ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE
ROLL CALL: Member: Aaron Jon Hyland
Member: Jonathan Pearlman
Members: Andrew Wolfram
Ex-Officio: Karl Hasz
1. 2014.0794A (A. VANDERSLICE: (415) 575-9075)
LIGHTRAIL, an art installation located along Market Street between The Embarcadero and Van Ness Avenue - Request for Review and Comment by the Architectural Review Committee regarding the proposal to install 83 utility boxes on the Path of Gold Light Standards, San Francisco Landmark No. 200, to control and power the LightRail installation, which will remain through 2018. The installation consists of LED light tubes suspended from the MUNI overhead catenary system.
PRESENTER: Ben Davis, CEO and Founder of Illuminate the Arts
SPEAKERS: Michael Levin - asked is it absolutely necessary to install the utility boxes as they would disrupt, detract and possible damage the Path of Gold lights.
ARC RECOMMENDATIONS
BACKGROUND
Planning Department Preservation Staff drafted a summary of key points for the June 4, 2014 Architectural Review Committee (ARC) meeting. At the hearing, the Department requested review and comment regarding the compatibility of the project with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards (Standards) and unresolved issues regarding design, installation, maintenance and removal of the proposed LightRail LED driver utility boxes on the Path of Gold Light Standards (POG).
Utility Box Design:
The ARC concurred with Staff’s concern regarding the size, placement, design and number of utility boxes. Two Commissioners agreed that the boxes as currently proposed do not meet the Standards. The ARC commented that the boxes as proposed would visually detract from the Path of Gold Light Standards and agreed that alternatives to installing the utility boxes on the POG would be preferable. The ARC accepted the Sponsor’s statement that due to technical limitations the LED drivers could not be placed within the POG poles or bases. One Commissioner raised the issue concerning possible damage to the POG by installing the LED driver internally. The ARC generally supported the proposal due to the temporary and reversible nature of the proposed utility boxes.
If no alternative placement is available and external boxes installed on the POG are required, the ARC offered the following recommendations regarding the utility box design and placement:
· The external box design should be improved, such as further elongating the box and shaping the top and bottom of the box.
· The utility boxes should be turned toward the street-facing side of the POG poles to minimize visibility from pedestrian traffic along Market Street.
· One Commissioner suggested lowering the placement of the boxes on the pole to allow for more room between the box and the character-defining triple globe tops. In general, the ARC agreed with this approach, but requested that the project team ensure that the boxes would not conflict with temporary banners installed on the POG.
Installation of Utility Boxes:
The ARC concurs with staff’s recommendation. Staff recommended that the Sponsor should determine protective measures, such as the installation of a protective material, in order to protect the POG from potential damage and/or corrosion caused by the clamp and utility box. One Commissioner suggested the use of stainless steel straps.
Conditions Assessment and Maintenance Plan:
The ARC concurs with staff’s recommendations. Staff recommended that the Sponsor should work with DPW and the Planning Department to develop a plan to ensure that the installation minimizes damage and that the POG system is appropriately maintained during the proposed five-year LightRail installation period. At a minimum the plan should include periodic assessment of the installation and a plan for repairing and addressing regular maintenance, vandalism, graffiti, damage and/or corrosion.
Removal of the LightRail Installation:
The ARC concurs with staff’s recommendations. Staff recommended that the Sponsor should prepare a repair detail for filling and repairing the ¾” hole drilled in the historic pole. The Sponsor should draft a plan for repair and maintenance at the removal of the installation, and the plan should include repainting of the POG.
Comment Letter: L-0031
Adjournment: 12:15 PM
The minutes was proposed for adoption at the Regular Meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission on Wednesday, June 18, 2014.
ACTION: Adopted
AYES: Hasz, Hyland Johnck, Johns, Matsuda, Pearlman, Wolfram
