OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

San Francisco Planning Commission Meeting - July 10, 2025

Planning Commission — Thursday, July 10, 2025
BodySan Francisco, California
SessionPlanning Commission
DateThursday, July 10, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:01

Good afternoon and welcome to the San Francisco Planning Commission hearing for Thursday, July 10th, 2025.

0:09

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.

0:16

Each speaker will be allowed up to three minutes.

0:18

And when you have 30 seconds remaining, you will hear a chime indicating your time is almost up.

0:22

When your allotted time is reached, I will announce that your time is up and take the next person cued to speak.

0:27

There is a very convenient timer on the podium where you can watch your time tick down and see how much time you have left.

0:36

Excuse me.

0:37

Please speak clearly and slowly, and if you care to state your name for the record.

0:40

I ask that we silence any mobile devices that may sound off during these proceedings.

0:45

And finally, I will remind members of the public that the Commission does not tolerate any disruption or outbursts of any kind.

0:54

I would like to take roll.

0:55

Commission President South Present.

0:59

Commission Vice President Moore.

1:01

Commissioner Braun.

1:02

Here.

1:03

Commissioner Campbell.

1:04

Commissioner Imperial.

1:05

Commissioner McGarry.

1:07

And Commissioner Williams.

1:08

Here.

1:08

Thank you, Commissioners.

1:09

First, on your agenda is consideration of items proposed for continuance.

1:13

Items 1, A, B, and C for case numbers 2019, hyphen 017622 DNX, C Uway and VAR at 570 Market Street, Downtown Large Project Authorization, Conditional Use Authority and Variance are all proposed for continuance to September 11th, 2025.

1:30

Members of the public, this is your opportunity to address the Commission on their continuance calendar only on the matter of continuance.

1:38

You need to come forward.

1:40

Seeing none, public comment is closed.

1:44

And your continuance calendar is now before you, Commissioners.

1:49

Commissioner Braun.

1:51

Move to continue items 1A, B, and C.

1:54

Second.

1:56

Thank you, Commissioners.

1:57

On that motion to continue continue items 1A and B.

2:01

Commissioner Campbell.

2:02

Aye.

2:03

Commissioner McGarry.

2:04

Aye.

2:04

Commissioner Williams.

2:05

Aye.

2:05

Commissioner Braun.

2:06

Aye.

2:07

Commissioner Imperial.

2:08

Aye.

2:08

Commissioner Moore.

2:09

Aye.

2:09

And Commissioner President So.

2:11

Aye.

2:11

So move, Commissioners.

2:12

That motion passes unanimously 7 to 0.

2:14

Zoning Administrator would say you.

2:16

I will continue item 1C as proposed.

2:19

Thank you.

2:20

That will place us under your consent calendar.

2:23

All matters listed here under constituted consent calendar are considered to be routine by the Planning Commission and may be acted upon by a single roll call vote.

2:30

There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a member of the Commission, the public or staff so request.

2:36

In which event the matter shall be removed from the consent calendar and considered as a separate item at this or a future hearing.

2:42

Item 2, case number 2025, hyphen 00.

2:46

3422 CU8607 Broadway, conditional use authorization, and item three, case number 2025, 003751, C UA 5960 Mission Street, conditional use authorization.

2:59

Members of the public, this is your opportunity to request that either of these two consent calendar items be pulled off and heard today under the regular calendar or a future date.

3:10

Again, you need to come forward.

3:12

Seeing none, public comment is closed, and your consent calendar is now before you.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Land Use███████████████████████████████████35%
Affordable Housing█████████████████████21%
Procedural████████8%
Public Comment████████8%
Public Health████4%
Public Works████4%
Public Safety████4%
Land Acknowledgement███3%
Budget and Finance███3%
Summary of Proceedings

San Francisco Planning Commission Meeting - July 10, 2025

The San Francisco Planning Commission held a regular meeting on Thursday, July 10, 2025, at approximately 2:15 PM. The commission considered a continuance, two consent calendar items, adoption of minutes, director announcements, and four regular calendar items including a major mixed-use project at 425 Broadway, a legalization of unpermitted demolition at 70 Hancock Street, a residential merger at 61-61A Coleridge Street, and a cannabis cultivation use at 1571-1577 Wallace Avenue. All votes were taken by roll call.

Consent Calendar

  • Item 2 (2025-003422CUA, 860 Broadway) and Item 3 (2025-003751CUA, 5960 Mission Street) were approved unanimously (7-0) without discussion.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Georgia Shudish spoke during general public comment, submitting documents regarding the definition of demolition under Planning Code Section 317 and urging the commission to codify demolition calculations. She also raised concerns about the protection of flats in the context of the upcoming flat ordinance.
  • Sue Hasser (remote) spoke during adoption of minutes, alleging that the June 18 closed session was not properly followed by a return to open session and that the broadcast was incomplete. She requested clarification in the record.
  • Stan Hays (Telegraph Hill Dwellers) opposed the 425 Broadway project, arguing for 100% affordable housing on the site, citing the adjacent Rex Hotel SRO and the loss of on-site affordable units.
  • Bailey Douglas (neighbor) supported the 425 Broadway project, citing the need for housing and activation of the underutilized parking lot.
  • Marion Wallace (resident) opposed the 425 Broadway project, concerned about height and the lack of affordable housing.
  • Chinatown Community Development Center representative supported the 425 Broadway project, noting the community benefits agreement including a laundromat and light wells for the adjacent SRO.
  • Teresa Flandric (North Beach Tenants Committee) opposed the 425 Broadway project, citing loss of affordable housing choices and impact on SRO residents.
  • Megan Wiles (Housing Action Coalition) supported the 425 Broadway project, noting the increase from 42 to 75 units and the contribution to the affordable housing fund.
  • Andrew Diamond (neighbor) supported the 425 Broadway project, citing the parking lot's negative impact on the neighborhood.
  • Samson Green (Broadway Studios) supported the 425 Broadway project, on behalf of the owner.

Discussion Items

  • Items 1a-1c (570 Market Street) were continued to September 11, 2025, on a motion by Commissioner Braun, unanimously approved (7-0).
  • Commission Matters: The commission adopted the draft minutes for June 18 (closed session) and June 26 (regular) after a brief discussion and public comment. The motion passed 7-0. The commission welcomed new Planning Director Sarah Dennis Phillips, who gave introductory remarks.
  • Director's Announcements: Director Phillips reported on the federal budget impacts (including $400 million local set-aside for this year, but ongoing challenges), state budget trailer bills AB 130 and SB 131 (CEQA exemptions for housing and public projects), the city budget (addressing 1/3 of structural deficit), the ULI Market Street competition (winners to be announced July 17), and the Proposition E Commission on Commissions task force.
  • Review of Past Events: Staff reported on Board of Supervisors actions (priority processing program, awning amnesty, temporary use controls, ADU condominium conversion) and Board of Appeals actions (denial of appeal at 1934 Jefferson Street, jurisdictional decision on 555 Bryant Street streetscape appeal).
  • General Public Comment: Commissioner Williams raised urgency about codifying demolition calculations, and Director Phillips committed to returning with proposals within a few months.
  • Items 9a/9b (425 Broadway): Conditional use authorization and variance to demolish a parking garage and build two 65-foot mixed-use buildings (75 residential units, 8,000 sq ft retail). The project uses the Cars to CASA ordinance (eliminating density limits), pays an in-lieu fee of $3.8 million instead of on-site affordable units, and requests a bulk exception and rear yard modification. After public comment and deliberation, the commission voted 5-2 to approve (Commissioners Campbell, McGarry, Braun, Moore, So in favor; Commissioners Williams and Imperial opposed). The Zoning Administrator granted the rear yard modification.
  • Items 10a/10b (70 Hancock Street): Conditional use authorization and variance to legalize the unpermitted demolition and reconstruction of a rear cottage. The project sponsor proposed a last-minute modification to use a flat roof at a height of 18 feet 7 inches (to the roof) instead of the original sloped roof. The commission approved the motion with that modification (7-0). The Zoning Administrator granted the variance with the same condition.
  • Item 11 (61-61A Coleridge Street): Conditional use authorization to legalize a unit merger (two flats into a single-family home) and replace the lost unit with a one-bedroom addition above an existing garage. Public comment noted concerns about protecting flats. The commission approved (7-0).
  • Item 12 (1571-1577 Wallace Avenue): Conditional use authorization to establish cannabis cultivation (industrial agricultural use) in two vacant warehouse suites in the PDR-2 district. The project includes 24/7 surveillance and air quality monitoring. No public comment. The commission approved (7-0).

Key Outcomes

  • Continuance: 570 Market Street items continued to September 11, 2025 (7-0).
  • Consent Calendar: Items 2 and 3 approved (7-0).
  • Minutes: June 18 and June 26 minutes adopted (7-0).
  • 425 Broadway: Conditional use authorization approved (5-2) with standard conditions; rear yard modification granted by Zoning Administrator.
  • 70 Hancock Street: Conditional use authorization approved (7-0) with modification to a flat roof not exceeding 18 feet 7 inches; variance granted with same condition.
  • 61-61A Coleridge Street: Conditional use authorization approved (7-0) with conditions.
  • 1571-1577 Wallace Avenue: Conditional use authorization approved (7-0) with conditions.

Meeting Transcript

Good afternoon and welcome to the San Francisco Planning Commission hearing for Thursday, July 10th, 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 watch your time tick down and see how much time you have left. Excuse me. 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. I would like to take roll. Commission President South Present. Commission Vice President Moore. Commissioner Braun. Here. Commissioner Campbell. Commissioner Imperial. Commissioner McGarry. And Commissioner Williams. Here. Thank you, Commissioners. First, on your agenda is consideration of items proposed for continuance. Items 1, A, B, and C for case numbers 2019, hyphen 017622 DNX, C Uway and VAR at 570 Market Street, Downtown Large Project Authorization, Conditional Use Authority and Variance are all proposed for continuance to September 11th, 2025. Members of the public, this is your opportunity to address the Commission on their continuance calendar only on the matter of continuance. You need to come forward. Seeing none, public comment is closed. And your continuance calendar is now before you, Commissioners. Commissioner Braun. Move to continue items 1A, B, and C. Second. Thank you, Commissioners. On that motion to continue continue items 1A and B. Commissioner Campbell. Aye. Commissioner McGarry. Aye. Commissioner Williams. Aye. Commissioner Braun. Aye. Commissioner Imperial. Aye. Commissioner Moore. Aye. And Commissioner President So. Aye. So move, Commissioners. That motion passes unanimously 7 to 0. Zoning Administrator would say you. I will continue item 1C as proposed.

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