be handed down to later generations. we will be sorry about what we're left with if we don't make it nice now. [applause] >> hi. my name is nikki krump- handsted. i know this is a long journey for you. thank you for coming. i came up from l.a. where it's congested and full of smog. it is very awful to be stuck. trying to run off to work. i work at stonestown. if i am running late for work, i cant' get a half-mile away to get to work. i understand the plan to change the congestion. we would love to have the m-line

go through. my greatest concern is the mess. i have developed asthma. i never had this until i moved to san francisco. my greatest fear is i will have to be put on a respirator or take severe medication to combat my asthma. i can't imagine if everyone else has this. their concerns have been about the environment. i have been walking through my community. i respresnet -- represent block 30. people call me, do you know what is going on? walking through, i noticed a new bird i have never seen before.

i don't know what it is. i think it's called the brown sparrow. it made a nest in my neighbor's porch heading. that bird is considered -- it is -- in one of the military houses, they were going to tear it down. it is a bird that comes back and forth. they can't tear it down because that bird has made nests. the birds are gone because it is winter. one thing i wanted to read -- i love my community and park merced. me and my husband love it. people said it was a retirement community. we wanted to start our own

family. my neighbors and i love our neighborhood, even with college kids moving in. block 30 had a picnic outside of my patio. our turnout was 20 or 30 people , dogs and kids. it was fun. people brought food and we were able to share. the community is going across the hall. i thought it was getting together and seeing kids play. that's what i grew up with. some neighbors are decorating. one of them is jewish. isaid said, would you like to t this up? this is awesome. i have been invited over. it's amazing. i'm a christian so i decorated

for christmas. please consider this. please reconsider this. we love our community. [applause] >> is there addtional public comment? none appearing, public comment is closed. for everyone's information, the materials that would ahvhave been presented by staff and consultants will be during the normal hearings that will follow during the normal meetings. they will be on the agendas. these are posted by friday of the week proceeding the meetings. you can file -- follow them

online. or check with the department itself. it is easier to go online. i thank everyone for coming out. i would like to thank sfgtv, who had to reset all their equipment and bring it out here to accomodate us and the general public. [applause] >> and the secretary announced, it will be on tv. when are those times? >> tomorrow at 8:15 pm and saturday at 12:15 am on cable 26. >> my final thanks, grateful, to san francisco state for accomodating us here. and for the staff of the mckenna auditorium. i have not been in this

auditorium for several years. my best friend was in the drama department at san francisco state. i was at the first performance that was done on this stage. this was in 1952 or somewhere. >> with that, we are closed. >> we won't have comment? >> do some of the commissioners want to comment? certainly. ok. we start down the line. since i don't have anything i can call on -- >> it will be quick. i am sorry a lot of people have already left.

president miguel has thanked people for coming out. i will second that. there is concern for a lack of turnout in previous meetings. those turnouts have been by people who have repeatedly come, so to speak. this was unprecedented by the planning commission. we have done one other meeting in the bayview area. and so this was a special thing. we all felt this was an important issue. i can speak for the rest of the commissioners. i don't think anybody here has made up their mind about this proposal. that is why it is important for

me and the commission to be here. i have also heard, privately, that some people haven't felt they have been able to present their ideas. it is really a matter of organization. and realizing this is a political process. either side, if you are for or against the project, you have to organize better than you have. and present your ideas in a unified fashion. you have to get to your supervisor. i can't speak for your supervisors. but a lot of the things we will vote on will go to the board of supervisors. that is the next forum.

that is what people will do to get the ear of the board. that will take organization. thank you for thank you for coming out. commissioner miguel: thank you for coming out. we have been listening and taking a lot of notes. some commented that we are responsible for the entire city of san francisco. while most important are the impacts on the residents themselves, the impacts are also important on the surrounding area and for all san francisca ns and all of those who may wish to live in parkmerced in the future. i think our decision has to be based on all of those factors. there were a lot of concerns about parkmerced losing its

character in this development. i do not think it has to lose its development. it has to be crafted in a way that we can realize a lot of the things being proposed but still maintain the character. i regret we did not get to hear enough about the tier 5 improvements that are part of the improvement. it is putting a lot of money into improvements badly needed in this area of the city for transit and traffic concerns. we also did not really discuss answers to the development agreement. i think there have been at some opinions rendered in regards to whether or not the project would be able to be exempted. i think there is good reason to believe based on opinions from the city attorney's that is the case. that is a discussion for another night, although was calendared

for tonight. you have to meet -- certain assistance has to come to the developer from the public in return for the continuance of the exemptions for the rent- controlled things. that is satisfied here i think. that is something we will have to discuss at greater length. one other point i want to make briefly is that i have heard talk about concerns about increased density. increased density does not necessarily have to lead to degradation of the quality of life. there are many places that have felt relatively low density and have a very low quality of life. they have a lot of crime. a lot of areas with more density do not have the problems. if the density is done in the right way, you may have a situation that is improved. a couple of final points on this. a question was brought up about

the developer and the entitlements granted to the project. those go with the project and not with the developer. if a developer is not solvent and has to sell the project with its entitlements to another developer, those go with the project and not the developer. those are some things i picked up on the project. the final thing i wanted to add is the fact that i heard a lot of people talk about the housing stock. it is aging. i think if we could craft something where the residents were able to have a similar type of housing as to what they have now in a new, clean, functioning unit, i would think if they were guaranteed that they would be able to stay here, i think that most of them would opt for that. i like the -- >> [unintelligible] commissioner miguel: excuse me, i am speaking.

you had your chance before. that may be a matter of opinion. i think a lot of these units are in need of some upgrading or replacement. ok, thank you. >> thank you all for staying so late. i am looking forward to the staff report and hearing more about that. i will end quickly. i am encouraged by the talking about the executive park area of 101 and the project office 280. i think those are key places coming in to san francisco by car. your first look at san francisco are these two locations. i am encouraged by that. >> commissioner moore? >> i want to thank everybody. you gave us a lot to think about. i want to express appreciation for what he presented. i think one of the most

revealing moments for me was when someone admitted he had not heard anything about the project but all the sudden realized how wide the concerns of the people living here are. >> i wanted to thank everyone for coming out. i am glad that we did end up having the hearing out here. we were able to hear from so many residents were not able to get out to city hall and wait for hours to give testimony on given projects. many of our hearings start at 1:30. with a time certain to hear this around 5:30. someone mentioned, it is really hard to stick to the time certain items on the calendar. what i did find compelling was the testimony from some many people who have lived in these units for a number of years.

i know that there were people who have lived there for a number of years who are in favor of the project. but there were certainly many who have lived there 20 years or more, long-term residents who have resided in these units. i share their concerns about what the future for them will be. we will continue our conversations. there is a development agreement that the city has drafted. we will be hearing more about that. we will be hearing more about some of the transportation and other issues. i am concerned with even the mental health of the folks living there currently. it is a stressful situation not to know what the future looks like. if you have lived in an area 20,

30, or 40 years, and then to have to live with this kind of cloud of not knowing when and if and how -- it can create a lot of stress for folks. i think a lot of the fears are legitimate that we were hearing today. when i hear that there are some people who came in the speaking in favor of the project, but i am not convinced that we're hearing from people who live in dense developments themselves. i think it is easy to say not to be afraid if you do not live in that type of development. you may live in a less dense development and advocate for someone else to live in a dense development. it is easy if you do not. there is still a lot that we will work out. there is still a lot we have to

look at. i am glad we have extended the hearings beyond the original calendar for them. i think there is still a lot more to figure out here. i am glad that so many members of the public had the courage to come out and state their concerns for the working people's neighborhood. these are people that work. they have been here. they put their heart and soul into this community and this city. i do not think we can ignore the fears that they have. i think it is important to look at each individual and see and take into consideration each individual that lives there. i look forward to further conversations on this.

>> i will reiterate what my fellow commissioners said. thank you all for your time and for being here this evening. i want to pick up on the theme that commissioner sugaya brought about in local and organize. it is very important. we have our meetings. they are televised. you can send e-mail set any time. you can also come and participate in the process. i know there will be several more hearings on parkmerced. it will be very important that we hear from you and your supervisor hear from you. if a tree falls and no one hears it, does it make a sound? it is the classic phrase. people always ask. we know that the squeaky wheel gets the grease. i am not saying that is the right way that things are. if people are not vocal or out there, people do not know really what is going on. it is important your supervisor knows how you feel about this. it is important that you come to a place -- it is really

important to figure out what is acceptable. is there anything that is acceptable? i think it is really important to think about. we always look for how we can craft the best opportunity for the city and community. we all know that you live here. you are passionate about it. i cannot imagine a by lived somewhere for 50 years and had faced not being in the same place i had been in my whole life. i cannot imagine how that would feel. i think it is really important that we bring all this together to figure out how we create the parkmerced of the future that allows the working class people, the people who have boys lived here and enjoy the community for what it is, to also be able to embrace some degree of newness as well to create a community

that is best for everyone. that is what it is all about. we have to figure out how we can together kraft the best opportunity that supports your lives and also supports the city overall. none of us have figured out where we are on the project. we're learning about it as it is evolving and unfolding. we are answering and asking the same questions that you are about all the different elements of the plan. that is related to housing, rent control, everything. nothing is on or off the table at this point. everybody is listening to everything as it unfolds and try to figure out how we do the best work we can for you to make this city the best place it can be. i want to say that it is really important to be active and vocal. being constructive is another important element of things. sometimes that gets lost in the debate of things. we all know that at some level and at some degree, there will

always be change and progress. the thing is to be part of that in a way that is positive for all of us. that is the thing i would add. i hope he will check out our planning web site. you can see our calendars. it has the items there. you can also download any sort of agenda items. you can also send something to the secretary. all the information is there. i encourage you to be active participants in making your community better. >> before we adjourn, if i may, there was a side remark earlier when the material was submitted about whether we read it. yes, we do. we really do. any emails that you send to the commission go to our secretary. she instantly forwards them to all of us. they get an hour in box

immediately. all of that material is taken into consideration. we do not just set it aside. it is our obligation as commissioners for san francisco and for u.s. citizens to do that. -- and for you, as citizens, to do that. those who send emails and did not show up at public testimony, we hear from everybody. it is not just the developers whose presentation we hear. it is not only the staff and gives us there learned opinion. -- their learned opinions based on the codes and what they do. it all comes into consideration. i do not want anyone to think that we ignore it because we do not. >> mr. president, could i have one last word? following up on that comment, i may be accused of not listening to testimony.

but i did go through one document handed to us by pauley marshall. she was the person who identified herself as a commissioner from the rent board but was not speaking on behalf of the rent board. she did present a fairly lengthy opinion with respect to the development agreement and her viewpoint coming from the rent board. it is quite compelling. i think we need to have city attorneys take a look at this. i would like to especially have the attorneys who staff the report at a hearing where we can ask some questions raised in this document. [applause] i frankly do not have the city attorney's offices staffed the various departments of boards. i do not think our land use

staff are the same attorneys that staff the rent board. i just found a compelling. i am sorry i did not listen to everybody. we did read the material. i did read the material. >> commissioner moore? >> we do not just listen to people in the neighborhood. you are perfectly able to bring in friends and experts and people whose opinions you trust. the sierra club was speaking tonight. several other people who represent other aspects of community planning, even other neighborhoods came. this is what to of like to encourage you to do. ultimately, it is a larger voice than just the people who live here to rally around issues of common concern. >> director? >> thank you, commissioners.

to cover some logistics, there is a hearing scheduled next week on this item. it was scheduled for your calendar at the end of the day. the initial -- the purpose of next week's hearing had been scheduled for initiation of the project. obviously, you have asked for us to cover the topics today that were not presented today that were the specifics of the housing and transportation. i need to redo the staff needs to know to prepare and we need to get an agenda out tomorrow. i need to know if your preference is to cover those items next week along with initiation or if you want to cover just one of the items. i just need some direction on how you want to proceed on that. >> it is hard for me to speak for the entire commission. some may disagree with me. i would think we should attempt to cover those two items next week.

we may have to put off initiation. we can put it on the calendar, but it may be continued. >> i believe that is a wise direction. i would strongly support you. initiation at this moment with a number of unresolved issues -- i think there will be more questions coming from the commission on particular aspects that i feel have not been touched on. i think that is the perfect lead in into working on the project in more depth. >> as long as it has been scheduled, leave it there with the thought that it may be continued. >> we will be prepared to present the two topics that were on tonight and leave the possibility for initiation on there. >> i am agreeable with that. we have had correspondence in regards to and have had presentations on both of the issues in previous hearings. we need to do it in more depth. they will answer many of the questions raised tonight. we sort of got the comments

before we have the presentation. i think that would be very good. those of you who have concerns should come next week to hear the presentations with regards to these two issues. >> thank you, everybody. [gavel pounds] ♪