Landmarks Preservation Advisory Board (LPAB) Minutes

June 2000


Presented below are Landmarks Preservation Advisory Board (LPAB). The top of the this page lists LPAB meeting dates, click on the date and you will reach the calendar for that that week. The minutes present a summary of actions taken at the LPAB hearings and provides a Motion, Resolution or other decision document for that action.

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FINAL ACTION MINUTES

OF THE

SAN FRANCISCO

LANDMARKS PRESERVATION ADVISORY BOARD MEETING

CITY HALL

1 DR. CARLTON B. GOODLETT PLACE, ROOM 400

JUNE 7, 2000

 

ROLL CALL

 

ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE

 

?1.??????? 2000.456A???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? (LIGHT: 558-6254)

1155 HAYES STREET, south side between Pierce and Scott Streets.? Assessor=s Block 824, Lot 10.? A four-story, 7-unit stucco Edwardian apartment building in the Alamo Square Historic District. ?The subject property is zoned RM-2 (Residential, Mixed, Moderate Density) District and is in a 40-X Height and Bulk District.? Request for Architectural Review Committee review and comment on a proposal to replace windows, in kind.? The windows will be changed from wood to architectural grade aluminum.

 

Note: Case was not heard at this time due to a lack of quorum and the project sponsor was not present.

?

1:15 P.M. ROLL CALL

 

FOR FULL BOARD CONSIDERATION

 

MEMBERS PRESENT: FINWALL, HO-BELLI, KELLEY, REIDY and SHATARA

MEMBERS ABSENT: DEARMAN, KOTAS, LEVITT and MAGRANE

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

 

Bruce Judd, re: 722-728 Montgomery Street, The Belli Building

Charles E. Chase, re: 722-728 Montgomery Street, The Belli Building

 

REPORTS

 

?1.??????? STAFF REPORT AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

Neil Hart,

Preservation Coordinator:

P????????? Informed the Board that landmark designation of 700 Montgomery Street, The Columbus Bank Building was approved by the Planning Commission.? The designation will now go back to the Board of Supervisors Committee for approval.

P????????? Reminded the Board of the Landmark Designation Work Program scheduled for the July 5 hearing.

P????????? Proposed landmark designation of the City Lights Bookstore is scheduled for June 21.

 


P????????? The Grant Application was sent to Sacramento on June 1.? Special thanks was given to Preservation Staff, Mary Koonts for preparing the grant application.

P????????? Copies of the Draft Preservation Element was included in the Board=s correspondence folder and review and comment of this draft is scheduled for June 21.

 

Tape No.: 1a

 

??????????? ?2.??????? PRESIDENT'S REPORT AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

President Reidy:?????? P????????? Informed members of the Board and the public on hearings/tours of the Old Mint Building on 5th Street.

 

?3.??????? MATTERS OF THE BOARD

 

Board Member Finwall:??????? P????????? Asked Staff for direction in obtaining information regarding the car wash at Divisadero and Oak Streets.

 

REGULAR CALENDAR ITEMS

 

?4.??????? APPROVAL OF THE MAY 17, 2000 DRAFT ACTION MINUTES

 

April 5 -????????? Moved by Member Kelley (seconded by Shatara) to approve draft minutes.? Vote was unanimous (Absent: Dearman, Kotas, Levitt and Magrane).

Tape No.: 1a

 

O???????? Informational Item

 

?5.??????? 722-728 MONTGOMERY STREET, The Belli Building, City Landmark Nos. 9 and 10.? Assessor=s Block 196, Lot 26.? Update on the status of The Belli Building.? (Note:? Item is continued from the May 3, 2000 Hearing.)

 

Item was pulled from the calendar.

 

O???????? Survey, Landmark/Historic District Landmark Designation Methodology

 

?6.??????? Consideration of adoption of resolutions adopting the California Office of Historic Preservation instructions for recording historical resources as the methodology for historic surveys, landmark and historic district designation reports and nominations and Structures of Merit nominations.

 

 


Speakers:???? Charles E. Chase

Gee Gee Platt

 

Board Action

and Comments:????? $???????? After hearing public comments, Board Member Ho-Belli moved to adopt the resolution adopting the California Office of Historic Preservation Instructions for recording Historical Resources as the Methodology for Historic Surveys (seconded by Member Shatara), with one correction suggested by a member of the public and agreed to by the Board as follows:

Under PROVIDED: 1.? That nothing in this action.....included in existing official surveys... - change the word Aofficial@ to Aadopted@.

The vote was unanimous (5-0, Finwall, Ho-Belli, Kelley, Reidy and Shatara).? Absent:? Dearman, Kotas, Levitt and Magrane.

? ????????? $???????? Board Member Kelley moved to adopt the resolution adopting the California Office of Historic Preservation Instructions for recording Historical Resources as the Methodology for Landmark and Historic District Designation Reports and Nominations and Structures of Merit Nominations.? The vote was unanimous (5-0, Finwall, Ho-Belli, Kelley, Reidy and Shatara).? Absent:? Dearman, Kotas, Levitt and Magrane.

Tape No.: 1a

 

O???????? Certificates of Appropriateness

 

?7.??????? 2000.456A???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? (LIGHT: 558-6254)

1155 HAYES STREET, south side between Pierce and Scott Streets.? Assessor=s Block 824, Lot 10.? A four-story, 7-unit stucco Edwardian apartment building in the Alamo Square Historic District.? The subject property is zoned RM-2 (Residential, Mixed, Moderate Density) District and is in a 40-X Height and Bulk District.? Request for a Certificate of Appropriateness to replace windows, in kind.? The windows will be changed from wood to architectural grade aluminum.

Preliminary Recommendation: Approval with conditions


 

By way of a telephone call, the project sponsor requested a continuance of this item to the next hearing (6/21/00).? It was moved by Member Kelley (seconded by Finwall) to grant the continuance.? The vote was unanimous.

 

?8.??????? 2000.007A??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? (M. SYNDER: 575-6891)

611 SECOND STREET, The D.N. & E. Walter Company Building, north side between Brannan and Townsend Streets, Assessor=s Block 3789, Lot 8.? A six-story, brick, industrial building built in 1909.? The original of the site was a warehouse.? The current use of the building is storage.? The building is contributory to the South End Historic District.? The property is zoned SSO (Secondary/Service/Office) District and is in a 50-X Height and Bulk District.? Request for Certificate of Appropriateness to install two electrical wall signs at 24 feet, paint out the existing non-conforming sign, and legalize existing red painted brick on the lower portion of the building.? (Note:? Item was heard before the Architectural Review Committee on March 15, 2000.)

Preliminary Recommendation: Approval

 

Speaker:???????? Bo Brummett

 

Action:??????????? Board Member Finwall moved to accept Staff=s recommendation for the approval of the Certificate of Appropriateness.

 

Ayes:?????????????? Finwall, Ho-Belli, Kelley, Reidy and Shatara

Noes:????????????? None

Absent:?????????? Dearman, Kotas, Levitt and Magrane

 

Tape Nos.: 1a & b

 

?9.??????? 1999.908A????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? (KOMETANI: 558-6478)

2090 JACKSON STREET, north side of street between Laguna and Octavia Streets.? Assessor=s Block 591, Lot 7.? A three-story, Richardson Romanesque, steel-reinforced masonry with cement plaster exterior finish, single-family house with a wood frame carriage house in the rear yard.? The subject property is Landmark No. 75; zoned RH-2 (House, Two-Family) District and is in a 40-X Height and Bulk District.? Request for a Certificate of Appropriateness to replace the existing rear yard area with a semi-subgrade parking garage for four cars with a garden terrace above, and a family room addition connecting the main house to the carriage house.? (Note: Item was heard before the Architectural Review Committee, April 5, 2000.)

 

Speaker:???????? Frank Fung

 


Action:??????????? Board Member Finwall moved to accept Staff=s Resolution for the approval of the Certificate of Appropriateness.? Additional findings should include: 1) verbiage regarding retaining the palm trees per the proposal submitted to the Board by the project sponsor dated 6/6/00; 2) updated plans.? Also, every attempt should be made to reuse masonry of the dismantled wall.

 

Ayes:?????????????? Finwall, Ho-Belli, Kelley, Reidy and Shatara

Noes:????????????? None

Absent:?????????? Dearman, Kotas, Levitt and Magrane

 

Tape No.: 1b

 

10.?????? 2000.548A????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? (KOMETANI: 558-6478)

430 PACIFIC AVENUE, north side between Montgomery and Sansome Streets.? Assessor=s Block 164, Lots 3 and 3A.? A two-story stucco over brick commercial building built in 1906.? The subject property is a compatible building in the Jackson Square Historic District, is zoned C-2 (Community Business) District and is in a 65-A Height and Bulk District.? Request for a Certificate of Appropriateness to replace existing, non-original storefront and entrance with new storefront and entrance.

Preliminary Recommendation: Approval

 

Speaker:???????? James Linebarger

 

Action:??????????? Board Member Shatara moved to accept Staff=s recommendation for the approval of the Certificate of Appropriateness.

 

Ayes:?????????????? Finwall, Ho-Belli, Kelley, Reidy and Shatara

Noes:????????????? None

Absent:?????????? Dearman, Kotas, Levitt and Magrane

 

Tape No.: 1b

 

ADJOURNMENT: 3:00 P.M.

 

Andrea Green

Recording Secretary

 

ADOPTED: June 21, 2000

 

 

N:\LPAB\MINUTES\DRAFTS\JUNE7DFT.MIN

 

 

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FINAL ACTION MINUTES

OF THE

SAN FRANCISCO

LANDMARKS PRESERVATION ADVISORY BOARD MEETING

 

CITY HALL

1 DR. CARLTON B. GOODLETT PLACE, ROOM 400

JUNE 21, 2000

 

12:40 P.M.? ROLL CALL

 

ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE

 

MEMBERS PRESENT: FINWALL, KOTAS (arr. @ 12:48 p.m.), MAGRANE, REIDY and SHATARA? (arr. @ 12:45 p.m.)

 

?1.??????? 2000.555A??????????????????????????????????????????????? (GORDON/SYNDER: 558-6309/575-6891)

75? FEDERAL STREET, The American Licorice Company Building #2, southeast side between First and Second Streets.? Assessor=s Block 3774, Lot 70.? A non-contributory, two-story reinforced concrete office building in the South End Historic District, built in 1948.? The subject property is zoned M-1 (Light Industrial) District and is in a 50-X Height and Bulk District.? Request for Architectural Review Committee review and comment on a proposal to add a new open-air paved extension (9 additional off-street parking spaces) to the existing open-air parking lot.? Relocation of railing enclosing the parking lot is required.

 

Speaker:???????? Stanley Wong

 

ARC comments and recommendations:

 

$????????? Committee member asked the project sponsor to clarify what land is being used to expand; what is being sacrificed?

$????????? What is the condition of the land being utilized for parking (its appearance and how is it occupied)?

$????????? What kind of landscaping is on the property now?

$????????? Had concern with keeping the existing trees.

$????????? Because the existing trees has size to them and create some visual relief and break in the area, it is suggested that the project architect work with staff to come up with plans to mitigate the trees, perhaps using 24" planter boxes.

$????????? The ARC would recommend approval to the Full Board with a condition to add as much greenery, using 24" planter boxes.

 

Tape No.: 1a

 

?2.??????? 2000.456A???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? (LIGHT: 558-6254)

1155 HAYES STREET, south side between Pierce and Scott Streets.? Assessor=s Block 824, Lot 10.? A four-story, 7-unit stucco Edwardian apartment building in the Alamo Square Historic District.? The subject property is zoned RM-2 (Residential, Mixed, Moderate Density) District and is in a 40-X Height and Bulk District.? Request for Architectural Review Committee review and comment on a proposal to replace windows, in kind.? The windows will be changed from wood to architectural grade aluminum.


 

Speaker:???????? Peter Weiss

 

ARC comments and recommendations:

 

$????????? Asked for the meaning of architectural grade windows.

$????????? Had major concerns with using aluminum windows.

$????????? The use of aluminum windows would be a loss of the historic fabric.

$????????? Agreed with Staff recommendation to replace windows with wood.

$????????? Would not be able to recommend approval of the current application to the Full Board.

$????????? The project sponsor is to think about considering the ARC and Staff recommendation to replace windows with wood.

 

Tape No.: 1a

 

?3.??????? 2000.357A???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? (LIGHT: 558-6254)

2317 WEBSTER STREET, west side between Washington and Jackson Streets.? A two-story wooden Victorian, single-family house in the Webster Street Historic District.? The subject project is zoned RH-2 (House, Two Family) District and is in a 40-X Height and Bulk District.? Request for Architectural Review Committee review and comment on a proposal for a garage addition at the front facade require excavation of the existing front yard, and? a rear addition.

 

Recused:??????? Jeremy Kotas, Board Member

 

Speakers:?????? Tony Pantaleoni

Heidi Englebrechten

 

ARC comments and recommendations:

 

$????????? Asked the project architect to give further details on the appearance of the front of the building after putting in the garage, in reference to landscaping.

$????????? Commented on the height of the retaining wall, in comparison to the house next door.

$????????? Asked if they plan to use sectional, traditional doors sold on the market, and suggested they use a company that makes detailed garage doors with upper glass.

$????????? It was stated that the garden is a significant part of the neighborhood.

$????????? Questioned when the new retaining wall is built, will the concrete striations/block be duplicated?

$????????? In reference to the driveway and keeping it as narrow as possible to maximize the available garden; was consideration given to taking the outside eight or ten inches of the driveway and leaving it as a planter bed?


$????????? ARC supported the Staff Report with the potential modifications to the garage door.

 

Tape No.: 1a & b

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

2:20 P.M. ROLL CALL

 

FOR FULL BOARD CONSIDERATION

 

MEMBERS PRESENT: FINWALL, HO-BELLI, KELLEY, KOTAS, LEVITT (arr. @ 3:45 p.m.), MAGRANE, REIDY and SHATARA

MEMBER ABSENT: DEARMAN

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

 

John Barbey, re: Under grounding (P. G. & E)

Mary Anne Miller, re: 1934 Great Highway

 

REPORTS

 

?1.??????? STAFF REPORT AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

Neil Hart,

Preservation Coordinator:

P????????? Reminded the Board and members of the public of the July 5 Hearing, regarding Landmark Designation Work Program.

P????????? Resolutions 526 and 527 were finalized - Adoptions of the California Office of Historic Preservation Instructions for Recording Historic Resources as the Methodology for Historic Surveys; and the California Office of Historic Preservation Instructions for Recording Historical Resources as the Methodology for Landmark and Historic District Designation Reports and Nominations and Structures of Merit Nominations.

P????????? Landmark designation of the Jewish Community Center is calendared for July 5, 2000.

P????????? Announced the return of employees Adam Light, Planner III, and former intern, Moses Corrette, now Planner II.? Mary Koonts has rotated to the TAC Team and will continue to work with the Preservation Technical Staff.? Intern, Jennifer Hirsch will come on board in July.

 

Tape No.: 1b


??????????? ?2.??????? PRESIDENT'S REPORT AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

President Reidy:?????? P????????? Letter was sent to the Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute regarding their building in the Webster Street Historic District.

 

?3.??????? MATTERS OF THE BOARD

 

Board Member

Finwall:?????????? P????????? Updated the Board on a meeting held regarding the Old Mint Building.

P????????? Requested status on the Firehouse on Oak Street and the building at 500 Divisadero Street.

 

Board Member

Kelley:??????????? P????????? Had concerns regarding the timeliness on the public receiving detailed information on cases scheduled before the Board.? Suggested having staff explore the possibility of sending complete packets to the Main Library.

 

REGULAR CALENDAR ITEMS

 

?4.??????? APPROVAL OF THE JUNE 7, 2000 DRAFT ACTION MINUTES

 

June 7 -???????? Moved by Member Kelley (seconded by Ho-Belli) to approve draft minutes.? Vote was unanimous (Absent: Dearman and Levitt).

Tape No.: 1b

 

O???????? Review and Comment

 

5.????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? (BAUMAN: 558-6287)

PRESERVATION ELEMENT OF THE GENERAL PLAN.? Review and comment on the draft Preservation Element of the General Plan.

 

Speakers:???? Charles E. Chase

Mary Anne Miller

John Barbey

 

Board/Staff

comments


and actions:??????????? P????????? President Reidy stated that he wanted to make it clear to the public that the purpose of hearing this item today was to introduce the draft Preservation Element to the Board, to begin the process of input from the members of the Board and members of the public.? There will be an extensive period of time for opportunity for input.? He asked those who wanted to comment to please focus on the content whether than comment on the process.

P????????? Staff, Catherine Bauman stated that the purpose of this hearing was to reopen the discussion of the preservation element and that no action was proposed.? After receiving a sense of the scope of the changes from public comment, environmental review will begin and then the document will be put into graphically better shape, so that it will be illustrated using GIS maps.? Staff will also get a sense of what actions, including amendments to the Planning Code are going to be necessary to implement the proposed objectives and policies.? After all components have been reviewed by the Board, the element in the form of a draft for citizen review, will be forwarded to the Planning Commission with a recommendation of the Board.? After it is adopted by the Planning Commission, it will be forwarded to the Board of Supervisors for its approval.

P????????? The major changes since the 1992 draft (the most widely circulated recent draft) are as follows:


$???????? There is a split between the Discussion of Identification of Resources from the Discussion of Protection of Resources.? Previous drafts was organized by the kind of resources.? An effort has been made to generalize all resources and first have a section that concentrates on the methodology and process for surveying and evaluating all resources - then go on to talk about different kinds of resources are best treated.

$???????? Two sections have been added in the last several years - 1) the last section on Sustain ability; and 2) a section on Disaster Preparedness.

$???????? This draft establishes the National Register Methodology.? The previous drafts have gone in some detail in the Kalman Methodology.

P????????? The Board felt the preservation element deserves some workshop attention. Suggested the Department Staff schedule at least one workshop in the Department, conveniently during working hours.? Suggested having one or more workshops at perhaps, a library on the weekend or in the evening (maybe Heritage would offer to sponsor one).? The Board thinks that all the major neighborhood organizations that have a preservation interest, that have been participating in hearings, etc., should receive a copy of the draft preservation element, with a letter encouraging them for their input.? Allow time (a couple of months) to review, and perhaps in late August or early September, gather again at a scheduled Landmarks Board hearing.? Stated that a participatory planning process is really warranted in order for people to buy into it, understand it, embrace it where it will be more effective later completed.

P????????? It was suggested that a special attempt be made to outreach to people beyond the ordinary preservation, neighborhood community, such as, builder associations, developers and professionals, who have a vested interest.


P????????? Asked Catherine Bauman to work with Neil Hart on coordinating the above suggestions.? Ms. Bauman believes a schedule, coordinating the workshops can be provided within the next two weeks. This? item should be brought back to the Board, late August or early September.

 

Tape No.: 2a

 

O???????? Landmark Designation

 

?6.??????? 2000.507L???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? (LIGHT: 558-6254)

261-271 COLUMBUS AVENUE, City Lights Bookstore, south side of street between Jack Kerouac Street and Broadway.? Assessor=s Block 162, Lot 18.? The subject project is zoned Broadway NCD and is in a 65-A-1 Height and Bulk District.? Review and comment, and consideration to endorse the Context Statement - Bohemian Literary Culture in Post-War San Francisco.? Consideration to initiate landmark designation and adopt a resolution initiating and recommending landmark designation of the City Lights Bookstore as Landmark No. 228.

 

Recused:????? Tim Kelley, Board Vice President

 

Speakers:???? Charles E. Chase

Nancy Peters

Lawrence Ferlinghetti

Aaron Peskin

 

Board comments

and actions:??????????? P????????? After public comments and discussion by the Board, it was moved by Member Ho-Belli to endorse the Context Statement and recommended that it be included in the new preservation library.? The vote was unanimous (Finwall, Ho-Belli, Kotas, Magrane, Reidy and Shatara).? (Absent: Dearman and Levitt).

P????????? It was moved by Member Magrane to initiate designation of City Lights Bookstore as Landmark No. 228.? The vote was unanimous (Finwall, Ho-Belli, Kotas, Magrane, Reidy and Shatara).? (Absent: Dearman and Levitt)


P????????? Member Kotas moved to adopt the resolution, recommending to the Planning Commission, initiating landmark designation of City Lights Bookstore as Landmark No. 228 with modifications.? The vote was unanimous (Finwall, Ho-Belli, Kotas, Magrane, Reidy and Shatara).? (Absent: Dearman and Levitt)

 

Tape Nos.: 1b & 2a

 

O???????? Certificates of Appropriateness

 

?7.??????? 2000.555A??????????????????????????????????????????????? (GORDON/SYNDER: 558-6309/575-6891)

75? FEDERAL STREET, The American Licorice Company Building #2, southeast side between First and Second Streets.? Assessor=s Block 3774, Lot 70.? A non-contributory, two-story reinforced concrete office building in the South End Historic District, built in 1948.? The subject property is zoned M-1 (Light Industrial) District and is in a 50-X Height and Bulk District.? Request for a Certificate of Appropriateness to add a new open-air paved extension (9 additional off-street parking spaces) to the existing open-air parking lot.? Relocation of railing enclosing the parking lot is required.

Preliminary Recommendation: Approval

 

Speaker:???????? Stanley Wong

 

Action:??????????? Board Member Magrane moved to recommend approval of the Certificate of Appropriateness, with the condition that 24" planter boxes (a minimum of four) be added to replace the lost of the existing trees.

 

Ayes:?????????????? Finwall, Ho-Belli, Kelley, Kotas, Levitt, Magrane, Reidy and Shatara

Noes:????????????? None

Absent:?????????? Dearman

 

Tape No.: 2a

 

?8.??????? 2000.456A???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? (LIGHT: 558-6254)

1155 HAYES STREET, south side between Pierce and Scott Streets.? Assessor=s Block 824, Lot 10.? A four-story, 7-unit stucco Edwardian apartment building in the Alamo Square Historic District.? The subject property is zoned RM-2 (Residential, Mixed, Moderate Density) District and is in a 40-X Height and Bulk District.? Request for a Certificate of Appropriateness to replace windows, in kind.? The windows will be changed from wood to architectural grade aluminum.

Preliminary Recommendation: Approval with conditions

 

Applicant was not present at this time, so the item was not heard before the Full Board.

 


?9.??????? 2000.357A???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? (LIGHT: 558-6254)

2317 WEBSTER STREET, west side between Washington and Jackson Streets.? A two-story wooden Victorian, single-family house in the Webster Street Historic District.? The subject project is zoned RH-2 (House, Two Family) District and is in a 40-X Height and Bulk District.? Request for a Certificate of Appropriateness for a garage addition at the front facade require excavation of the existing front yard, and? a rear addition.

Preliminary Recommendation: Approval

 

Recused:????? Board Member Kotas

 

Speaker:???????? Anthony Pantaleoni

 

Action:??????????? Board Member Finwall moved to recommend approval of the Certificate of Appropriateness, with the following conditions/modifications:

$????????? Score line and texture similar to the existing wall be added.

$????????? Landscaping be added wherever possible.

$????????? Take another look at the garage door - the articulation of the paneling on the garage door and where any glass would be located on the door; with particular emphasis as to the proportions of the bottom panel.

 

Ayes:?????????????? Finwall, Ho-Belli, Kelley, Kotas, Levitt, Magrane, Reidy and Shatara

Noes:????????????? None

Absent:?????????? Dearman

 

Tape No.: 2a

 

10.?????? 1997.433A????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? (KOMETANI: 558-6478)

22 ALTA STREET, north side between Montgomery and Sansome Streets in Assessor=s Block 106, Lot 34A.? Former site of a contributory building in the Telegraph Hill Historic District, now demolished.? The subject property is zoned RH-3 (House, Three-Family) District and is in a 40-X Height and Bulk District.? Request for a Certificate of Appropriateness authorization to construct a new one-unit residential building in the Telegraph Hill Historic District.? (Note: Item was heard before the Full Board, May 5, 1999.? At that time, a motion recommending denial of the Certificate of Appropriateness was passed 7-1 (with one member absent).? The Board recommended that the project sponsor redesign the project and bring the redesign back to the Board for review.)

Preliminary Recommendation: Approval

 


Speakers:???? Aaron Peskin, Rozell Overmire, James Attwood, Brandan Kelly, Joe Luttrell, Sherry Goodman, Firouzah Attwood, Nancy Shanahan, Gerry Crowley, Cheryl Bentley, Kathy Dooley, Peter Overmire, Larry Habegger, Ken Maley, Donald Jans, Louis Sheppard, Ed McEachron, Debra Stein

 

Note:? Staff, Michael Kometani briefed the public and Board as to what action took place at the May 5, 1999 Hearing, as follows:

$???????? The Board recommended disapproval of a new five-unit building in the Telegraph Hill District.

$???????? The Board made design recommendations as to what might be acceptable on this site.

 

Board Comments

and Actions:

P????????? It was asked how did the previous building (demolished) fit legally into the whole consideration - is the site different from any other vacant lot in the Telegraph Hill District?

P????????? It was asked of the project architect, what was the square footage of the new proposed building?? Is the square footage all internal or does it include the decks??

P????????? Questioned if the vertical mass at the right of the building, as you=re facing it, is it all vertical circulation?

P????????? In reference to the fourth floor (garage floor), what was the rationale for the extension of the lower floors - why do they extend as far as they do and what judgements were made to have them come out as far?

P????????? What would be the cost of bringing the northern most wall of the two lower levels back so that they do not extend any further than the adjacent building?? Are there any technical reasons?

P????????? Stated that the roof dominates the shadow line to some degree (except further into the summer).

P????????? If the proposed building was constructed, how will the garden be salvaged?? Will or can it be protected?

P????????? Board Member Finwall complimented the architect for a beautiful Aart moderne@ design, however, because of the restriction of following the ordinance, their interruption was that the proposed design should not be in the Aart moderne@ style.


P????????? Vice President Kelley agreed that the proposed design is a nice building, but, it=s in the wrong place - it=s still too big.? He hopes that clarification has been made that the demolished building has no role.? Stated that the proposed building has to relate to the ones around it (not the demolished or previously proposed building).? Perhaps it=s the most prominent home site in San Francisco, which not only have an impact on the Garden, but also on the cliff.? Feels there are some inherent problems with the definition for this district, because of the broad spread in the styling contained in the district.?

P????????? Board Member Kotas referred to the resolution that followed the Board=s action at the May 5, 1999 Hearing, which the Board clearly asked for three things: 1) the toe of the building should be moved back to align with the toe of the other buildings on Alta Street (don=t believe this current proposal does that); 2) suggested a reworking of the proposal might allow borrowing space from the east (believes this proposal does show this); 3) affirmed that the Aart moderne@ style was a part of the district, but the Board did not recommend that specific design mode.? He was not comfortable supporting this proposal in its current state.

P????????? Board Member Levitt did not have a problem with the style of the building, but she had a problem with the mass of the building - a single-family home of this size is not compatible.? At this time, she could not support the proposed project.


P????????? President Reidy commented on the directions that were given on the previous proposal at the May 5, 1999 Hearing - the two lower levels are not within the line of the existing lines of the buildings along Alta Street.?? Mentioned that 221 Filbert (the cottage), is a case of its own, because it faces the stairs, but the others do create something of a pattern, which would have been an opportunity to line up with the existing buildings.? The guidance the Board given before should have been followed.? Although several of the neighboring buildings are quite small, in his view, it=s not a requirement that those buildings have to be replicated on the site.? He did not have a problem with the terrace downhill.? The Board had suggested that the project sponsor consider design alternatives that would cantilever out over the cliff.? The project sponsors did listen to some of the guidance suggested by the Board, however, the proposed building is still too large for the setting.? While there are many merits to the proposed building, there are still problems with the scale and massing - it=s not compatible with the neighborhood and with the styles of are existing.

P????????? Board Member Magrane stated that she agreed with the other Board Members - she was less concerned about the Garden.? The Garden will survive and be exquisite (even as a shade garden), but the mass of the building is so out of scale to the process.

P????????? Board Member Shatara stated looking at the proposed project, he sees two stories above the street level, which is probably the case of any project that goes into this site, alone, that sets up sun angles that might dominate the rest of the proposed project.? Did not expect the widening of the proposed building to be in such a vertical mass.? Something spectacular should be built on the site, but, it must be compatible with the neighborhood.? A reduction back to the adjacent property would be appropriate.? Suggested that project be scaled back - the rooms do not have to be as large as proposed.? The north elevation looking south does not work - it=s massive, bulky.? Suggested moving stairs to the west side of the building, which would open up the eastern side, where the primary view is.

 

Action:??????????? Vice President Kelley moved to recommend disapproval of the Certificate of Appropriateness for the project as presented, because it is still too bulky, too massive for the site and that it is not compatible with the adjacent, nearby contributory properties.

 

Ayes:?????????????? Finwall, Ho-Belli, Kelley, Kotas, Levitt, Magrane, Reidy and Shatara

Noes:????????????? None

Absent:?????????? Dearman

 

Tape Nos.: 2b & 3a

?

ADJOURNMENT: 6:15 P.M.

 

Andrea Green

Recording Secretary

 

ADOPTED: July 19, 2000

 

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