San Francisco Planning Department : June 14, 2007

June 14, 2007

SAN FRANCISCO
PLANNING COMMISSION
Notice of Meeting
&
Calendar
Commission Chambers - Room 400
City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
Thursday, June 14, 2007
1:30 PM
Regular Meeting

President: Dwight S. Alexander
Vice-President: Christina R. Olague
Commissioners: Michael J. Antonini; M. Sue Lee; William L. Lee; Kathrin Moore;
Hisashi Sugaya

Commission Secretary: Linda D. Avery
Commission Calendars are available on the Internet at http://www.sfgov.org/planning
or as a recorded message at (415) 558-6422.

View the meeting online at: http://www.sfgov.org/site/sfgtv_index.asp
Or
View the broadcast live, Thursdays on Cable Channel 78.
And
The re-broadcast on Fridays at 8:00 p.m., Cable Channel 26

THE AGENDA PACKET IS AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW AT THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT
1650 MISSION STREET, 4TH FLOOR RECEPTION

Commission Meeting Procedures

Material submitted by the public for Commission review prior to a scheduled hearing should be received by the Planning Department reception counter at 1650 Mission Street, 4th floor, no later than 5:00 PM the Wednesday (eight days) prior to the scheduled public hearing. Persons unable to attend a hearing may submit written comments regarding a calendared item to: Planning Commission, 1650 Mission Street, Suite 400, San Francisco, CA 94103-2414. Comments received by 11:00 AM on the day of the hearing will be made part of the official record and will be brought to the attention of the Planning Commission at the public hearing. Otherwise, submit material related to a calendared item at the scheduled hearing for distribution. For complete distribution to all Commissioners, necessary staff and case/docket/correspondence files, submit an original plus 10 copies. When sending e-mail correspondence to Commissioners, please copy the Commission Secretary at: linda.avery@sfgov.org

Pursuant to Government Code Section 65009, if you challenge, in court, (1) the adoption or amendment of a general plan, (2) the adoption or amendment of a zoning ordinance, (3) the adoption or amendment of any regulation attached to a specific plan, (4) the adoption, amendment or modification of a development agreement, or (5) the approval of a variance, conditional-use authorization, or any permit, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the Planning Commission, at, or prior to, the public hearing.

Commission action on conditional-uses and reclassification may be appealed to the Board of Supervisors within 30 days. Call (415) 554-5184 for more information. Commission actions after Discretionary Review may be appealed to the Board of Appeals within 15 days of action by the Central Permit Bureau. Call (415) 575-6880 for more information. Zoning Administrator action on a variance application may be appealed to the Board of Appeals within 10 days of issuance of the written decision.

The Commission has instituted a policy that, in most cases, they will not call an item for consideration after 10:00 PM. If an item is scheduled but not called or introduced prior to 10:00 PM, the Commission may continue the matter to the next available hearing. Items listed on this calendar will not be heard before the stated time.

Cell Phone and/or Sound-Producing Electronic Devices Usage at Hearings

Effective January 21, 2001, the Board of Supervisors amended the Sunshine Ordinance by adding the following provision: The ringing of and use of cell phones, pagers and similar sound-producing electronic devices are prohibited at this meeting. Please be advised that the Chair may order the removal from the meeting room of any person(s) responsible for the ringing or use of a cell phone, pager, or other similar sound-producing electronic devices (67A.1 Prohibiting the use of cell phones, pagers and similar sound-producing electronic devices at and during public meetings).

For more information related to Planning Commission matters, please call Linda D. Avery, Commission Secretary, at (415) 558-6407.

San Francisco Lobbyist Ordinance

Attention: Individuals and entities that influence or attempt to influence local legislative or administrative action my be required by the San Francisco Lobbyist Ordinance [SF Campaign and Governmental Conduct Code Section 21.00-2.160] to register and report lobbying activity. For more information about the Lobbyist Ordinance, please contact the Ethics Commission at 30 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 3900, San Francisco, CA 94102; telephone (415) 581-2300; fax (415) 581-2317; and web site http//www.sfgov.org/ethics.

Accessible Meeting Policy

Hearings are held at City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 400, fourth floor, San Francisco, CA. The closest accessible BART station is the Civic Center station located at the intersection of Market, Hyde and Grove Streets. Accessible curbside parking has been designated at points along McAllister Street. Accessible MUNI lines serving City Hall are the 9 San Bruno and 71 Haight/Noriega and the F Line. Accessible MUNI Metro lines are the J, K, L, M, and N. For more information regarding MUNI accessible services, call (415) 923-6142. Requests for American sign language interpreters, sound enhancement systems and/or language translators will be available upon request by contacting Lulu Hwang at (415) 558-6318 at least 48 hours prior to a hearing. A sound enhancement system will be available upon request at the meetings. Please contact Services for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired at 557-5533 (TDD) or 557-5534 (Voice) at least 48 hours prior to the meeting. Late requests will be honored if possible. A person who is deaf or hearing impaired may gain meeting information prior to the meeting by calling 557-4433 (TDD) or 557-4434 (Voice). In addition, the California Relay Service can be used by individuals with hearing and speech impairrments by calling 1-800-735-2929 (TDD) or 1-800-735-2922 (Voice). Minutes of the meetings are available in alternative formats. If you require the use of a reader during the meeting, please contact the Library for the Blind and Print Handicapped at 292-2022 at least 48 hours in advance of need. Accessible seating for persons with disabilities (including those using wheelchairs) will be available at meetings. Individuals with severe allergies, environmental illnesses, multiple chemical sensitivity or related disabilities should call our accessibility hotline at (415) 554-8925 to discuss meeting accessibility. In order to assist the City's efforts to accommodate such people, attendees at public meetings are reminded that other attendees may be sensitive to various chemical-based products. Please help the City to accommodate these individuals.

Know Your Rights Under the Sunshine Ordinance

Government's duty is to serve the public, reaching its decisions in full view of the public. Commissions, boards, councils and other agencies of the City and County exist to conduct the people's business. This ordinance assures that deliberations are conducted before the people and that City operations are open to the people's review.

For more information on your rights under the Sunshine Ordinance (Chapter 67 of the San Francisco Administrative Code) or to report a violation of the ordinance, contact Adele Destro, Interim Administrator, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 409, by phone at (415) 554-7724, by fax at (415) 554-7854 or by E-mail at sotf@sfgov.org.

Copies of the Sunshine Ordinance can be obtained from the Clerk of the Sunshine Task Force, the San Francisco Library and on the City's website at www.sfgov.org/bdsupvrs/sunshine..

COMMUNICATIONS

Note: Each item on the Consent or Regular calendar may include the following documents:
1) Planning Department Case Executive Summary
2) Planning Department Case Report
3) Draft Motion or Resolution with Findings and/or Conditions
4) Public Correspondence
These items will be available for review at the Planning Department, 1660 Mission St., 5th floor reception.

1:30 PM _________

ROLL CALL: Commission President: Dwight S. Alexander
Commission Vice-President: Christina R. Olague
Commissioners: Michael J. Antonini; M. Sue Lee; William L. Lee;
Kathrin Moore; Hisashi Sugaya

A. CONSIDERATION OF ITEMS PROPOSED FOR CONTINUANCE

The Commission will consider a request for continuance to a later date. The Commission may choose to continue the item to the date proposed below, to continue the item to another date, or to hear the item on this calendar.

1a. 2006.0636D (A. STARR: (415) 558-6322)
2901-2903 PIERCE STREET - northwest corner of Union and Pierce Streets; Lot 006 in Assessor's Block 0536 - Requests for Discretionary Review of Building Permit Application No. 2006.07.13.6418 proposing to construct a new one-story, two-car garage with roof deck addition at the rear of the three-story, two-unit building. The existing detached garage structure would be demolished. The new garage would be located within the required rear yard, requiring a variance. The property is located in an RH-2 (Residential, House, Two-Family) District with a 40-X Height and Bulk Designation.
Preliminary Recommendation: Do not take Discretionary Review and approve the project as revised.
(Proposed for Continuance to June 21, 2007)

1b. 2006.0636VDD (A. STARR: (415) 558-6322)
2901-2903 PIERCE STREET - northwest corner of Union and Pierce Streets; Lot 006 in Assessor's Block 0536 - Request for Variance from Planning Code Section 134 (required rear yard) to allow demolition of the existing detached garage and to construct a new one-story horizontal addition approximately 26 feet deep and 26 feet wide at the rear of the existing two-family dwelling. The addition will accommodate a new two-car garage, roof deck and stairs leading from the roof deck to the rear yard. The new garage is located within the required rear yard. The property is located in an RH-2 (Residential, House, Two-Family) District with a 40-X Height and Bulk Designation.
(Proposed for Continuance to June 21, 2007)

2. 2004.1245E (R. SCHOHN: (415) 558-5985)
300 GRANT AVENUE - Assessor's Block 0287, Lots 013, 014 - Appeal of a Preliminary Mitigated Negative Declaration. The 10,500 square-foot project site is located at 300 Grant Avenue (aka 272-290 Sutter Street) on the northeast corner of Grant Avenue and Sutter Street in the Financial District neighborhood. The proposed project would involve the demolition of two buildings containing approximately 35,600-square feet of retail space and construction of an approximately 114,354 gross square foot, 12-story, 130-foot tall building containing up to 56 residential units, 15,000 square feet of retail space, and 34 to 40 off-street parking spaces. The retail entrance to the proposed project would be at the corner of Grant Avenue and Sutter Street, while the residential lobby entrance would be at the corner of Grant Avenue and Harlan Place. Access to the parking garage would be from Harlan Place off Grant Avenue. The site is zoned C-3-R (Downtown Retail) within an 80-130-F height and bulk district, and the Downtown Area Plan of the General Plan.
Preliminary Recommendation: Uphold Preliminary Mitigated Negative Declaration
(Continued from Regular Meeting of May 10, 2007)
(Proposed for Continuance to June 28, 2007)

3a. 2004.1245EKVX (J. MILLER: (415) 558-6344)
300 GRANT AVENUE (AKA 272 AND 290 SUTTER STREET) - northeast corner at Sutter Street, Lots 13 and 14 in Assessor's Block 287, in a C-3-R (Downtown Retail) District and an 80-130-F Height and Bulk District - Request for review under Planning Code ("Code") Section 309 of the construction of a new, 12-story mixed-use building containing approximately 56 dwelling units, approximately 15,000 square feet of ground- and second-floor retail space, and up to 40 off-street parking spaces in a two-level underground garage, requiring the authorization of exceptions to Code standards for height above 80 feet, building bulk, rear yard, and off-street parking, as well as the granting of Variances of Code standards for usable open space and dwelling-unit exposure.
Preliminary Recommendation: Approval with Conditions
(Continued from Regular Meeting of May 10, 2007)
(Proposed for Continuance to June 28, 2007)

3b. 2004.1245EKVX (J. MILLER: (415) 558-6344)
300 GRANT AVENUE (AKA 272 AND 290 SUTTER STREET) - northeast corner at Sutter Street, Lots 13 and 14 in Assessor's Block 287, in a C-3-R (Downtown Retail) District and an 80-130-F Height and Bulk District - Request for Variance of Planning Code standards for usable open space and dwelling-unit exposure in conjunction with the construction of a new, 12-story mixed-use building containing approximately 56 dwelling
units, approximately 15,000 square feet of ground- and second-floor retail space, and up to 40 off-street parking spaces in a two-level underground garage.
(Continued from Regular Meeting of May 10, 2007)
(Proposed for Continuance to June 28, 2007)

B. COMMISSIONERS' QUESTIONS AND MATTERS

Adoption of Commission Minutes - Charter Section 4.104 requires all commissioners to vote yes or no on all matters unless that commissioner is excused by a vote of the Commission. Commissioners may not be automatically excluded from a vote on the minutes because they did not attend the meeting.

4. Consideration of Adoption:
· Draft Minutes of Regular Meeting of March 15, 2007.
· Draft Minutes of Regular Meeting of March 22, 2007.
· Draft Minutes of Regular Meeting of April 5, 2007
· Draft Minutes of Special Meeting of May 31, 2007.

5. Commission Comments/Questions
· Inquiries/Announcements. Without discussion, at this time Commissioners may make announcements or inquiries of staff regarding various matters of interest to the Commissioner(s).
· Future Meetings/Agendas. At this time, the Commission may discuss and take action to set the date of a Special Meeting and/or determine those items that could be placed on the agenda of the next meeting and other future meetings of the Planning Commission.

C. DIRECTOR'S REPORT

6. Director's Announcements

7. Review of Past Week's Events at the Board of Supervisors and Board of Appeals

D. GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT - 15 MINUTES

E. CONSENT CALENDAR

All matters listed hereunder constitute a Consent Calendar, are considered to be routine by the Planning Commission, and will be acted upon by a single roll call vote of the Commission. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a member of the Commission, 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.

8. 2007.0337C (A. STARR: (415) 558-6322)
405 BAKER STREET - west side between Grove and Hayes Streets; Lot 007, in Assessor's Block 1199 - Request for Conditional Use authorization under Planning Code Section 209.3(c) to allow a Residential Care Facility for more than 7 persons in an RH-3 (Residential, House, Three-Family) District and a 40-X Height and Bulk District. The project consists of establishing a residential care facility (dba Transitional Residential Mental Health Program) for approximately 15 adults in a building that was previously used as a residential care facility for 12 children (dba Burt Children's Center), but which is currently vacant. No expansion in the building envelope is proposed.
Preliminary Recommendation: Approval with conditions.

F. REGULAR CALENDAR

9. (A. JOHN-BAPTISTE: (415) 558-6547)
FY 2008 BUDGET UPDATE - Informational Item. Review of the Department's FY2008 budget, as revised and proposed in the Mayor's FY2008 budget.

10. (L. AVERY: (415) 558-6407)
COMMISSIION'S RULES AND REGULATIONS - Discussion and possible action to amend the Commission's Rules and Regulations to address imposing time constraints on submittal of documents and material for review by the Commission and the public; discuss and possibly establish rules or policies that address other areas of interest of the Commission.
(Continued from Regular Meeting of May 24, 2007)

11a. 2006.1080C (T. FRYE: (415) 575-6822)
1029 NATOMA STREET - between 11th Street and Lafayette Street, Block 055 in Assessor's Block 3511 - Request for Conditional Use Authorization to allow the demolition of the existing single residential unit pursuant to Sections 803.5(b) and 816.13 of the Planning Code. The subject property is within an SLR (Service/Light Industrial/Residential) Zoning District, the Western SOMA Special Use District, and a 50-X Height and Bulk District. The proposal is to demolish the single residential unit and construct a new 50-foot structure that would include four units and four off-street parking spaces.
Preliminary Recommendation: Approval with Conditions.
(Continued from Regular Meeting of April 12, 2007)

11b. 2006.1080CV (T. FRYE: (415) 575-6822)
1029 NATOMA STREET - between 11th Street and Lafayette Street, Block 055 in Assessor's Block 3511 - Parking variance to construct a new four-unit residential building with three off-street parking spaces, where four are required, per Planning Code Section 151. The subject property is within an SLR (Service/Light Industrial/Residential) Zoning District, the Western SOMA Special Use District, and a 50-X Height and Bulk District. The parking variance will be heard by the Zoning Administrator.
(Continued from Regular Meeting of April 12, 2007)

12. 2001.1056E (V. WISE: (415) 575-9049))
280 DIVISADERO STREET - Public Hearing on the Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR). 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 to the carriage house, 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. The project sponsor is seeking a Variance because the carriage house is located within the required rear yard open space of the main house.
Preliminary Recommendation: Public Hearing to Receive Comments. No Action Required.
Note: Written comments will be accepted at the Planning Department's offices until 5 pm on June 18, 2007.

13. 2007.0286C (S. YOUNG: (415) 558-6346)
4041 GEARY BOULEVARD - southeast corner of 5th Avenue and Geary Boulevard; Lot 050 in Assessor's Block 1540 - Request for Conditional Use Authorization under Sections 703.4 and 303 of the Planning Code to establish a Formula Retail Use in an NC-3 (Moderate-Scale) Neighborhood Commercial District and a 40-X Height and Bulk District. The proposal is to establish a new retail coffee store (DBA "Starbucks"), with approximately 750 square feet in floor area, in vacant commercial retail space located within a recently approved auto repair shop (DBA "Service Center for San Francisco Toyota"). This proposal relates to a Conditional Use authorization granted by the Planning Commission on March 16, 2006 under Case No. 2005.1089C to convert a retail building, which was formerly occupied by Cala Foods grocery store, to the auto repair shop. Preliminary Recommendation: Approval with conditions.

14. 2007.0307D (T. WANG: (415) 558-6335)
2258 27TH AVENUE - east side between Rivera and Santiago Streets; Lot 021A in Assessor's Block 2323 - Request for Discretionary Review of Building Permit Application No. 2006.12.19.0106 to renovate the front facade and construct a third story vertical addition and a rear stairway to the existing one-story over garage, single-family dwelling in an RH-1 (Residential, House, One-Family) District and a 40-X Height and Bulk District.
Preliminary Recommendation: Do not take Discretionary Review and approve the project as submitted.

G. PUBLIC COMMENT

At this time, members of the public may address the Commission on items of interest to the public that are within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Commission except agenda items. With respect to agenda items, your opportunity to address the Commission will be afforded when the item is reached in the meeting with one exception. When the agenda item has already been reviewed in a public hearing at which members of the public were allowed to testify and the Commission has closed the public hearing, your opportunity to address the Commission must be exercised during the Public Comment portion of the Calendar. Each member of the public may address the Commission for up to three minutes.

The Brown Act forbids a commission from taking action or discussing any item not appearing on the posted agenda, including those items raised at public comment. In response to public comment, the commission is limited to:

(1) responding to statements made or questions posed by members of the public; or
(2) requesting staff to report back on a matter at a subsequent meeting; or
(3) directing staff to place the item on a future agenda. (Government Code Section 54954.2(a))

Adjournment:

Last updated: 11/17/2009 9:59:58 PM