Land Use and Transportation Committee Regular Meeting - March 18, 2024
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Land Use and Transportation Committee Regular Meeting - March 18, 2024
The Land Use and Transportation Committee of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors met on March 18, 2024, at 9:45 AM. The committee was chaired by Supervisor Myrna Melgar, joined by Vice Chair Dean Preston and Member Aaron Peskin. The meeting covered six agenda items, including a commemorative street naming, acceptance of public infrastructure for Pier 70, regulations on tobacco paraphernalia establishments, a special use district at 900 Kearney Street, and citywide expansion of allowable commercial uses.
Consent Calendar
- None (all items were discussed individually and voted on separately).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Agenda Item 1 (Commemorative Street Naming): Multiple speakers (Nancy Abdul Shakur, Marco, Carlos Molino, Kimberly, Eric) expressed strong support for renaming a portion of Park Street at Holly Park Circle as "Sean Monterosa Boulevard" in memory of Sean Monterosa, a community activist and youth mentor killed by police in 2020. Speakers highlighted his contributions, the family's efforts in community art and libraries, and the need for recognition.
- Agenda Items 2 & 3 (Pier 70): No public comments were received.
- Agenda Item 4 (Tobacco Paraphernalia Establishments): Several speakers (Prathi Watek, Greg Johnson, Miriam, Chris Schulman, Kathleen Gong, Rosa Alvarado, Areli Hernandez) supported the ordinance and amendments, citing oversaturation, public safety concerns, and negative impacts on residents, especially at night. They urged stronger controls.
- Agenda Item 5 (900 Kearney Street SUD): No public comments were received.
- Agenda Item 6 (Citywide Commercial Use Expansion): Chris Schulman spoke in support of amendments to the Polk Street NCD, including removing barriers for entertainment and protecting a retail corridor on Hyde Street.
Discussion Items
- Item 1: Commissioner Melgar introduced the resolution to rename the street. Ashley and Michelle Monterosa, sisters of Sean, presented a slideshow detailing his life and community impact. The committee voted to send the resolution to the full Board with a positive recommendation.
- Items 2 & 3: Cathal Hennessey (Department of Public Works) presented the acceptance of infrastructure for Pier 70 Phase 1, including streets, sidewalks, and utilities, and the associated encroachment permits for custom paving, historical building frames, and conduit. Christine Maher (Port of San Francisco) was also present. The committee voted to send both items to the full Board with positive recommendations.
- Item 4: Vice Chair Preston introduced amendments to the ordinance (originally applying to North of Market Special Use District) to also cover the Lower Polk Street NCD, apply a quarter-mile boundary for TPE restrictions, and shorten the abandonment period for non-conforming TPEs from 18 months to 180 days. He noted coordination with community groups. Planning staff Audrey Merlone was acknowledged. The committee voted to adopt the amendments and continue the item to March 25, 2024.
- Item 5: President Peskin presented the ordinance to create the 900 Kearney Street Special Use District in Chinatown, allowing non-retail professional services and arts activity uses. He proposed duplicating the file, amending the duplicate to clarify use sizes (requiring re-referral to Planning), and sending the original to the full Board. The committee voted accordingly.
- Item 6: Carrie Bernbach (Office of Small Business) presented amendments to the citywide commercial use expansion legislation, reflecting feedback from the committee and community. Changes included adjusting hours and formula retail rules for limited corner commercial uses, modifying use controls in the North Beach NCD, and removing the impact fee exemption. President Peskin proposed additional amendments regarding use restrictions based on nearest NCD or SUD within a quarter mile (rather than half mile) and removing certain use size caps. After discussion with staff (Veronica Flores) and clarification, the committee voted to adopt the amendments and continue the item to March 25, 2024.
Key Outcomes
- Item 1: Motion to send to full Board with positive recommendation passed 3-0 (Preston, Peskin, Melgar).
- Items 2 & 3: Motion to send to full Board with positive recommendation passed 3-0.
- Item 4: Motion to adopt amendments (as described) passed 3-0; motion to continue to March 25, 2024 passed 3-0.
- Item 5: Motion to amend the duplicate file (regarding use sizes) passed 3-0; motion to continue duplicate to call of chair passed 3-0; motion to send original file to full Board as committee report passed 3-0.
- Item 6: Motion to adopt amendments (including quarter-mile radius, removal of use size caps, and all yellow amendments from OSB) passed 3-0; motion to continue to March 25, 2024 passed 3-0.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon. This meeting will come to order. Welcome to the March 18th, 2024 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 Board of Supervisors President Aaron Paskin and Vice Chair Dean Preston. The committee clerk today is John Carroll. I would also like to acknowledge Jeanette Engelauf at SFGup TV for covering this meeting. Mr. Clerk, do you have any announcements? Yes, thank you, Madam Chair. Please ensure that you've silenced your cell phones and other electronic devices you may have brought with you into the chamber today. If you have any documents to include as part of any of today's files, you can submit them to me by bringing them forward to the rail, and I'll meet you there. Public comment will be taken on each item on today's agenda. When your item of interest comes up and public comment is called, please line up to speak along your right hand side of this room. Alternatively, you may submit public comment and writing in either of the following ways. First, you may email email your written public comment to me at J-O-H-N period C-A-R-R-O-L-L at SFGOV.org. Or you may send your written comments via US Postal Service to our office in City Hall. The address is one Dr. Carlton B. Goodlit Place, room 244, San Francisco, California, 94102. If you submit public comment and writing, it will be forwarded to the members of this panel, and I'll also include your comments as part of the official file upon which you are commenting. And finally, Madam Chair, items acted upon today are expected to appear on the Board of Supervisors agenda of March 26th, 2024, unless otherwise stated. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Please call item number one. Agenda item number one is a resolution adding the commemorative street name, Sean Monterosa Boulevard to Park Street at the intersection of Holly Park Circle in recognition of Sean Monterossa's contribution and legacy to San Francisco as a local figure. Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Colleagues, this item uh was introduced by Supervisor Ronan as she's still recovering. We have Jackie Prager here from her office. Um the item is uh co-sponsored by Supervisors Preston, uh Walton and myself. So thank you so much for being here. And we do have the Monterosa Sisters here, Ashley Um and Michelle. Thank you. Thank you, Chair Melgar. Good afternoon. Um committee members, Jackie Prager here on behalf of Supervisor Ronan. I am here to express our office's strong support of the commemorative street naming in honor of Sean Monterosa at the intersection of Park Street and Holly Park Circle, located in Bernal Heights. As you know, Sean Monterosa had his like life taken from him far too soon by a Vallejo police officer in 2020. Sean's contributions to the community and his legacy still live on today. He not only touched the lives of District 9 residents in the Bernal Heights and Mission communities, but in communities citywide and across the entire Bay Area. Our office has been working with Sean's incredible sisters, Michelle and Ashley Monterosa, who have organized tirelessly to create spaces that honor Sean's memory. This commemorative street naming is located where Sean grew up and where his family still resides today. It is also adjacent to the Knowledge Up Community Library that has been installed in his memory, giving access to and empowering young people to learn about social justice movements and leaders. The passing of this item will help the community heal, serve as a positive beacon for black and brown youth for whom Sean was a mentor, and remind our city of his great contributions. We graciously request that you support this resolution, and I would love the opportunity to bring up Michelle and Ashley. Um there is a PowerPoint presentation if SFgov TV could share. Thank you, Jackie. Welcome, Michelle and Ashley. Good to see you both. Good afternoon, members.
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