San Francisco Planning Commission Meeting - May 1, 2025
San Francisco Planning Commission Meeting - May 1, 2025
The San Francisco Planning Commission held a regular hearing on Thursday, May 1, 2025, starting at approximately 1:30 PM and continuing into the evening. The commission considered a range of items including continuances, a land acknowledgement, adoption of minutes, department reports, general public comment, and several regular calendar items: an amnesty program for properties affected by the DBI quality control audit, appeals and entitlements for a 29-story hotel at 570 Market Street, a modification of a Planned Unit Development at 3700 California Street, a major modification request for the India Basin Block H1 affordable housing project, and an informational presentation at 64 Winfield Street.
Consent Calendar
- Continuances (Items 1-3): Items 1A and B (2588 Mission Street) were continued to May 15, 2025, with direction to schedule earlier in the day to accommodate Commissioner Imperial’s schedule. Item 2 (14-16 30th Street) continued to June 5, 2025, and Item 3 (243 Staples Avenue) continued indefinitely. Motion passed unanimously 7-0.
- Adoption of Minutes (Item 5): Minutes from April 10 and April 17, 2025 were adopted unanimously 7-0.
Public Comments & Testimony
- General Public Comment: Catherine Howard (Neighborhoods United SF) requested a planning department analysis of SB 79 impacts. Paul Wormer raised concerns about bicycle parking standards for cargo ebikes and the inadequacy of inclusionary housing fees. Georgia Shutish discussed Section 317 demolition calculations and requested a hearing. Chris Schroeder, a former DBI inspector, alleged illegal demolitions and inadequate enforcement related to inspectors Bernie Curran and Rodrigo Santos.
- Item 9 (Amnesty Program): No public comment.
- Item 10 (Appeal of PMND for 570 Market): Appellants Richard Drury (representing 44 Montgomery) and Edward Schaefer (representing Chancery Building) argued for an EIR, citing historic resource impacts, vibration, noise, and loading. Project sponsor Melinda Sarjapur and staff defended the PMND. Public comment was split: union representatives (Carpenters, IBEW, Unite Here, etc.) supported the project; the Chancery Building asset manager and a hotel market consultant opposed.
- Item 11a-c (570 Market Entitlements): Public comment echoed item 10, with additional support from building trades and opposition from Chancery representatives.
- Item 12 (3700 California): Extensive public support from YIMBY groups, labor unions, neighbors, and merchants; some concerns about traffic and parking on Sacramento Street.
- Item 13 (India Basin Block H1): Public comment supported the 179-unit affordable housing project, noting its critical role in the master plan and community need.
- Item 14 (64 Winfield): No public comment.
Discussion Items
- Item 9: Amnesty for Properties in DBI Internal Quality Control Audit – Sponsored by Supervisor Mandelman, the ordinance would waive planning code violations and refund fees for innocent property owners caught up in the Curran/Santos scandal. Commissioner Moore raised concerns about specificity and potential reward for collusion; others sought to exclude properties on the expanded compliance control list. After discussion, the commission voted 6-1 (Moore opposed) to recommend approval with that exclusion.
- Item 10: Appeal of Preliminary Mitigated Negative Declaration (PMND) for 570 Market Street – Staff reviewed five issue areas (geology, noise/vibration, air quality, historic preservation, and loading/shadow) and concluded no fair argument for significant impacts. Appellants provided expert testimony and letters. Commissioners debated vibration and noise levels but ultimately voted to affirm the PMND and reject the appeal (motion by Commissioner Braun, seconded by Commissioner Williams, passed, no specific tally recorded; later discussion on items 11a-c suggests the appeal was denied).
- Items 11a-c: Downtown Project Authorization, Conditional Use Authorization, and Variance for 570 Market Street – The 29-story, 211-room hotel project required exceptions for tower setbacks, loading, and elevator penthouse height. Commissioners questioned design compatibility, light well alignment with the Chancery Building, and primary frontage. A motion to continue the item to July 10, 2025, with direction to explore design modifications (especially light well matching and contextual renderings) passed 5-2 (Commissioners Campbell and McGarry dissenting). The elevators variance was also continued.
- Item 12: Modification of Planned Unit Development at 3700 California Street – The revised project increased housing from 273 to 298 units (plus 232 senior units) on the former CPMC campus. The commission unanimously approved the CUA and PUD modifications (7-0), praising the design, density, and community benefits.
- Item 13: Major Modifications for India Basin Block H1 Affordable Housing – The project sought modifications to active frontage and top-floor stepback requirements for a 6-story, 179-unit 100% affordable building. Commissioners expressed concerns about institutional appearance and requested continued work on facade color and detailing. Motion to approve modifications with direction passed unanimously (7-0).
- Item 14: Informational Presentation for 64 Winfield Street – Architect Dan Paris presented a plan to demolish a single-family home and construct a 4-unit building with an ADU. Commissioners offered advisory comments on building massing, neighbor impacts, and requested a site context drawing.
Key Outcomes
- Consent Calendar: Continuances and minutes adopted unanimously.
- Item 9: Recommended approval of amnesty ordinance with expanded compliance control exclusion (6-1).
- Item 10: Appeal of PMND for 570 Market Street rejected; MND affirmed.
- Items 11a-c: Entitlements for 570 Market Street continued to July 10, 2025 (5-2).
- Item 12: Conditional use authorization and PUD modification for 3700 California Street approved (7-0).
- Item 13: Major modifications for India Basin Block H1 approved with design direction (7-0).
- Item 14: Informational item; no action taken.
Meeting Transcript
Okay, good afternoon and welcome to the San Francisco Planning Commission hearing for Thursday, May 1st, 2025. When we reach the item you are interested in speaking to, we ask that you line up on the screen side of the room or to your right. 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. There is a very convenient timer on the podium where you can see how much time you have left and watch your time tick down. Please speak clearly and slowly, and if you care to state your name for the record. I ask that we silence any mobile devices that may sound off during these proceedings. And finally, I will remind members of the public that the Commission does not tolerate any disruption or outbursts of any kind. At this time, I would like to take roll. Commissioner President So. Present. Commission Vice President Moore. Commissioner Braun. Here. Commissioner Campbell. Commissioner Imperial. Commissioner McGarry. And Commissioner Williams. Here. Thank you, Commissioners. First, on your agendas consideration of items proposed for continuance. Items 1A and B for case numbers 2018, hyphen 013877 DRP hyphen 05 and CRV at 2588 Mission Street discretionary review and the adoption of findings are proposed for continuance to May 15th, 2025, Item 2, case number 2024, hyphen 007 305. DRP at 14 through 1630th Street discretionary review is proposed for continuance to June 5, 2025. And item three for case number 2021, hyphen 003547, CUA at 243 Staples Avenue conditional use authorization is proposed for indefinite continuance. Members of the public, this is your opportunity to address the Commission on any of these items proposed for continuance only on the matter of continuance. Again, you need to come forward. Seeing none, public comment is closed, and your continuance calendar is now before you, Commissioners. Commissioner Williams. Thank you, President. So regarding 2588 Mission Street next week, I I was informed just recently that Commissioner Imperial won't be able to attend. And I'm just concerned that we won't have a full commission for that particular item. And the gravity of the item is is so I just wanted to put that out there and see if any of the other commissioners had anything to add. Any other concerns, but thank you. Commissioner Imperial. Yeah, I just um I informed Commissioner Williams about this. Um on May 15, I will have to leave early by 5 p.m. So I will not be able to participate if the discretionary review reaches at that time. I think it is up to the Commission if they would like to continue it, but I will not be able to participate if it falls at 5 p.m. Commissioners, I know you have made a commitment in previous hearings to start that item in the afternoon at 4.30. Alternatively, you could have it first on your agenda or continue it out further, obviously. Commissioner Braun. I uh I have said this before. I do think it is important that we have the full commission for that item. And so if it's something that we I am in favor of either approach that allows the full commission to hear the item, whether it is taking it up first or continuing it. I I think personally I would prefer to take it up early and keep it on the same date. But yeah, those are my thoughts. Thank you, Commissioner Braun. Commissioner Vice President Moore. Uh did anybody uh make an outreach to the community to see if they could come earlier.
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