San Francisco Planning Commission Meeting - November 30, 2023
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San Francisco Planning Commission Meeting - November 30, 2023
The San Francisco Planning Commission convened on November 30, 2023, at approximately 20:15 UTC (12:15 PM local) to address a broad agenda including continuances, consent calendar approvals, zoning code amendments, housing initiatives, enforcement penalty guidelines, and several conditional use and discretionary review items. The meeting was streamed live via SFGov TV and included public comment both in-person and remotely. All roll call votes were unanimous (6-0) unless otherwise noted.
Consent Calendar
- Continuances (Items 1-4): Approved unanimously. 619 Marina Boulevard (DR) continued to January 25, 2024; 838 Market Street (office allocation) continued indefinitely; 1270 Pacific Avenue (DR) and 2266 43rd Avenue (DR) withdrawn.
- Consent Calendar (Items 5-8): Approved unanimously. Included conditional use authorizations at 690 Sacramento Street, 16 Jessie Street #30, 2060 Polk Street, and a discretionary review at 1128 Lake Street.
Public Comments & Testimony
- General Public Comment:
- Anastasia Yovinopoulos (SF Tenant Union & Rep Coalition) criticized the mayor's constraints reduction ordinance for initially stripping rent control protections, noting planning staff flagged non-compliance with policy 26 but failed to alert the commission; four commissioners voted for the ordinance, prompting concern.
- Sue Master requested a joint hearing with the Department of Building Inspection (DBI) to address project processing delays and urged the planning department to publish written communications regarding HCD housing element pushback.
- Item 16 (Constraints Reduction):
- Carolyn Kennedy (Dolores Heights Improvement Club) supported Supervisor Mandelman's amendments, citing a reduction in proposed large homes in her neighborhood (from 35+ significant demolitions/renovations 2014-2021 to only one project over 3,000 GSF since December 2021).
- Christopher Roach (AIA SF) expressed support for the underlying ordinance but strongly opposed Mandelman's amendments, calling the 3,000 sf cap arbitrary.
- Georgia Shutish supported the 3,000 sf cap, providing examples of typical home sizes in Noe Valley.
- Zach Weisenberger (Young Community Developers) raised equity concerns, requesting amendments to protect cultural districts from displacement, including objective design standards and continued hearings for state density bonus projects.
- Jonathan Randolph expressed skepticism about home size restrictions, noting large homes can be converted to multi-family units.
- Ozzy Realm (Tempest Go Line Coalition) criticized commissioners for voting for legislation that ignored housing element policies, particularly regarding rent control demolition.
- Item 19 (Enforcement Penalties): Georgia Shutish supported the criteria; Sue Master reiterated the need for a joint DBI meeting; another speaker supported penalties but suggested prioritizing tenant harm and financial gain.
- Item 20 (129 Laidley Street): Neighbors (John Seymour, Kim Richardson, David Hahn) opposed the project, citing privacy violations, excessive size, and failure to comply with residential design guidelines. They requested reductions to preserve mid-block open space and privacy.
Discussion Items
- Item 12: 2024 Hearing Schedule - Commission adjusted proposed cancellations: added March 28 (Easter), September 5 (post-Labor Day), October 3 (Rosh Hashanah); reinstated October 31; kept August 1 and other cancellations. Final schedule approved unanimously.
- Item 15: 900 Kearny Street SUD - Approved ordinance creating a Special Use District to permit non-retail professional services and arts activities, fixing a zoning table error. Unanimous.
- Item 16: Constraints Reduction Ordinance - Supervisor Mandelman's amendment to sunset CU requirements in Corona Heights and Central Neighborhoods SUDs, replacing with a 3,000 sf unit cap (later amended). Staff recommended increasing to 3,500 sf and allowing 20% expansions. After discussion, motion passed 4-2 with a 3,500 sf cap, 20% expansion allowance, and a five-year serial permitting restriction. Voting no: Commissioners Ruiz and Imperial.
- Item 17: Expanding Housing Choice - Informational presentation on rezoning for housing capacity. Staff proposed concentrating growth on transit corridors, with an estimated capacity for ~54,000 new housing units. Public comments supported the effort but raised design and community concerns. Commission discussion focused on design standards, buffer zones, and west side development.
- Item 18: UC College of the Law - Informational update on academic village housing (656 units) and upcoming Unite Here Local 2 project. Commission praised the partnership and progress.
- Item 19: Enforcement Penalty Guidelines - Adopted resolution outlining 10 criteria for imposing penalties up to $250,000 for unauthorized unit additions/removals. Added a new criterion to consider penalties from past cases. Unanimous.
- Item 20: 129 Laidley Street - Approved conditional use authorization for a new two-unit building (one 3,720 sf unit and one 908 sf ADU). Neighbors opposed due to size and privacy, but staff found compliance with RDG. Unanimous.
- Item 21: 10 Sea Cliff Discretionary Review - DR requestor and sponsor reached an agreement on enhancing privacy with planters. Commission approved the DR with modifications. Unanimous.
Key Outcomes
- Vote on Constraints Reduction (Item 16): Approved with modifications: 3,500 sf max unit size, 20% expansion allowance, five-year look-back for serial permits. Passed 4-2 (Ruiz, Imperial against).
- Adoption of 2024 Hearing Schedule: Approved with changes to cancellations and reinstatements.
- Approval of 900 Kearny SUD: Unanimous.
- Adoption of Enforcement Penalty Guidelines: Unanimous, with an added criterion for past penalties.
- Approval of 129 Laidley Street CUA: Unanimous.
- Approval of 10 Sea Cliff DR with modifications: Unanimous.
Notes
- Commissioner Ruiz disclosed that his employer (CCDC) submitted a letter supporting the 900 Kearny SUD; he determined no conflict and voted.
- Commissioner Moore was absent; all votes were 6-0 unless stated.
- The meeting adjourned after approximately 5 hours of deliberation.
Meeting Transcript
Okay. Good afternoon and welcome to the San Francisco Planning Commission hearing for Thursday, November 30th, 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 415-655-0001 and enter access code 2664-559-5440 and enter pound twice. To comment, you must enter star three to raise your hand. And once you've raised your hand, you will hear a 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 joining via WebEx, uh you may log in via the link found on today's agenda and enter password CPC 2023, and you need to use the raised hand icon to ask a question. Best practices are to call from a quiet location and please mute the volume on your television or computer for those persons attending in City Hall. We ask that you 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'll ask that we all silence any mobile devices that may sound off during these proceedings. And at this time, I will take roll. Commissioner President Tanner. Here. Commissioner Braun. Here. Commissioner Diamond. Here. Commissioner Imperial. Here. Commissioner Coppel. Here. And Commissioner Ruiz. Here. We expect Commission Vice President Moore to be absent today. Commissioners, first on your agenda is consideration of items proposed for continuance. Item one, case number 2022, hyphen 006831 DRM. At 619 Marina Boulevard, discretionary review is proposed for continuance to January 25th, 2024. Item two, case number 2023, hyphen 00, 1507 OFA at 838 Market Street. Office allocation is proposed for indefinite continuance. Item 3, case number 2022, hyphen 001981 DRP, hyphen 02 at 1270 Pacific Avenue. A discretionary review has been withdrawn. As was item four for case number 2022, hyphen 001026 DRP. At 2266, 43rd Avenue discretionary review also withdrawn. I have no other items proposed for continuance, so shall we should take public comment? Members of the public, this is your opportunity to address the commission on any of these items proposed to be continued. 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. Seeing no request to speak, Commissioner's public comment is closed, and your continuance calendar is now before you. Commissioner Braun. Move to continue items one through four. Second. Thank you, Commissioners. On that motion to continue items as proposed.
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