San Francisco Planning Commission Meeting - July 27, 2023
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The San Francisco Planning Commission convened on July 27, 2023, to address a broad agenda including continuances, a consent calendar, an informational housing zoning presentation, a large project authorization modification, the Irish Cultural Center redevelopment, a school expansion, and a discretionary review. All actions taken by the Commission were unanimous.
Continuance Calendar
- Item 1 (Downtown/Conservation District Design Guidelines) continued to October 5, 2023.
- Item 2 (2261 Fillmore Street) continued to September 29, 2023.
- Item 3 (7 San Gabriel Avenue) withdrawn.
- Item 16 (2340 Vallejo Street) continued to November 2, 2023.
- Motion to continue all proposed items passed unanimously.
Consent Calendar
- Items 4-7 approved unanimously: Conditional use authorizations for 1938 Ocean Avenue (health service use), 999 Valencia Street (liquor license transfer), 4200 23rd Street (three-story horizontal and one-story vertical addition), and 326 27th Street (residential building with one parking space).
Commission Matters
- Land acknowledgement delivered.
- Draft minutes for July 13, 2023 adopted unanimously.
- No commission comments or questions.
Department Matters
- No director's announcements.
- Review of past events: Board of Supervisors land use committee actions included a small business month fee waiver, development impact fee indexing and reduction ordinances, and Supervisor Melgar's family housing opportunity SUD ordinance. The Board of Appeals unanimously denied an appeal challenging the Zoning Administrator's interpretation of bulk control measurements. The Historic Preservation Commission did not meet.
Public Comments & Testimony
- General Public Comment: George Shutish urged the Commission to lower demolition calculation (demo calcs) thresholds, describing Noe Valley as the "epicenter of de facto demolition."
- Expanding Housing Choice: George Shutish cautioned against rushing the rezoning and requested the release of the financial feasibility study. Jake Christ (Housing Action Coalition) expressed support but urged expansion beyond transit corridors. Adam Van Proyan inquired about mixed-use zoning. Jane Matoly (San Francisco EMB) encouraged broader thinking and not concentrating housing in a few places.
- 88 Bluxome Street: Greg Holbert and Bobby Carter (nearby homeowner) opposed removal of the tennis club. Seth Sokolo (San Franciscans for Sports and Recreation) read a letter confirming an agreement and that the organization no longer seeks a tennis facility.
- 2700 45th Avenue (Irish Cultural Center): Numerous speakers supported the project, including a representative of Supervisor Engardio, the Vice Consul General of Ireland, the executive director of SF Irish Film, and community members. Opponents included SPEAK and residents who raised concerns about precedent for 2700 Sloat Boulevard, parking, noise, and lack of outreach.
- 3250-70 18th Street (La Scuola): Supporters included ODC, Robins Cafe, Carpenters Union Local 22, and parents. No speakers in opposition, though a letter from United to Save the Mission was noted.
- 615 Sanchez Street: DR requester Sammy Host (617 Sanchez) and Hugo Ketchy (619 Sanchez) opposed the project. David Leeson (601 Sanchez) supported it. Project sponsor's attorney responded.
Discussion Items
- Expanding Housing Choice (Housing Element Zoning Program) - Informational Presentation: Commissioner Ruiz recused herself due to prior work on the Housing Element. Staff presented two zoning concept maps to meet the state requirement for 36,200 housing units in designated opportunity areas, with proposed heights mostly 65-85 feet. The Commission discussed state density bonus implications, neighborhood character (e.g., Clement Street), infrastructure needs, AMI measurements in financial feasibility, and the need for tenant protection coordination. No vote was taken; staff will incorporate feedback into a fall draft scenario.
- 88 Bluxome Street - Modified Large Project Authorization: Staff recommended approval. The revised project removes the 127,000-square-foot private tennis club from the approved 2019 project, while retaining 775,000 sq ft of office, 31,000 sq ft of community recreation space, and other uses. The Commission approved the modification unanimously.
- 2700 45th Avenue (Irish Cultural Center) - SUD, Coastal Zone Permit, CUA, Shadow Findings: Staff recommended approval. The project involves demolition of the existing two-story center and construction of a six-story, 91-foot-tall mixed-use building, including a pool, theater, library, restaurant, and museum. The Commission unanimously adopted shadow findings, approved the Coastal Zone Permit and Conditional Use Authorization, and recommended approval of the SUD to the Board of Supervisors.
- 3250-70 18th Street (La Scuola International School) - PUD: Staff recommended approval. The project would merge two lots, demolish three portables, construct a 20,370 sq ft four-story school building, and expand the play yard. Modifications to rear yard and bicycle parking were requested. Commissioner Diamond disclosed a prior relationship with the project team. The Commission approved unanimously, adding a condition requiring the planning department to facilitate a meeting between the project sponsor, community groups, and the cultural district by the end of 2023.
- 615 Sanchez Street - Discretionary Review: Staff found no exceptional or extraordinary circumstances and recommended approval. The proposed third-story addition and ADU extension comply with the Residential Design Guidelines. The Commission voted unanimously not to take discretionary review and to approve the project.
Key Outcomes
- All motions passed unanimously: continuance calendar, consent calendar, minutes, 88 Bluxome Street approval, Irish Cultural Center approvals, La Scuola approval with condition, and 615 Sanchez Street no-DR approval.
- Item 13 was informational; no action taken.
- The meeting was adjourned to the summer recess, with the next hearing scheduled for September 7, 2023.
Meeting Transcript
2023. To enable public participation, SFGov, excuse me, can we please have silence in the chambers? Thank you. To enable public participation, SFGov TV is broadcasting and streaming this hearing live, and we will receive public comment for each item on today's agenda. Each speaker will be allowed up to three minutes. When you have a 30 seconds remaining, you will hear a chime indicating your time is almost up. When your allotted time is reached, I will announce that your time is up and take the next person cue to speak. We will take public comment from persons in City Hall first and then open the remote access lines. For those calling in remotely to submit their testimony, please call 415 65501 and enter access code 2661 565 6198 pound pound. You should be able to listen to the hearing live. Please wait for the item you're interested in speaking to and for the public comment to be announced. To comment, you must press star three to raise your hand. Once you have raised your hand, you will hear the prompt. You have raised your hand to ask a question. Please wait to speak until the host calls on you. When you hear your you are unmuted, that is your indication to begin speaking. For those joining via WebEx, please log in via the link found on today's agenda and enter PASSC 2023. Use the raised hand icon to ask a question. You will hear a beep and then see the prompt that the host has unmuted you. That is your indication to begin speaking. Best practices are to call from a quiet location, and please mute the volume on your television or computer. For those attending in person, please line up on the screen side of the room to your right. Please speak clearly and slowly. And if you care to state your name for the record. Finally, I'll ask that we all silence any mobile devices that may sound off during the hearings. At this time, I would like to take roll. Commissioner Braun. Here. Commissioner Ruiz. Here. Commissioner Imperial. Here. Commissioner Diamond. Here. Commissioner Koppel. Here. And Commissioner President Tanner. Here. Thank you, Commissioners. We do expect Commissioner Moore to be absent. This will now take us to your continuance calendar. Item number one, record number 2023, hyphen 005134 CRV, Downtown Conservation District's Design Guidelines, with a proposed continuance date to October 5th, 2023. Item number two, record number 2021, hyphen 010176 C UA at 2261 Fillmore Street with the proposed continuance date to September 29, 2023. Item number three, record number 2020, hyphen 001105 DRP at San Miguel San Gabriel Avenue has been withdrawn. And lastly, Commissioners, an item from today's agenda, item number 16 has a request for continuance. Record number 2021, hyphen 003953 CUA at 2340 Vallejo Street with the proposed continuance date to November 2nd, 2023. We will now take public comment on the continuance calendar. Members of the public wishing to make public comment on the continuance of this time must do so now. Please note we are not accepting comments on the projects itself, but will accept comments on the question of whether to hear the item on another date. If you wish to make public comment, please come forward now and line up on the screen side of the room to your right.
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