San Francisco Planning Commission Regular Meeting – November 2, 2023

The San Francisco Planning Commission met on Thursday, November 2, 2023, at approximately 1:30 PM (local time) in City Hall, with President Tanner presiding. All seven commissioners were present: Vice President Moore, Commissioners Braun, Diamond, Imperial, Koppel, and Ruiz. The meeting covered continuances, a consent calendar, commission matters, department reports, general public comment, and seven regular calendar items, including a major school expansion and three discretionary review cases. Votes were recorded on all actions.

Consent Calendar

• Items 6–10 (Conditional Use Authorizations): Routine approvals for residential unit conversions at 2999 California Street (#503), 3420 18th Street (#204, #402, #403), and 750 Van Ness Avenue (#1103, #1303, #201). Approved unanimously (7-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Georgia Shuttish (in-person): Urged codification of residential flat preservation policy, citing a recent sale that eliminated a second kitchen. Supported maintaining original flat configurations.
• Angela Adams (Carpenters Union Local 22): Introduced herself as a field rep, advocated for fair wages, labor standards, and developer accountability for construction workers in San Francisco.
• Sue Hester (remote): Requested a written report from the Planning Department on a recent HCD letter that shifts approvals from the commission to staff, warning of conflicts with voter-approved ballot measures (e.g., Prop M). Expressed concern about loss of commission authority.
• Additional public comment on specific items: (See respective Discussion Items below.)

Discussion Items

• Item 1–5 (Continuance Calendar): Items 1 (business signs) continued to Dec 7; Item 2 (eliminating public art requirement for 100% affordable housing) continued to Nov 16 after Commissioner Ruiz recused herself (7-0); Items 3 & 4 continued indefinitely; Item 5 withdrawn. All continuances passed (7-0 except Item 2 with Ruiz recused, 6-0).
• Item 16 (Non-Profit Arts Education SUD): Continued to Nov 9 due to HPC quorum loss.
• Item 17 (68 Nantucket Ave – Rezone): The owner (Darren) requested rezoning two parcels from Public (P) to RH1 to allow future residential development. Staff supported, no opposition. Approved unanimously (7-0).
• Item 18 (2001 37th Ave – St. Ignatius College Prep Expansion): Project Description: Demolish 60,000 sq ft of buildings (including dormitory) and construct a 40-ft-tall, 180,000 sq ft addition with educational spaces, chapel, and dining. No enrollment increase. Public Testimony: Approximately 35 letters of opposition (Sunset Community Garden, citing shadow impacts from Nov–Feb) and 100 letters of support. Over 20 speakers: students urged approval for modern learning spaces; union representatives (plumbers, laborers, glaziers, etc.) praised 100% union commitment; community garden members requested a continuance to redesign the north facade to reduce shading. Commission Action: Acknowledged garden concerns but found impacts not severe enough to deny. Approved with conditions: five-year permit validity (phase 1), 20-year limit on phase 2, staff to continue working with community garden. Motion by Commissioner Koppel, seconded by Moore. Vote: 7-0.
• Item 19 (322-324 Fair Oaks – Remove Unauthorized Unit): Project to remove an unpermitted dwelling unit (kitchen) to restore storage; unit was unoccupied and substandard. One letter of support. Approved unanimously (7-0).
• Item 20 (600 Ortega – Demolition & Rebuild): Demolish existing single-family home and build a new 4,465 sq ft three-story home due to unstable soil (30 ft of loose sand). Neighbor concerns addressed via revised deck setbacks. Approved unanimously (7-0).
• Item 21 (2277 33rd Ave – Change of Use from RCF to SFR): Conversion of a vacant residential care facility back to a single-family home. After continuance for negotiation with Self-Help for the Elderly (funding unavailable), project sponsor confirmed no viable operator. Staff report noted small RCFs are disappearing due to funding gaps. Approved unanimously (7-0).
• Item 22a/b (355 Lombard – DR & Variance): Discretionary Review: Two DR requesters (neighbors at 347 and 361 Lombard) opposed a three-story addition over garage, citing light, noise, privacy, and echoing. Staff recommended taking DR and requiring a 9-foot setback of the front roof deck. Variance: Zoning Administrator granted the required exposure variance. Commission voted to take DR (7-0) and approve with staff condition, plus ongoing work with neighbors.
• Item 23 (552 Jersey – DR): DR requester (Lane Kennedy, 560 Jersey) requested frosted glass on new side windows facing her property to protect privacy. Staff recommended no DR, arguing no extraordinary circumstances. Commission voted to take DR (5-2, Diamond and Tanner dissenting) and require obscure glass on the ground-floor bathroom window only.

Key Outcomes

• Approvals (all unanimous unless noted): Continuances (Items 1–5); Consent Calendar (Items 6–10); Adoption of Sept 14 & Oct 19 minutes (7-0); Rezone at 68 Nantucket (Item 17, 7-0); St. Ignatius expansion (Item 18, 7-0); Removal of unauthorized unit (Item 19, 7-0); Demolition/rebuild at 600 Ortega (Item 20, 7-0); Change of use at 2277 33rd Ave (Item 21, 7-0); DR at 355 Lombard with 9-ft setback (Item 22, 7-0); DR at 552 Jersey with obscure glass on one window (Item 23, 5-2).
• Variance granted for 355 Lombard (Item 22b).
• Commission Comments: Commissioners Imperial and Moore raised concerns about insurance companies leaving California (affecting housing viability) and requested department tracking. Commissioner Imperial also praised SFMOMA for a Filipino art exhibit and a community equity council vision for downtown.
• Director's Report (Aaron Starr): Reviewed land use committee actions: Irish Cultural Center SUD (continued), citywide commercial/retail expansion ordinance (continued with amendments), constraints reduction ordinance (continued), and passage of nighttime entertainment Castro Street NCD amendments.
• General Public Comment: Three speakers addressed issues including residential flat preservation, union labor standards, and the HCD letter on administrative approvals.