San Francisco Planning Commission Hearing (December 11, 2025)

The San Francisco Planning Commission met on Thursday, December 11, 2025 (afternoon session; exact start/end times not stated). The Commission took up a proposed indefinite continuance for a discretionary review matter at 460 Vallejo Street, approved three Conditional Use Authorization items on the Consent Calendar, heard brief department and legislative updates (including rezoning and Planning Code legislation at the Board of Supervisors), and received one general public comment urging stronger and more standardized enforcement tools for illegal construction.

Consent Calendar

• Item 1 (Continuance Calendar placed on consent by vote): Case No. 2016-000302DRP, 460 Vallejo Street (Discretionary Review) — approved for indefinite continuance on the stated basis that the continuance request was intended to allow an associated enforcement case to be resolved before returning to the Commission.
• Item 2: Case No. 2025-007879 CUA, 690 Van Ness Avenue — approved on consent (no public requests to pull).
• Item 3: Case No. 2025-006847 CUA, 2660 California Street — approved on consent (no public requests to pull).
• Item 4: Case No. 2025-007559 CUA, 1416 Haight Street — approved on consent (no public requests to pull).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Jerry Dratler/Durantler (name stated as Jerry Durantler and later Jerry Dratler):
  • On Item 1 continuance (460 Vallejo): Speaker opposed/challenged the proposed indefinite continuance, stating it did not meet criteria because (as characterized by the speaker) there was no neighborhood opposition, no legal/policy issues, no missing information, and no need for further review/mediation. The speaker raised concerns about alleged unpermitted/unsafe construction (including a roof deck/pool deck), referenced a 2018 notice of enforcement and a second notice allegedly issued in 2025, and questioned why the matter should be continued indefinitely.
  • General public comment (lessons from Dec. 4, 2025 Planning Commission meeting): Speaker urged that more be done to protect homeowners and argued that the Commission should not be the “court of last resort” for homeowners dealing with illegal construction issues. The speaker cited a prior 3–3 split vote (from the December 4, 2025 meeting) as demonstrating the need for a formal policy on illegal construction/alterations. The speaker requested the Planning Department develop and present an enhanced code enforcement proposal within 90 days, referencing San Francisco Ordinance 220-878 (passed in 2023) and stating it should be fully implemented, including standardized criteria for penalties.

Discussion Items

• Land Acknowledgment (Item 5): Read into the record acknowledging the unceded ancestral homeland of the Ramaytush Ohlone.
• Director’s Announcements (Item 7, Director Phillips):
  • Responded to a prior week’s public comment regarding a state bill touching on rewilding and stated staff had researched compliance and sent a memo to the state about a year earlier; the department believed it was in compliance and had not heard back.
  • Noted Oscar Grande (Senior Community Development Specialist) was commended by the Board of Supervisors earlier that week.
  • Mentioned the department’s annual holiday gathering and closing out 2025 accomplishments.
• Commissioner comment: Commissioner Williams praised Oscar Grande’s work with community groups and low-income communities.
• Board of Supervisors / Legislative update (Item 8, Aaron Starr):
  • 1236 Carroll Avenue rezoning (Supervisor Walton): Land Use & Transportation Committee unanimously recommended an ordinance to rezone from PDR-2 to Public and adjust height/bulk from 40-X to 90-X to support an SF Fire Department training facility; committee had no significant comments and no public comment.
  • Adaptive reuse of historic buildings (Mayor): Continued “to the call of the chair” for more outreach.
  • Tenant protections ordinance (Supervisor Chen; amendments by Supervisor Melgar): Committee unanimously accepted substantive amendments, including converting three conditional use findings to requirements (buyout agreement disclosures/submittals before demolition permit application; a 5-year prohibition on applying for a demolition permit if the Rent Board finds tenant harassment; and compliance with Section 317.2 notice requirements before permits). With findings reduced to eight, an amendment proposed a 70% threshold for meeting conditional use findings. Continued to December 15 due to substantive changes.
  • Appeal surcharge Planning Code amendment (Supervisor Connie Chan): Proposed increase in Board of Supervisors surcharge for appeals from $120 to $240 to help recover city costs; committee forwarded to the full board with a minor clerical edit.
  • Full Board actions noted: Central Neighborhood Large Residence SUD second read; Mayor’s family zoning plan second read; related local coastal program amendment first read (split vote); inclusionary housing waiver and land dedication ordinance first read.
  • 350 Amber Drive CEQA and CU appeal: Continued to February 10 (next year).

Key Outcomes

• Indefinite continuance approved: Item 1, 460 Vallejo Street (Case No. 2016-000302DRP) — Motion approved 6–0 (Commissioners present: President Soh, Vice President Moore, and Commissioners Braun, Campbell, McGarry, Williams; Commissioner Imperial expected absent).
• Consent Calendar approvals: Items 2–4 (CUAs at 690 Van Ness, 2660 California, 1416 Haight) — approved 6–0, with no items pulled for separate discussion.
• No additional Commission actions: No Commission questions/comments under Item 6; meeting concluded after general public comment.