San Francisco Board of Supervisors Land Use and Transportation Committee Regular Meeting - September 18, 2023
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San Francisco Board of Supervisors Land Use and Transportation Committee Regular Meeting - September 18, 2023
The Land Use and Transportation Committee met on September 18, 2023, at 9:45 AM (the meeting began in the afternoon, per the transcript). Chair Mirna Melgar presided, joined by Vice Chair Dean Preston and President Aaron Peskin. The committee considered five items: two landmark designations, a grant of easements for affordable housing, development impact fee reductions, and a major housing constraints reduction ordinance. The meeting was also attended by Supervisors Shamann Walton, Rafael Mandelman, and Matt Dorsey at various points.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Item 1 (Development Impact Fee Reductions): Jake Price (Housing Action Coalition) spoke in support. A caller mistakenly referenced rent control.
- Item 2 (PG&E Easements): A caller commented on Item 1 but was redirected; no public comment on Item 2 beyond a brief remark.
- Item 3 (Fire Station 44 Landmark): No public comment.
- Item 4 (Colombo Market Arch Landmark): Catherine Van Dyke (SF Wholesale Produce Market) spoke in support; a representative from San Francisco Architectural Heritage also spoke in favor.
- Item 5 (Constraints Reduction Ordinance): Over 50 callers and in-person speakers provided extensive testimony. Opponents included the Race and Equity in All Planning (REP) coalition, San Francisco Tenants Union, Westside Tenants Association, Mission Economic Development Agency, and many individual tenants. They argued the legislation would demolish rent-controlled units, silence community input, violate fair housing obligations, and prioritize market-rate housing over affordable housing. Supporters included the Housing Action Coalition, AIA San Francisco, Spur, SF YIMB, and several architects. They emphasized the need to comply with state housing element deadlines, streamline approvals, and reduce barriers to housing production. Over 800 tenants sent letters opposing the legislation.
Discussion Items
Item 230855: Development Impact Fee Reductions (Ordinance)
- Sponsored by Supervisor Safai. Proposed reducing inclusionary housing requirements for projects approved before November 1, 2023, and reducing fees. Chair Melgar noted prior hearings. Supervisor Preston opposed, stating the policy would reduce affordable housing without evidence of increasing production. The committee voted to send the item to the full board without recommendation (3-0).
Item 230934: Grant of Easements to PG&E for 4840 Mission Street (Resolution)
- Presented by Sheila Nicolopoulos (MOHCD). The project, Islais Place, is a 137-unit 100% affordable housing development (97% complete as of August 31, 2023). The city requested approval of two no-cost easements totaling 593 square feet for electrical and gas utilities to connect the building. The committee voted to send the item to the full board with a positive recommendation (3-0).
Item 230880: Initiating Landmark Designation for Fire Station No. 44 (Resolution)
- Presented by Supervisor Walton. The fire station, built in 1913, is the oldest active firehouse in San Francisco. All committee members added as co-sponsors. The committee voted to send the item to the full board with a positive recommendation (3-0).
Item 230922: Landmark Designation for Colombo Market Arch (Ordinance)
- Presented by President Peskin and Richard Brandy. The arch, a remnant of the 1894 Colombo Market building, was recommended for landmark status by the Historic Preservation Commission (unanimous). Public comment supported the designation. The committee voted to send the item to the full board with a positive recommendation (3-0).
Item 230446: Constraints Reduction Ordinance (Ordinance)
- This major legislation from Mayor Breed aims to implement the state-mandated Housing Element. Aaron Starr (Planning Department, also representing the Mayor’s Office) presented the proposal and a series of last-minute amendments. The amendments included expanding the Priority Equity Geographies Special Use District, adding tenant protections (e.g., no buyout history, replacement of rent-controlled units), and adjusting front setback rules. Discussion: Supervisor Preston opposed, citing the lack of affordable housing focus. Supervisor Mandelman expressed concerns about tenant displacement and ‘monster homes.’ Chair Melgar questioned the Mayor’s absence and the absence of affordable housing funding commitments. Supervisor Dorsey supported the legislation, warning of state intervention. After extensive public comment, President Peskin suggested continuing the item for further negotiation. Chair Melgar moved to continue to the October 2, 2023 meeting. The motion passed (3-0).
Key Outcomes
- Item 1 (230855): Sent to full board without recommendation (3-0).
- Item 2 (230934): Sent to full board with positive recommendation (3-0).
- Item 3 (230880): Sent to full board with positive recommendation (3-0).
- Item 4 (230922): Sent to full board with positive recommendation (3-0).
- Item 5 (230446): Continued to October 2, 2023 (3-0). The committee plans to consider amendments from Supervisors Melgar and Mandelman at that meeting.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon. This meeting will come to order. Welcome everyone to the September 18th regular meeting of the Land Use and Transportation Committee of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. I am Supervisor Mirna Melgar, Chair of the Committee, joined by Vice Chair Supervisor Dean Preston and Board of Supervisors Aaron President Aaron Peskin. The committee clerk today is Alisa Samara. And I would also like to acknowledge uh G James James Smith and uh Jason Goldhammer and uh Suzanne at SFGup TV for staffing this meeting. I am not feeling well. I've tested negative a couple times uh today, but just to keep everyone safe, I'm gonna keep my math gone. Um I also want to announce that uh we have canceled the meeting for next Monday uh for land use because it falls on Yom Kippur. Um so we're not gonna be meeting that day. Uh with that, Madam Clerk, do you have any announcements? Yes, madam chair, the Board of Supervisors and its committees are now convening hybrid meetings that allow in-person attendance and public comment while still providing remote access and public comment via telephone. Public comment will be taken on each item on this agenda. Those attending in person will be allowed to speak first, and then we will take those waiting on the telephone line. If you are joining us remotely, um, when you hear the meeting discussions, you'll be muted and in listening mode only. When your item of interest comes up and you'd like to provide public comment, if you're joining us in person, you would line up to speak on your right, and those on the telephone would dial star three to be added to the speaker line. If you are on the telephone, please remember to turn down your TV and any listening devices you may be using. You may also submit public comment in either of the following ways. You can email them to the land use and transportation clerk at Erica E-R-I-C-A dot major M A J O R at S F G-O-V dot or G. You may also send your written comments via U.S. Postal Service to our office at City Hall 1, Dr. Carl Tempe Goodlok Place, room 244, San Francisco, California, 94102. Finally, items acted upon today are expected to appear on the Board of Supervisors Agenda of tw September 26th, 2023, unless otherwise stated. That concludes my communications. Thank you so much, Madam Clerk. Uh Madam Clerk, I'm gonna call um item number three out of order. Um so let's go ahead and please call that first to accommodate uh Supervisor Walton, who is joining us today. All right. Item number three is a resolution initiating an amendment to the landmark designation of the San Francisco Fire Station number 44, located at 1298 Gerard Street under Article 10 of the planning code for those joining us remotely. Now is your time to press star three to line up to speak. The system prompt will indicate you have raised your hand. Please wait until we call for public comment on this item, and the line indicates you have been unmuted. Madam Chair. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Uh, we are joined by Supervisor Shimon Walton, the sponsor of this item. Welcome. The floor is yours. Thank you so much, Chair Melgar, and thank you to President Peskin and Supervisor Preston for accommodating me this afternoon. I am here on behalf of the Visitation Valley community as well as fire station number 44, located in the Visitation Valley neighborhood at 1298 Gerard Street. The fire station was built in 1913 by the renowned architect John Reed. And although it was constructed in 1913, the fire department did not move in until 1915 as they waited for the delivery of modern engine-driven apparatus and phased-out horses for fire rescue. Today station 44 is the oldest firehouse still in active service in partnership with the Visitation Valley Historic Project. The community worked on identifying preservation projects to address the neighborhood's underrepresentation in the city's official inventory of historic buildings. Visitation Valley currently has only one city landmark, and through a month's long campaign to identify the neighborhood's first city landmark. We as a board did that designation in 2022. Residents and community members identify station 44 as one of the buildings they would like to see designated as a city landmark. And so I hope that we can move this forward with a positive recommendation. And again, thank you for the time this afternoon. Thank you very much. Madam Chair, I would like to be added as a co-sponsor.
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