San Francisco Planning Commission Regular Hearing – February 15, 2024

The San Francisco Planning Commission held a regular hearing on Thursday, February 15, 2024, at approximately 2:15 PM. All five commissioners present (President Diamond, Vice President Moore, Commissioners Braun, Imperial, and Koppel; Commissioner Ruiz absent) considered continuances, a consent calendar, commission and department matters, general public comment, one regular calendar item (30 Otis Street shadow findings and conditional use), and one discretionary review (4820 Anza Street).

Continuance Items

• Item 1 – Citywide expansion of allowable commercial, restaurant, and retail uses (BF 231221) was continued to February 22, 2024, by a unanimous 5‑0 vote.
• Item 10 – 320 Frederick Street discretionary review was continued to March 14, 2024, by the same unanimous vote.

Consent Calendar

• Item 3 – 2310 Fillmore Street conditional use authorization: Commissioner President Diamond recused herself due to owning Citibank bonds (formula retail). The remaining four commissioners (Braun, Imperial, Koppel, Moore) voted 4‑0 to approve.
• Items 2a/b – 30 Otis Street were pulled from the consent calendar by Commissioner Imperial and heard under the regular calendar (see below).

Commission Matters

• Land Acknowledgement: The Commission acknowledged the unceded ancestral homeland of the Ramaytush Ohlone.
• Draft Minutes from February 1, 2024: Adopted unanimously (5‑0).
• Commission Comments/Questions: No comments.

Department Matters

• Director’s Announcements: None.
• Review of Past Events at Board of Supervisors, Board of Appeals, and Historic Preservation Commission: Staff (Audrey Moroni) reported on several land use committee actions from the past week, including:
  • Landmarking of the Balboa Theatre (unanimous positive recommendation).
  • Sacred Heart Parish Complex landmarking continued to February 29 after Supervisor Peskin requested amendments.
  • Family Housing Opportunity SUD amendment continued to February 26 due to concerns about ownership requirements.
  • Supervisor Peskin’s state‑mandated ADU controls with three amendments adopted.
  • Form‑based density ordinance continued to March 4.
  • Numeric density controls in downtown/eastern waterfront C‑2 districts amended and forwarded to full board (2‑1).
  • Code corrections ordinance passed final read; downtown rail extension fee waiver passed first read.

General Public Comment

• Tom Badulovich (Liverpool City) urged the Commission to integrate land‑use and transportation planning, arguing that the city lacks a comprehensive land‑use plan and that planning for office locations should be prioritized near high‑quality transit.
• Georgia Shutish discussed ongoing concerns about Section 317 demolition calculations not being updated, highlighting potential impacts on affordable housing and the misuse of alteration permits to bypass discretionary review.
• A member of the public requested the Commission consider changing the meeting start time from noon to a later hour to improve remote accessibility.

Regular Calendar – Items 2a/b: 30 Otis Street (Dish Wireless Facility)

• Project: Installation of a new Dish wireless macro‑telecommunications facility on the rooftop of an existing 26‑story mixed‑use building (416 dwelling units, retail, arts, theater). The facility includes three antennas within two radomes (max height 42 inches) and ancillary equipment behind an 8‑foot enclosure.
• Shadow Impact: The proposal would increase the shadow load on the proposed 11th and Natoma Park (under Recreation & Parks jurisdiction) by 0.003% above current levels. The shadow occurs only after 4:30 PM in winter. The Rec & Park Commission found no significant adverse impact.
• Discussion: Commissioner Imperial raised concerns about future park shading. Staff noted the design had already been reduced from an original 0.01% shadow increase to 0.003%. The project sponsor confirmed alternate sites were explored but declined.
• Vote: The Commission unanimously (5‑0) adopted the shadow findings and approved the conditional use authorization with conditions.

Discretionary Review Calendar – Item 9: 4820 Anza Street (Two‑Story Vertical Addition)

• Project: Construction of a two‑story vertical addition to an existing two‑story single‑family home (built 1924). The existing structure would triple in size to approximately 4,500 square feet.
• DR Requester: Deborah Hawley, on behalf of adjacent neighbors Rita and Eugene Katz (587 39th Avenue), requested the fourth story be removed. Staff initially recommended removal of the fourth story but later accepted revisions that set back the third and fourth stories 16 feet from the rear wall and reduced the fourth‑story ceiling height.
• Staff Recommendation: Take discretionary review and approve with conditions requiring the rear roof deck to be set back 5 feet from the east property line and removal of the solid parapet above the deck.
• Public Comment: Two speakers opposed the project, citing scale, massing, and shadow impacts; one speaker in support praised the project sponsor’s community involvement. A letter from the immediate neighbor (4826 Anza) was read in support.
• Vote: The Commission unanimously (5‑0) voted to take discretionary review and approve with staff’s modifications.

Key Outcomes

• Continuances: Items 1 and 10 continued (5‑0).
• Consent Calendar: Item 3 approved (4‑0, Diamond recused).
• Commission Matters: Land acknowledgement delivered; minutes of February 1, 2024 adopted (5‑0).
• 30 Otis Street: Shadow findings adopted and conditional use authorized (5‑0).
• 4820 Anza Street: Discretionary review taken and approved with conditions (5‑0).