San Francisco Planning Commission Meeting

Date: January 11, 2024
Time: 20:15 UTC (12:15 PM Pacific)
Location: City Hall, San Francisco, CA

The Planning Commission held a regular meeting covering a consent calendar, a planning code amendment for fleet charging, the Potrero Yard Modernization Project (including certification of the final EIR and project entitlements), and review of the draft EIR for the Islais Creek Bridge Project. The meeting also included commission matters, department reports, and general public comment.

Consent Calendar

• Items B1–B4 (Seawall Lots 323 & 324, 555 Pacific Avenue, 399 Fremont Street, 310-320 Dolores Street): The commission approved all four consent calendar items unanimously (7-0), waiving separate discussion and adopting the staff recommendations.

Public Comments & Testimony

• General Public Comment:
  • A speaker (name not stated) addressed planning code Section 317, urging the commission to tighten demolition calculations, preserve flats and upper dwelling units (UDUs), and scrutinize speculative projects, especially in priority equity geographies.
  • Tom Radilovich (Livable City) encouraged the commission to be more proactive in planning, revive public realm planning (noting 25% of city land is public right-of-way), and initiate legislation rather than only reacting to state or mayoral directives.
  • A remote speaker (anonymous) requested the commission reinstate remote public comment, citing the flu season and accessibility barriers; they noted other commission bodies still allow remote participation.
• Regular Calendar Item 10 (Fleet Charging):
  • Mark Lisa Terram (Teamsters Joint Council 7) and Peter Ziblat (land use counsel) spoke in support of the ordinance, emphasizing that the current loophole (Footnote 24) allows as‑of‑right conversion in PDR zones without scrutiny and that conditional use authorization ensures proper review.
• Regular Calendar Items 11–12 (Potrero Yard Modernization Project):
  • Anna Herrera (Legislative Aide to Supervisor Hillary Ronen) expressed enthusiastic support, highlighting 100% affordable housing, improved transit facilities, and broad community backing (e.g., from Puente Latino Cultural District, Sierra Club, SF Transit Riders).
  • Additional public comment came from a representative (name not given) supporting the project for its climate and equity benefits.
• Regular Calendar Item 13 (Islais Creek Bridge Project Draft EIR):
  • A speaker from the San Francisco Transit Riders voiced concern about the 24‑month closure of the T‑Third light rail line, warning it could erode transit ridership in the Bayview neighborhood and exacerbate historical inequities; they urged shorter timelines and better alternative transit options.

Discussion Items

• Item 10 – Fleet Charging Planning Code Amendment (Board File 231080):

  • Sponsored by Board President Peskin, the ordinance would require a conditional use authorization (CU) for converting private parking or vehicle storage lots to fleet charging in all Production, Distribution, and Repair (PDR) districts, closing a loophole (Footnote 24) that allowed as‑of‑right conversion.
  • Sunny Angulo (Peskin’s office) proposed two potential future amendments: a grandfathering date for applications submitted before today’s meeting, and a clarification to ensure Section 311 public notice is required for all building permits involving fleet charging in every zoning district.
  • Staff (Joseph Sackey) noted no formal recommendation because the amendments were presented only the day before, but saw the ordinance as closing a procedural loophole and creating uniform scrutiny.
  • Commissioners discussed the value of consistency and supported the amendments, with Commissioner Coppel making a motion to approve staff’s recommendations while leaving the door open for the later amendments.
  • The motion passed unanimously (7‑0).

• Items 11 & 12 A–E – Potrero Yard Modernization Project (2500 Mariposa Street):

  • Staff presented the final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and six entitlement items: certification of the final EIR, CEQA findings, general plan amendments, planning code text and zoning map amendments (creating the Potrero Yard Special Use District), shadow findings (Planning Code §295), and a conditional use authorization for a planned unit development.
  • Project Description: Demolish the existing 100-year-old bus yard and construct a new state-of-the-art transit facility (phase 1), plus up to 465 100% affordable housing units (phase 2‑3) with a backup paratransit variant (104 units). The project includes 2,886 sq ft of commercial space, a public restroom, and street improvements.
  • The final EIR finds significant unavoidable impacts on historic resources (demolition of an eligible historic building) and toxic air contaminants (construction and operations). Staff clarified the cancer risk was 6.87 per million vs. a threshold of 7, and PM2.5 was well below significance.
  • Commissioners expressed strong support, praising the housing component, worker conditions, community engagement (over 140 meetings), and the backup option. Concerns about toxic air contaminants and shadow were addressed; the Park and Recreation Commission had already recommended the shadow would not be adverse.
  • A motion to certify the EIR passed unanimously (7‑0). A second motion to adopt all remaining items (CEQA findings with statement of overriding considerations, general plan amendments, code amendments, shadow findings, and conditional use) also passed unanimously (7‑0).

• Item 13 – Islais Creek Bridge Project Draft EIR (Third Street over Islais Creek, Bayview/Hunters Point):

  • The project involves demolition and replacement of the structurally deficient bridge (NBI rating 20 out of 100) with a new bridge that meets seismic and sea‑level rise standards (up to 2100). The new bridge will be about 5.2 feet higher with a 26‑foot dedicated light rail trackway, two travel lanes per direction, and a pedestrian/bicycle path.
  • Construction is estimated at 24 months with no traffic or transit through the area; a temporary bus bridge and detours are planned. The draft EIR analysis shows significant unavoidable impacts to historic resources (bridge is eligible for National Register) and construction‑related transit delays.
  • Public comment raised concerns about interrupting the T‑Third light rail service for two years and urged minimizing disruption. Commissioners echoed those concerns, asking about timeline shortening, alternative alignments, and the decision to install tracks recently only to remove them.
  • No approval was requested; the commission took the item for review and comment. The comment period closes January 22, 2024.

• Item 14 – Discretionary Review: 426 Fillmore Street, Unit C:

  • Continued by unanimous vote to March 14, 2024 (7‑0) at the request of the applicant.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Calendar (B1–B4): Approved unanimously (7‑0).
• Minutes (December 14, 2023): Adopted unanimously (6‑0; Commissioner Coppel absent).
• Item 10 – Fleet Charging Ordinance: Approved with staff recommendations (unanimous 7‑0). The commission indicated openness to later amendments on grandfathering and noticing.
• Items 11 & 12 – Potrero Yard Modernization Project:
  • Final EIR certified unanimously (7‑0).
  • All project entitlements (CEQA findings, general plan amendment, planning code and zoning map amendments, shadow findings, conditional use) adopted unanimously (7‑0). The project will proceed with a preferred aim of 465 affordable units; if housing financing is not secured, the paratransit variant (104 units) will be triggered after a reasonable time frame (5–10 years, with possible extensions).
• Item 13 – Islais Creek Bridge Project: No vote; taken for public comment. The commission will consider certification of the final EIR in spring/summer 2024 after the comment period closes.
• Remote Public Comment: Commissioner Moore raised the idea of reinstating remote public comment due to the flu season; the commission agreed to discuss at the next officers’ meeting. The issue was not voted on.

Adjourned: The meeting concluded without a formal adjournment time noted.