OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

San Francisco Planning Commission Meeting Summary – September 28, 2023

Planning Commission — Thursday, September 28, 2023
BodySan Francisco, California
SessionPlanning Commission
DateThursday, September 28, 2023
StatusFILED
Video Record
Meeting Thumbnail
⇩ GET FROM SOURCE

STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE

Transcript — Verbatim
0:04

Okay, good afternoon and welcome to the San Francisco Planning Commission regular hearing for Thursday September 28th, 2023.

0:13

To enable public participation, SFGov TV is broadcasting and streaming this hearing live.

0:18

And we will receive public comment for discussion and action items on today's agenda.

0:24

Each speaker will be allowed up to three minutes, and when you have 30 seconds remaining, you will hear a chime indicating your time is almost up.

0:30

When your allotted time is reached, I will announce that your time is up and take the next person cued to speak.

0:35

We will take public comment from persons in City Hall first and then open up the remote access lines.

0:41

For those persons calling in to submit their testimony, you need to call area code 415 65501 and enter access code 266139622 and enter pound twice.

0:59

At which point you should be able to hear or listen to the hearing live.

1:04

And you need to wait for the item you are interested in speaking to and for public comment to be announced.

1:09

To comment, you must enter star three to raise your hand.

1:13

And once you've raised your hand, you will hear the prompt stating that you have raised your hand to ask a question.

1:18

Please wait to speak until the host calls on you.

1:21

When you hear that you are unmuted, that is your indication to begin speaking.

1:25

For those of you joining us via WebEx, please log in via the link found on today's agenda and enter password CPC 2023 and use the raised hand icon to ask a question.

1:39

And then see a prompt that the host has unmuted you, and that is your indication to begin speaking.

1:45

Best practices are to call from a quiet location.

1:50

Please mute the volume on your television or computer.

1:54

And for those persons attending in City Hall, please line up on the screen side of the room or to your right.

2:00

Please speak clearly and slowly, and if you care to state your name for the record.

2:04

Finally, I will ask that we all silence any mobile devices that may sound off during these proceedings.

2:10

At this time, I'd like to take roll.

2:12

Commission President Tanner.

2:14

Here.

2:14

Commission Vice President Moore.

2:16

Here.

2:16

Commissioner Braun.

2:17

Here.

2:18

Commissioner Diamond.

2:19

Here.

2:19

Commissioner Imperial.

2:20

Here.

2:21

Commissioner Coppel.

2:22

Here.

2:22

And Commissioner Ruiz.

2:23

Here.

2:24

Thank you, Commissioners.

2:25

First on your agenda is consideration of items proposed for continuance.

2:28

Item one, case number 2021, hyphen 010176 C UA.

2:32

At 2261, Fillmore Street, conditional use authorization is proposed for continuance to November 2nd, 2023.

2:39

Item two, case number 2023, hyphen 006115 MAP for the density calculation in RC, RTO, NC, and certain named NCDs, planning code and zoning map amendments are proposed for continuance to October 26, 2023.

2:55

Item 3, case number 2023, hyphen 00611 for PCA.

3:00

For removing residential numerical density limits in neighborhood commercial districts, planning code amendment is proposed for continuance to October 26th, 2023.

3:09

And item 4, case number 2022, hyphen 011623, CUA at 555 9th Street.

3:15

A conditional use authorization has been withdrawn.

3:18

Further commissioners, under your consent calendar, item seven, case number 2021, hyphen 0130, C UA at 725 Sanchez Street for a conditional use authorization.

3:31

Staff is requesting a one-week continuance to October 5th, 2023.

3:36

I have no other items proposed for continuance, so we should take public comment.

3:40

Members of the public, this is your opportunity to address the commission on any of these items that are being proposed for continuance only on the matter of continuance, not the project itself.

3:50

Again, if you're in the chambers, please come forward.

3:52

If you're calling in remotely, you need to press star three or raise your hand via WebEx.

4:07

So it's for continuance on uh for November the second.

4:12

Yes.

4:12

That's it, right?

4:13

Well, I mean, you could if you don't like that date, you can talk about it if you're not going to be able to do that.

4:17

No, no, no, no.

4:20

Okay.

4:20

But uh yeah, because uh I want to save the theater, so it's gonna be that's yes.

4:24

So I'll be back.

4:26

Thank you.

4:27

Last call for public comment on the continuance calendar.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Conditional Use Authorization█████████████████17%
Public Comment████████████████16%
Land Use███████████11%
Procedural██████████10%
Housing█████████9%
Environmental Review███████7%
Discretionary Review███████7%
Residential Care Facilities██████6%
Noise Ordinance████4%
Summary of Proceedings

San Francisco Planning Commission Meeting Summary – September 28, 2023

The San Francisco Planning Commission held a regular hearing on September 28, 2023, at 9:15 AM. The Commission acted on a consent calendar, several conditional use authorizations, a state-mandated ADU ordinance, certification of the Ocean Beach Climate Change Adaptation Project Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR), a General Plan referral, and a discretionary review. Votes were taken on multiple items, with notable divisions on ADU controls and a residential care facility conversion.

Consent Calendar

  • The Commission voted unanimously (7-0) to continue four items proposed for continuance (2261 Fillmore Street to Nov 2, 2023; two density/planning code amendments to Oct 26, 2023; 555 9th Street CUA withdrawn).
  • The Commission also approved the consent calendar (items 5, 6, 8, 9, 10) unanimously, with the exception of item 7 (725 Sanchez Street) which was continued to Oct 5, 2023.
  • The Commission adopted the draft minutes of September 7, 2023, unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • General Public Comment: Georgia Shutish urged codifying the residential flat policy. Eileen Vogen (Speak) questioned the city's growth strategy given projected population decline of 2.9% by 2060.
  • Item 16 (ADU Ordinance): Mark Hogan (OpenScope Studio) supported the ordinance but urged further alignment with state law.
  • Item 17-18 (Ocean Beach): Zach Lipton (Friends of Great Highway Park) supported EIR certification. Several callers raised concerns about evacuation routes, vehicle miles traveled, erosion data, and zoo access. The San Francisco Zoological Society representative noted no studies of impacts on zoo animals and called for feasible mitigation.
  • Item 19 (213 Upper Terrace): Jeffrey Dito, a neighbor, supported approval.
  • Item 20 (2214 Mission Street): Multiple speakers (Marcel Yang, Andrew, and others) supported the outdoor dining expansion. Two neighbors (Joel Becker and a caller) objected to amplified music events, citing a Sept 17 concert that violated noise conditions. Other callers defended the restaurant's community role.
  • Item 21 (2277 33rd Avenue): Kelly Growth (Supervisor Chan's office) requested postponement. Annie Chung (CEO, Self-Help for the Elderly) opposed conversion, stating that licensed RCFEs in San Francisco declined from 144 in 2012 to 53 in 2023, and that her nonprofit had expressed interest in acquiring the property.
  • Item 22 (DR – 3748 22nd Street): Mark Spencer (neighbor) supported the DR requesters' modifications. Eileen Vogen urged mapping of DRs brought before the commission.

Discussion Items

  • Item 11: Land Acknowledgement – Commission acknowledged the Ramaytush Ohlone as original inhabitants.
  • Commission Comments/Questions: Commissioner Moore discussed "pod" housing; Director Hillis confirmed an enforcement case. Director Hillis reported on state bills (SB 2423 extending SB 35) and office-to-residential conversion progress.
  • Item 15: Review of Past Events – Aaron Starr reported on land use committee actions, including the mayor's constraints reduction ordinance continued to Oct 2, 2023.
  • Item 16: State-Mandated ADU Controls (2023-003061PCA) – Staff presented amendments to align local code with AB 2221 and SB 897. A new recommended modification excluded ADUs from dwelling unit mix requirements. Commissioner Moore and Diamond questioned the definition of "high quality transit corridor" and 18-foot height allowances. The Commission approved (5-2) with Imperial and Moore voting no.
  • Items 17-18: Ocean Beach Climate Change Adaptation Project – Staff presented the Final EIR and General Plan Referral for closing a portion of the Great Highway, constructing a buried wall, and beach nourishment. Significant unavoidable impacts were identified. The EIR was certified unanimously (7-0), and the General Plan conformity findings were adopted unanimously.
  • Item 19: 213 Upper Terrace CUA – Proposal to demolish a single-family home and build a two-unit building (primary unit ~3,660 sq ft, secondary unit 1,333 sq ft). Commissioner Moore argued for unit equity within the Corona Heights special use district 3,000 sq ft limit. The Commission approved (5-2) with Imperial and Moore voting no.
  • Item 20: 2214 Mission Street CUA – Request to create an outdoor activity area and expand alcohol service for Restaurant Probetchu. Conditions prohibited amplified music outdoors. Commissioner Diamond proposed amending condition 19 to require entertainment commission permits for any outdoor music. The Commission approved unanimously (7-0) with that modification.
  • Item 21: 2277 33rd Avenue CUA – Conversion of a vacant residential care facility (nine bedrooms) back to a single-family home (four bedrooms). Supervisor Chan requested postponement for more data on RCFE trends. The Commission continued the item to November 2, 2023 (6-1, Diamond dissenting), citing need for additional information.
  • Item 22: 3748 22nd Street Discretionary Review – Neighbors sought modifications (five-foot stepback and removal of a closet) to a rear addition. The public hearing concluded; the transcript does not record the Commission's decision.

Key Outcomes

  • ADU ordinance approved (5-2) with staff modifications.
  • Ocean Beach Climate Change Adaptation Project Final EIR certified and General Plan Referral adopted (both 7-0).
  • 213 Upper Terrace CUA approved (5-2).
  • 2214 Mission Street CUA approved (7-0) with added condition on outdoor music permits.
  • 2277 33rd Avenue CUA continued to Nov 2, 2023 (6-1).
  • Discretionary Review for 3748 22nd Street: hearing closed, no final decision recorded in provided transcript.

Meeting Transcript

Okay, good afternoon and welcome to the San Francisco Planning Commission regular hearing for Thursday September 28th, 2023. To enable public participation, SFGov TV is broadcasting and streaming this hearing live. And we will receive public comment for discussion and action items on today's agenda. Each speaker will be allowed up to three minutes, and when you have 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 cued to speak. We will take public comment from persons in City Hall first and then open up the remote access lines. For those persons calling in to submit their testimony, you need to call area code 415 65501 and enter access code 266139622 and enter pound twice. At which point you should be able to hear or listen to the hearing live. And you need to wait for the item you are interested in speaking to and for public comment to be announced. To comment, you must enter star three to raise your hand. And once you've raised your hand, you will hear the prompt stating that you have raised your hand to ask a question. Please wait to speak until the host calls on you. When you hear that you are unmuted, that is your indication to begin speaking. For those of you joining us via WebEx, please log in via the link found on today's agenda and enter password CPC 2023 and use the raised hand icon to ask a question. And then see a prompt that the host has unmuted you, and that is your indication to begin speaking. Best practices are to call from a quiet location. Please mute the volume on your television or computer. And for those persons attending in City Hall, please line up on the screen side of the room or to your right. Please speak clearly and slowly, and if you care to state your name for the record. Finally, I will ask that we all silence any mobile devices that may sound off during these proceedings. At this time, I'd like to take roll. Commission President Tanner. Here. Commission Vice President Moore. Here. Commissioner Braun. Here. Commissioner Diamond. Here. Commissioner Imperial. Here. Commissioner Coppel. Here. And Commissioner Ruiz. Here. Thank you, Commissioners. First on your agenda is consideration of items proposed for continuance. Item one, case number 2021, hyphen 010176 C UA. At 2261, Fillmore Street, conditional use authorization is proposed for continuance to November 2nd, 2023. Item two, case number 2023, hyphen 006115 MAP for the density calculation in RC, RTO, NC, and certain named NCDs, planning code and zoning map amendments are proposed for continuance to October 26, 2023. Item 3, case number 2023, hyphen 00611 for PCA. For removing residential numerical density limits in neighborhood commercial districts, planning code amendment is proposed for continuance to October 26th, 2023. And item 4, case number 2022, hyphen 011623, CUA at 555 9th Street. A conditional use authorization has been withdrawn. Further commissioners, under your consent calendar, item seven, case number 2021, hyphen 0130, C UA at 725 Sanchez Street for a conditional use authorization. Staff is requesting a one-week continuance to October 5th, 2023. I have no other items proposed for continuance, so we should take public comment. Members of the public, this is your opportunity to address the commission on any of these items that are being proposed for continuance only on the matter of continuance, not the project itself. Again, if you're in the chambers, please come forward. If you're calling in remotely, you need to press star three or raise your hand via WebEx.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com