San Francisco Planning Commission Meeting - January 25, 2024

The San Francisco Planning Commission held a regular hearing on Thursday, January 25, 2024. President Diamond was absent; Commissioner Tanner had resigned to become Director of Citywide Planning. The Commission considered continuances, consent items, commission matters, an informational budget presentation, an informational presentation on the SF Gateway Project, and a Conditional Use Authorization for 2351 Mission Street. All votes taken during the meeting passed unanimously, 5-0.

Consent Calendar

• Items 6, 7, and 8 were approved unanimously: 1075 Market Street Unit 605 and 16 Jessie Street Unit 410 (Intermediate Length Occupancy units) and 3820 24th Street (Curo Pet Care animal hospital expansion).
• Item 5 (520 John Muir Drive) was removed from the consent calendar at the request of Eileen Boken and heard separately.

Public Comments & Testimony

• In general public comment, Eileen Boken discussed SB 951 and coastal zone issues, questioning how the legislation was drafted and its relationship to coastal permitting decisions. She stated she supports soil remediation but raised transparency concerns.
• Tomorovich (Livable City) urged the Planning Department to revive comprehensive neighborhood planning for the Western Edition and Bayview, arguing these communities deserve long-term planning conversations, especially regarding equitable development and redevelopment-related harms.

Commission Matters

• The Commission acknowledged the Ramaytush Ohlone as the original stewards of the land.
• Minutes from January 11, 2024 were adopted unanimously.
• Vice President Moore led a recognition of former President Tanner, who said she was leaving the Commission to become the Planning Department's Director of Citywide Planning. Commissioners offered thanks and praised her leadership.
• Commissioner Moore raised concerns about state density bonus and upzoning, noting that objective standards such as tower separation and seismic safety are rooted in life-safety science. She requested that the department involve fire safety and seismic experts when evaluating standards.
• Commissioner Imperial suggested forming subcommittees to delve into such issues.
• Director Hillis announced that the department would hold two informational hearings in February on rezoning proposals.
• Aaron Starr, Manager of Legislative Affairs, reported that the Board of Supervisors Land Use Committee continued the code corrections ordinance, the state ADU ordinance, and the constraints reduction ordinance; Westwood Park entrance gateways and pillars passed first read 10-1; and an appeal for 2395 Sacramento Street was continued to February 6.

Discussion Items

Item 5: 520 John Muir Drive – Coastal Zone Permit

• The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission requested approval to demolish seven one-story recreational structures and remediate contaminated soil around four former skeet-shooting fields on an approximately 11-acre site at Lake Merced West. Approximately 4,800 cubic yards of soil would be removed and four eucalyptus trees would be taken down; work would last about three months, with completion anticipated by late summer 2024. The project is Phase 1 of a larger project whose EIR was certified in January 2023.
• Eileen Boken spoke in support of the remediation but identified what she called inaccuracies in the project description and inconsistencies between the coastal zone permit and the Local Coastal Program.
• Commissioner Imperial said the project is aligned with the previously certified EIR and moved to approve. The Commission approved the permit with conditions unanimously (5-0).

Item 15: FY2024-2026 Proposed Department Budget and Work Program (Informational)

• Budget analyst Katie Lay presented. The Mayor's Office projects citywide general fund deficits of $245 million in FY24-25 and $554 million in FY25-26, a total of $799 million over two years. Departments were asked to cut general fund spending by 10%.
• The Planning Department proposes a $920,000 reduction in general fund support and a $3 million reduction in fee revenue, mainly through keeping positions vacant and reducing contracts. Personnel costs are expected to be 63% of the budget in the budget year and 70% in the out-year. Staff noted the FTE count would decline from 225.6 to 207.55.
• The budget equity tool found that 23% of work programs would center equity in FY24-25.
• Commissioners expressed support for maintaining racial and social equity programs and asked about internship programs and equity training. Director Hillis said the department is prioritizing housing element implementation, transportation element, and community planning, but acknowledged limited capacity.
• No vote was taken; the item was informational.

Item 16: San Francisco Gateway Project (749 Toland Street / 2000 McKinnon Avenue) – Informational

• Planning staff and Prologis presented a proposal to replace four older PDR buildings (448,000 sq ft) with two multi-story buildings containing over one million sq ft of active PDR space, plus support space, totaling about two million sq ft. The project would create approximately 2,100 construction jobs and support over 2,000 permanent on-site jobs. It would also build out eight city blocks with sidewalks, crosswalks, and lighting.
• Public comment was overwhelmingly supportive. Speakers included community members, local contractors, the Market Zone Working Group, and representatives from multiple trade unions (Teamsters, Sheet Metal Workers, Plumbers, Elevator Constructors, Bricklayers, Glaziers, Painters, Sprinkler Fitters, etc.). They emphasized local hire, union jobs, and community benefits.
• Commissioners praised the project and the engagement process. Commissioner Koppel highlighted the importance of blue-collar jobs and local apprentices. No vote was taken; the item was informational.

Item 17: 2351 Mission Street (Casements) – Conditional Use Authorization

• The restaurant Casements requested permission to convert ~1,800 square feet of a public parking lot (10 of 81 spaces) into an outdoor activity area, including outdoor dining and amplified entertainment, and to expand its existing liquor service. The Planning Department recommended approval with conditions limiting outdoor hours to 9 a.m.–10 p.m.
• Public comment was split. Supporters called the patio a vital safe space for queer and immigrant communities and noted the economic difficulty of closing early. Opponents, including neighbors from Cap Street and surrounding blocks, reported excessive noise, particularly from live music, that affected their homes and quality of life; they urged a strict 10 p.m. curfew.
• Vice President Moore expressed support for the staff recommendation and added a condition requiring an on-site community liaison with a published contact number and a requirement that unresolved issues be reported to the Zoning Administrator. The Commission approved the CUA with conditions unanimously (5-0).

Key Outcomes

• All motions passed unanimously (5-0):
  1. Continuances for Items 1A/B, 2, 3, and 18A/B approved; Item 4 withdrawn.
  2. Consent Calendar Items 6, 7, 8 approved.
  3. Minutes of January 11, 2024 adopted.
  4. Coastal Zone Permit for 520 John Muir Drive approved with conditions.
  5. Conditional Use Authorization for 2351 Mission Street approved with conditions, including a 10 p.m. outdoor activity curfew and a community liaison condition.