he has done extensive work on the architecture of chinatown. we know that architecture is a made up architecture. as a survival technique. in 1906, there were efforts to move chinatown down to where geneva is today. the leaders of chinatown, working with their white property owners and landlords, got together after the earthquake. we will be paid for the rebuild, but we want to make sure that chinatown is going to last another earthquake. they concocted this architecture, which i think has been a very effective economic strategy, to draw visitors to chinatown and make chinatown one

of san francisco's major tourist attractions. this is a vibrant residential neighborhood. we are a residential neighborhood, we are alive, we are a touchdown for chinese america. we're oftentimes the first time that immigrants such food in america. this chinese hospital was established because there was a medical facility for the chinese. we build it ourselves with our own money. we are living history again. again, we need a new medical facility to preserve our community in ways that are sensitive to our culture and practices. we are doing it again in chinatown where we belong. thank you. vice president wu: thank you.

>> good afternoon, commissioners. i am the chief operating officer with unlock. this is a program of all- inclusive care for the elderly. it traces back to the early 1970's. it is also the prototype for a national model that is designed as a community-based alternatives to nursing home. my comments are to underscore how important it is that chinese hospital as a partner to us. the program served individuals who are 55 years of age and older. able to live in the community, and living in an area -- a service area. it is serving nearly 1000

seniors in san francisco. the average age of our population is 83. 60% have some form of dementia, and more than 50% are asia/pacific islander. with community partners such as chinese hospital, a strong provider network and other care givers to understand and have the skills to meet the needs of our city's most frail seniors. three of the eight locations are around the chinatown area. we also have a large workforce to benefits from the services of the chinese hospital. the value of having a community hospital in the heart of where people live and work is a measurable. supporting the rebuild of the

new hospital helps insure our committee will culturally sensitive, modern and local health care services for the future. thank you. vice president wu: thank you. any further public comment on items that have been closed? >> commissioners, you are now at consideration of final action, where the public hearing is closed. the item under this category is item number 8. 834-835 jackson street. this is for the certification of the environmental impact report. vice president wu: my staff that work at the organization have participated in advocacy on this project. but i have refrained from attending any of those meetings. >> commissioners, this item is before you for your consideration.

the public hearing for this is closed. >> good afternoon, commissioners. i am planning department staff and i'm joined here today by the preservation -- the first item before you today is the certification of the eir for case number 2008.0762ezmc. certification is required before any action can be taken on the approval. a copy of the draft eir is before you. the draft eir was published on april 16, 2012. during the public comment period, the historic preservation commission held a hearing on this project on may 2. the related mainly to the projects proposed hospital design, historic resources, a

mitigation measures, and project alternatives. this letter and responses to historic preservation commission, as can be found in the comments and responses documents. the planning commission held a public hearing to receive comments on the draft eir on may 17, 2012. the public comment period it closed on may 31, 2012. the comments and responses document was distributed on june 28, 2012. 10 comment letters on the draft eir received. one member of the public and three commissioners provided oral comments at the hearing. substantive comments received on the draft eir or related to the topics of historic resources, mitigation measures, transportation, construction

impacts, and range of alternatives. the draft eir hearing transcript are contained and responded to in the document. as detailed and the findings before you, the evaluation of the issues contained in the eir found implementation of the proposed project would have significant environmental impacts related to cultural resources, transportation and noise, and these could be mitigated to less than significant levels. the proposed project -- historic resources and air quality. the draft eir found bad implementation of the proposed project would result in a solid project levels and significant unavoidable in our mental and packs. demolition of the original 1924 chinese hospital building.

under the proposed product, it would result in the unavoidable historic architectural resources and packs on an historic resources. on the national register of historic cases, chinatown historic district. both of which were identified as historic resources under the california environmental quality act of ceqa. construction that is designed on the project site would result in significant unavoidable historic architectural resource impacts on the national register. demolition of the 1924 -- under the proposed project would result in an cumulatively considerable contribution to significant adverse historic architectural resources and tax

on the same chinatown historic district. construction would generate substantial levels of toxic air contaminants that could substantially affect sensitive receptors. this would be a significant and unavoidable air quality related helped impact. since publication, the planning department has received two additional comment letters on the project. the first comment letter from the assistant professor of asian american studies at san francisco state university was a letter of support for the proposed project. the second letter from san francisco architectural heritage, comments week related to the mitigation measures -- comment related to the mitigation measures. these comments raised objection to the project itself and urged

that the mission to approve -- the commission to approve an alternative to the project. they aren't the same as those that were raised during the draft -- they are the same as those that are raised during the draft eir and have been fully responded to. please see comments letter number b7, from san francisco architectural heritage. and response to this letter in the cnr document. no new information is presented. no new issues have been raised. that would change the analysis of conclusions of the eir. overall, the concerns raised have been adequately addressed in the eir and the document and do not want further discussion.

we've also heard from speakers today who raised a few issues pertaining to the proposed project. some of the comments did not address environmental issues. public opinion regarding the merits of the project is not relevant to the discussion of the adequacy of the eir. some of the comments were already responded to in the draft -- any cnr document. in conclusion, no substantial evidence has been presented that would change the conclusions reached in the eir. the irs is essentially an informational document -- the eir is an informational document. certification of the eir is not an action to approve or disapprove a project.

it means that you believed that the eir has provided you with information about environmental and tax and mitigation measures. -- environmental and tax and mitigation measures. -- impacts and mitigation measures. we suggest that the commission adopt the measure before you. this concludes my presentation on this matter. thank you for your consideration. vice president wu: commissioner comments? commissioner antonini: i think the eir is complete, adequate, and accurate. as was mentioned by the staff report, the new comments are

dressed in neat document and do not require any further -- are addressed in the document and not require any further response. i move to certify. >> second. >> commissioners, the motion on the floor for certification of the environmental review document. on that motion, that motion passes unanimously. commissioners, we will go back into our public hearing and consider item 9a, b, c, d. 9a is adoption of ceqa findings.

nine-d is a request for a conditional use authorization. >> this is a request to adopt ceqa findings, amend the general plan and planning codes, and authorize the conditional use. chinese hospitals as a she -- the 41 chinese hospital parking garage at 835 jackson st.. 110 feet tall, with 500 -- with 54 acute-care beds and a 22 bed skilled nursing facility. the project also includes the renovation of the existing chinese hospital building at 845 jackson st. to serve as an outpatient center. the subject property is located

on the south side of jackson street within the chinatown residential neighborhood commercial district. the project is intended to bring the chinese hospital facilities into compliance with state law and improved the hospital's ability to survive a major earthquake. the bulk of the new building are driven by the programmatic needs of the hospital. to provide state-of-the-art patient care and to comply with contemporary space and privacy standards for hospitals and to provide a new 22-bed skilled nursing facility. the proposed general plan amendments will amend the chinatown area plan policies and height map to reflect the proposed height of the new hospital. these amendments were initiated by the planning commission on june 7. the proposed zoning amendments sponsored by board of supervisors president create a

new chinese hospitals special use district and change the height and bulk designations for the property. it would adjust certain standards in the planning code to accommodate the mass and bulk of the new building. the existing buildings on the hospital campus are nonconforming due to their height and bulk. the new amendment would bring the existing hospital closer into compliance with the planning code. due to the unique volume requirements for a medical facility, almost all hospital buildings require special consideration. the proposed height and bulk of this project are consistent. the department has been working with the project sponsor to refine the design of the building's facade. the facade has been simplified, the windows on the front have been recessed and grouped together, and the building now has a stronger base, middle, and

top. the project would include an open space plaza in front of the new building that would be continued to the west. james allen would be approved with decorative overhead lighting, landscaping, and seating. stalin street on the east side of the projects that would be improved -- stone street on the east side of the project would also be improved. the sponsor and the department have been working closely with the chinatown community development center on alleyway improvements. the proposed alley improvements are consistent with the chinatown alleyway plan. the permit is recommending conditions of reproval would require the project sponsor to continue working with the department. the department has received 12 calls and letters and e-mails in

support of the project. and one letter in opposition. the supporters recognize the importance of continuing the service is the hospital provides to the community in its existing location but the letter in opposition objects to the demolition of the old hospital building. the department recommends approval of the project with conditions. it would create a new 22-bed skilled nursing facility, and advances the objections and policy -- the objectives and the policies of the general plan. i am happy to answer any questions. vice president wu: project sponsor?

>> if you could identify yourself. >> good afternoon, my name is linda schumacher. i am the chief operating officer for chinese hospital. it is my pleasure to be here today with members of our design team to present our replacement hospital project for your consideration. i would like to thank the planning department staff and our community for working so diligently with us on this project. chinese hospital is a community owned nonprofit organization that has provided health care services to the chinese

community for over 100 years. we started as the dispensary in 1899. i have handouts for you as well. we started as the dispensary in 1999 by members of the community because the chinese immigrants in san francisco were denied access to other san francisco hospitals and health-care services at the time. chinese hospital is the last independent hospital in san francisco. chinese hospital is truly a community hospital as approximately 45% of or in patients come from chinatown and the adjacent communities. 97% are of asian ancestry and most are linguistically isolated and require services that we can provide with their bilingual staff. over 90% of our staff and physicians are fluent in cantonese, the predominant

language of our patients, and a significant number also speak mandarin. over 90% of our patients are 60 years of age or older. we're also unique in our pair met spent 90% of our patients are covered by medicare. the chinatown community takes full advantage of the areas inside and outside our building. it is a community gathering space. in 1989, after the earthquake, many ref it -- many residents saw refuge in their lobbies and waiting areas. unfortunately, that despite its critical role in the community, the current hospital has significant deficiencies. for example, are patient rooms are undersized and lack the benefits of modern standards of care and sufficient space to ensure patient privacy. as you can see from this image,

our current 3-bed patient room is similar in size to the proposed new patient room. it will meet the current requirements and standards for single patient rooms. other deficiencies include the undersized operating room depicted in this image and the seismic rating of the building as such that it may not be able to remain open following an earthquake of the type experienced in 1994. our proposed new hospital remedies these issues. it is a state of the art hospital that will be well suited for providing modern health care practices and procedures into the future. it maintains our current 54 acute beds, which are private rooms and fully handicapped accessible. it creates a facility that provides the needed space for

new and evolving procedures and equipment and meets the highest category for seismic safety allowing it to continue to function following a major earthquake. it also includes 22 new skilled nursing beds to provide a safer transition home for elderly and frail patients. our project is designed to accomplish all this in a safe manner that allows us to remain open and provide care continuously to the construction of our project. i would now like to introduce an architect and health care program manager for jacobs engineering group to present the design. >> thank you, linda. [inaudible] good afternoon, commissioners. i am an architect. i'm also the health care program manager for jacobs global buildings north america. i dedicated my professional

career to design, planning, and construction of health care facilities throughout the united states. i have been involved in -- with 200 projects in the past 40 years. the location -- a year ago. the location of project, it should show in green. our image is not showing up in the appropriate color. we are bordered by the major streets of powell to the west and stockton to the east. the main entrance to the hospital is of jackson street. that will remain as the main entrance to our campus. there will be a secondary entrance to the new building at the emergency department. this is a view of the current

hospital and the adjacent administration building looking down jackson street to the east. this is a view from the current hospital and administration building looking up the street towards the west. oh, boy. we have worked closely with the office, planning and development, and are designed to meet the strict functional operational and special requirements of title 22 and tied up 24. we had -- title 24. we anticipate having all the necessary approval in hand by the fall of this year. we have also worked very closely with the city's planning department to evaluate numerous preservation of options and believe our current design revisions are the result of a collaborative effort with the planning department. we plan to continue and look

forward to that continued effort with the planning department. this elevation shows a graphic of the various components of the facade of the building as seen from jackson street. three primary building components, the base, the middle, and the top. they are differentiated by a slight color and pattern variations. the base element is highlighted by a darker shade. as well as a two-story st. terrorist set back away from the street. -- street terrace said back away from the street.

there is also -- and separates the base from the middle section. the top of the building is a system that will provide a certain portion of power as well as to provide a cap at the top of the building. vertical stair tower separates the new building from the existing building while trying to tie those two buildings together. it clearly provides a demarcation between the existing hospital and the new hospital. this slide is a computer- generated view of our proposed building at sunrise, actually,

the new hospital on the left and the existing hospital on the right. you can see the separation of the various components of the buildings. the middle section with the recessed windows. there is also a vertical stair tower that will be lit, and provide a softly radiant glow at night. it is our intent that together with alighting from the street level terrace, it will provide a safe pedestrian environment in the evening hours. i would like to turn this over

to present our street scape. >> thank you. i am the principal in charge of our landscape architect office. we have been in practice in the city since 1990. we focus most of our projects in san francisco. the work on a lot of community- based neighborhood projects. it is a pleasure to be working on this project and bringing this project fourth in chinatown. -- this project fourtrth in chinatown. we will respect the streets and alleys and side box in terms of the cultural and historic aspects of chinatown.