San Francisco Planning Commission Regular Hearing – June 5, 2025

The San Francisco Planning Commission held its regular hearing on Thursday, June 5, 2025, starting at approximately 1:30 PM. All seven commissioners were present (President So, Vice President Moore, Commissioners Braun, Campbell, Imperial, McGarry, Williams). The agenda included continuances, consent calendar items, informational presentations, and several conditional use authorizations and a discretionary review. Key actions included continuing the San Francisco Gateway Project and 70 Hancock Street matters, approving a formula retail use for Nordstrom Local on Fillmore Street (5-2), and denying a discretionary review for a housing project on 30th Street.

Consent Calendar

• Item 1 (Reproductive Health Clinics – Planning Code Amendment) and Item 2 (2258 Market Street – Conditional Use for Stretch Lab) were approved unanimously by a 7-0 vote. No public comments requested removal from consent.

Public Comments & Testimony

• On the continuance of the Gateway Project: Multiple residents and community advocates from the Bayview expressed strong opposition to the project, citing environmental and health impacts, and frustration with the last-minute continuance. Mark Gleason (Teamsters Joint Council 7) and Rudy Gonzalez (Building and Construction Trades Council) spoke in favor of the continuance, noting ongoing productive stakeholder discussions.
• General Public Comment: George Shudish raised concerns about the city's flat policy definition, providing examples of projects he believed circumvented the intent.
• On the Nordstrom Local (1919 Fillmore Street): Approximately 10 speakers opposed the project, citing traffic congestion, double parking, delays to the 22 Fillmore bus line, and insufficient neighborhood engagement. One speaker submitted a packet with a checklist of requirements. Nordstrom representatives presented their plans, including overnight deliveries, validated parking, and community partnerships.
• On the Alabama Street Project: George Shudish commented that the proposed designs lacked neighborhood context and questioned affordability.
• On the Folsom Street ADU project: No public comments were made.
• On the 30th Street Discretionary Review: One speaker (the DR requester) argued that the third-floor addition would block views, reduce light, and harm neighborhood character.

Discussion Items

• Item 8 – The Portal (Downtown Rail Extension) Informational Presentation: Executive Director Adam Vanderwater of the Trans Bay Joint Powers Authority provided an update on the 1.3-mile rail extension from Fourth and King to Salesforce Transit Center. The project is 70% funded, with a $3.38 billion federal commitment, and expects 90,000 daily riders when operational. Construction could begin in 2028 with revenue service by 2035. Commissioners praised the project and discussed funding, tunneling methods, and coordination with other projects like Link 21 and the Pennsylvania Avenue Extension.
• Items 9a-c – Alabama Street Housing (819, 825, 831): Project sponsors presented plans for three three-unit buildings (six primary units + three ADUs) under SB 423. Commissioners Vice President Moore, President So, and others encouraged more detailed architectural drawings, context analysis, and consideration of affordability. The presentation was informational; no vote was taken.
• Item 13 – 2722-2726 Folsom Street (Conditional Use): Staff reported 21 letters of support and none in opposition. The project would merge an unauthorized dwelling unit and add a rent-controlled ADU. Commissioners praised the approach and approved unanimously 7-0.
• Item 14 – 1919 Fillmore Street (Nordstrom Local Conditional Use): The department received 29 letters of support and 22 letters of opposition. Nordstrom representatives described the store as a neighborhood service hub, offering order pickup, returns, alterations, and donations. They committed to overnight delivery for store-to-store transfers, validated parking at the Annex Garage, and community engagement. Commissioners debated traffic and parking impacts. A motion to approve with conditions passed 5-2 (Commissioners Williams and Moore opposed).
• Item 15 – 14-16 30th Street (Discretionary Review): The project would restore five existing units, add a third-floor vertical addition and a rear ADU. Staff recommended not taking DR, citing code compliance and consistency with design guidelines. The DR requester cited view, light, and privacy concerns. The project received 46 letters of support and none in opposition. The commission voted 7-0 to not take DR and approve the project.

Key Outcomes

• Continuances granted (7-0):
  • San Francisco Gateway Project (Items 10, 11A-E) continued to June 26, 2025.
  • 70 Hancock Street (Items 12A-B) continued to July 10, 2025.
• Consent Calendar approved (7-0): Reproductive Health Clinics amendment and Stretch Lab conditional use.
• Minutes of May 15 and May 22 meetings adopted (7-0).
• Folsom Street conditional use approved (7-0).
• Nordstrom Local conditional use approved (5-2) with standard conditions, including community liaison and compliance with code.
• Discretionary Review on 30th Street not taken; project approved (7-0).

Next Steps: The commission will reconvene on June 26, 2025, for the continued Gateway Project items.