San Francisco Board of Supervisors Regular Meeting - June 17, 2025
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San Francisco Board of Supervisors Regular Meeting - June 17, 2025
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors held a regular meeting on June 17, 2025, starting at 10:15 AM. The meeting included a consent agenda, special orders for commendations and three related appeals concerning the proposed Heritage on the Marina project at 3400 Laguna Street, unfinished business, new business, and general public comment. The board voted on the appeals and passed several routine items.
Consent Calendar
- Items 1–5: Routine approvals including settlements of lawsuits (Golden Bear Insurance, State Farm General, Marie Thornton, Larry Jacobs, Chime Financial) totaling $6,242,167.64. Adopted unanimously (11-0).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Support for appellants (Save the Marina's Heritage): Multiple speakers argued that the Heritage on the Marina project violates planning code by converting rent-controlled units into institutional use, unlawfully removing affordable housing. They contended that the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) only approved the certificate of appropriateness with Condition 1 (requiring Architectural Review Committee review of massing and details), and that removing this condition would undermine the HPC’s authority. They also raised concerns about traffic safety at Bay and Laguna streets, inadequate analysis of the Notice of Special Restrictions (NSR), and the project’s scale (60,000 sq ft for only 23 new units). Speakers included Tanya Albuquerque, Steve Williams, and several neighborhood residents.
- Support for project sponsor (Heritage on the Marina): Speakers, including residents and a preservation architect, emphasized the need for updated senior housing, the financial crisis faced by Heritage (annual deficit of $3–8 million), and the inadequacy of current units (average ~250 sq ft). They argued the project would improve the historic building and add 23 larger care suites (average ~700 sq ft). They urged approval without Condition 1, stating it was unnecessary and legally problematic. Alan Murphy (attorney for sponsor) and CEO Mary Lindy spoke.
- General public comment: Several speakers addressed other topics, including opposition to a proposed RV towing policy, support for the Homicide Reward Fund, and criticisms of city governance.
Discussion Items
Special Orders: 3400 Laguna Street Project Appeals (3:00 PM)
The board held three joint appeals regarding the project at 3400 Laguna Street, a historic landmark (Julia Morgan building) operated as a residential care facility for seniors. The project proposes demolishing two non-historic buildings, constructing two new 40-foot buildings, adding a below-grade parking garage, and increasing care suites from 86 to 109 (23 net new units).
- Appeal of Final EIR Certification (Items 25–28): Appellant Save the Marina’s Heritage argued the EIR was inadequate (noticing, traffic analysis, project description). Planning Department staff responded that all issues were addressed and the EIR met CEQA standards. The board voted 11-0 to affirm the certification (Item 26) and table Items 27–28.
- Appeal of Conditional Use Authorization (Items 29–32): Two appellants: Save the Marina’s Heritage (arguing violations of existing CU, inadequate notice, detrimental impacts) and the project sponsor (seeking modification of Finding 6L to remove reference to ARC review). Planning recommended denying the neighbor’s appeal and modifying Finding 6L per sponsor’s request. Supervisor Sherrill moved to amend Item 31 (disapprove Planning Commission’s decision) to approve the CU with a modified Finding 6L stating that final review would be completed by Planning Department preservation staff, without ARC involvement. The amendment passed 10-1 (Supervisor Chan dissenting). Then the board approved the amended Item 31, directed preparation of findings (Item 32), and tabled Item 30, also 10-1.
- Appeal of Certificate of Appropriateness (Items 33–36): Project sponsor appealed HPC’s condition requiring ARC review of massing/details (Condition 1). Planning and City Attorney advised that Condition 1 as written was an improper delegation and could violate the Permit Streamlining Act. Supervisor Sherrill moved to amend Item 35 (disapprove HPC decision) to approve the COA with a revised Condition 1: final architectural details (fenestration, materials, finishes) to be reviewed by Planning Department preservation staff, provided no reduction in square footage. The amendment passed 10-1 (Supervisor Chan dissenting). The board then approved the amended Item 35, directed findings (Item 36), and tabled Item 34, also 10-1.
Commendations (2:30 PM)
- Supervisor Chen honored firefighter Stan Lee for 30 years of service, including over 400 working fires, Maui wildfire relief, and community leadership.
- Supervisor Dorsey offered in memoriam for Muni operator Rodney Bowden and retired Deputy Sheriff Rhonda Gaines.
Unfinished Business (Items 6–9)
Passed unanimously. Key item: Item 9 – Planning Code amendment to eliminate retail size limits on health service uses in the MUO district east of 7th Street.
New Business (Items 10–24)
Passed unanimously via "same house, same call" votes. Included interim budget ordinances, settlements, permit approvals, and sign district changes.
Committee Report (Item 37)
Ordinance to allow tourist hotels/motels to be used for interim housing without losing hotel use classification. Passed on first reading unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- 3400 Laguna Street EIR: Appeal denied. Certification affirmed (11-0). The board found the EIR adequate under CEQA.
- Conditional Use Authorization: Approved with modified Finding 6L (10-1). Final design review shifted to Planning Department staff; no ARC oversight required.
- Certificate of Appropriateness: Approved with modified Condition 1 (10-1). ARC condition removed; planning staff to review final architectural details without allowing square footage reduction.
- Consent Calendar and all other agenda items passed unanimously.
- In Memoriams: Meeting adjourned in memory of Rodney Bowden and Rhonda Gaines (Supervisor Dorsey).
Meeting Transcript
Uh good after good afternoon. Welcome to the June 17th, 2025 regular meeting of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Madam Clerk, will you please call the roll? Thank you, Mr. President, Supervisor Chan. Chan present, Supervisor Chen, Chen present, Supervisor Dorsey. Dorsey present, Supervisor Ringardio, Engartio present, Supervisor Fielder, Fielder present, Supervisor Mahmoud, Mahmoud present, Supervisor Mandelman. Present. Walton present. Mr. President, all members are present. Thank you, Madam Clerk. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors acknowledges that we are on the unceded ancestral homeland of the Ramatush Aloney, who are the original inhabitants of the San Francisco Peninsula. As the indigenous stewards of this land and in accordance with their traditions, the Ramatushalone have never seated, lost, nor forgotten their responsibilities as the caretakers of this place, as well as for all peoples who reside in their traditional territory. As guests, we recognize that we benefit from living and working on their traditional homeland. We wish to pay our respects by acknowledging the ancestors, elders, and relatives of the Ramatush Aloney community and by affirming their sovereign rights as first peoples. Colleagues, will you join me in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance? On behalf of the board, I'd like to acknowledge the staff at SFGov TV and today especially Colina Mendoza, who record each of our meetings and make transcripts available to the public online. Madam Clerk, uh let's go to approval of minutes. Yes, we have approval of the COVID. Or actually, do we have any communications? We do, thank you, Mr. President. San Francisco Board of Supervisors welcomes you all to attend this meeting here in the Board's legislative chamber. If you are unable to make it, you may watch the proceeding on SFGOV TV's Channel 26 or view the live stream at WW dot SFGOVTV.org. If you are unable to make it and you'd like to submit your public comment, you can do so in two ways by sending an email to BOS at sfgov.org or use the Postal Service to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, the number one, Dr. Carlton B. Goodlit Place, City Hall, Room 244, San Francisco, California 94102. And I will just state for those of you holding signs. There is an approved board rule which requires no signs in the chamber. But since you have them in your hand, so that you're not blocking the individuals behind you, just try to lower them and keep them right here near your chin. That would be uh uh a request requested. If you would like to make a reasonable accommodation request under the Americans with Disability Act, or if you need language assistance, please contact the clerk's office in uh room two forty-four, just to the right, uh, or you can call 415-554-5184. Thank you, members. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Let's go to approval of meeting minutes. All right. All right, we are back. We are reconvening and we are going to resass until three thirty. San Francisco government television. San Francisco television. Hello, colleagues. We are back for a second, and now we're gonna reset till four o'clock. All right. We're back. Um Madam Clerk, I believe that we were at approval of minutes. Thank you, Mr. President.
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