we need to keep this area safe. we need to have a lot of these things fixed. why have someone fall down the stairs, trying to use the restroom in glen park? we need restrooms accessible from the outside, and really bring this place up to speed, make the playgrounds safer and the just a wonderful place for all of the people of san francisco. thank you very much. >> anistasia and doland. >> good afternoon. the last thing i heard about this project -- i don't understand why there are not

hazardous trees that are not in the way of this. it seems that parks and recreation is going to -- is hellbent on the trees. you cut down 100 years trees and put in a sapling. it takes 100 years to replace what never was there. i urge you to modify this contract, or otherwise it has to stop. to remove everything that is hazardous and the trees that are in the way of projects. looking at all of these pictures, he moved from 100-500 trees. the transparency is missing. he must be rolling around in his

grave. this should be totally forbidden to cut healthy trees in this city. we need to have more trees, we don't need the have less trees, and the money would be wasted on this criminal action. this is for a recreation center that badly needs improvement. take care of the playground and do something in mclaren park. i don't understand how this can even be considered and why those trees are included in this contract. if they need money to cut the trees, just remove them. this is unacceptable to have this done.

to our city. the next process is going to continue, with 120 trees removed. and they currently use a herbicide. this should be illegal. and the money should go to improvements and other situations. thank you. >> thank you. >> dolan? >> good day, laides adies and gentlemen. i have been a 30-year planter of growing and planting trees, not all kinds by just particular ones. i am rather familiar with trees

and i really approved of the project as it stands, almost. i do have a serious objection to -- this, there are nine, beautiful, and exotic, and a strange sense of the word -- eucalyptus trees. in other parts of the park. these trees are twice the size of this podium in diameter. these are quite sturdy. in the original presentation. there was a tree that fell, but this was not a eucalyptus. this was another disease to monterey cypress.

there are several in the process of being removed. something fell on the tennis court. the battle of one of the trees it did fall into the net, the side of the tennis court. this is not an excuse for removal of nine sturdy historic trees. simply to move the tennis court. i made some measurements the other day. i realized that there is a very ugly entranceway -- the movement of the tennis court overturned that area, to the edge of the trees would be so simple. it would be so much cheaper, and would not require any huge amount of money, then it would to remove how many thousands of

dollars -- how much does it take to put the bulldozer on the streets, to break out the roof structure of nine big trees. this is just impossible. we don't have that kind of money. i would ask for your approval of the project, but take out the removal of the trees and simply move the tennis courts. >> thank you. >> and is there any other public comment? >> i am jillian gilette, iwas there for the previous item. transbay center, district plan. thank you for your patience on that. i am here and in my previous capacity as the legislative aide

and i have the pleasure of working on this project. i attended 10 or so of the dozen public meetings, and we used our newsletter to help drive further attendance to the meeting, and we would mention in all the other meetings, it is important to remember that this is not just an important neighborhood park, this is a regional park. there are no parks in my neighborhood. we're very much looking forward to this project. but i used my transportation expertise to help bring them to the table on this project to make certain that we could begin to address some of the problems of the access issues to glen canyon. this is against some very busy streets, and it is one of my

personal goals that have access to have the parts improve wherever we can to get these agencies working together. i believe access to our parks should be gracious. supervisor weiner ask me to read into the record this -- i want to convey my support for the glen canyon park improvement project which includes the new expanded playground and the new entrants and new landscaping, this is a well-loved part about only for the district residents but the city as a whole. the process through which my office participated. the community is eager to see these improvements happen. i encourage you to move forward with this project.

>> and is there any other public comment on this item. >> i am frank trisca. the ultimate outcome of the project was based on a very intensive community process. i was involved in 10 of the meetings. i think we came up a little short on the closure. the understanding was that there would be two kinds of trees removed, those that were hazardous and those that were required for removal. this amounts to 11 trees, and there is a list of the trees to be removed. this comes out to about 42. the highlight of the process was the trip when we walked around the field, and the staff talked

about where the trees -- or the trails would be. what i would have liked to see, and perhaps it is not too late, is to have another community field trip and we can say, this tree has to be removed for this reason. and just go from tree to tree with everyone that will be cut. not everyone will agree but at least we can understand what is going on. right now there is a lot of confusion. i like this project but we need some more closures to the tree removal. [applause] >> i am and a resident of the glen park area. my wife and i moved there because it was undeveloped that we wanted to walk our dog in that area. unlike the very well-developed

other parks. i have not been a part of these meetings all along and i wonder if i am typical of a lot of people in this area. the glen park association, i wonder if the people who show up at this meetings are more biased to construction. the people i talk to do not want us. they want to keep this area as the last undeveloped park in the city. no one is objecting to the ada bathrooms, but i want you to think about the long-term effects of cutting down at 100- year-old tree. the rumors that i hear are about the fire roads being paved over, and the writ -- the creeks will be diverted. this is more of the entrance area, but i would ask you to

keep in mind that the association's that may be speaking here do not necessarily represent everyone in the community. i intend to go into more of these meetings going forward. >> and is there any other public comment on this item? public comment is closed. what's the matter is in front of the commission. commissioner lowe: i was wondering if the department could come back and talk about the tree removal, and the net addition of trees? >> i would be happy to address this. we have very specific numbers on this, we have presented this and

i will repeat this here. for this particular project there have been 60 hazardous trees identified for removal and there is the additional entries removed for the park improvement, the tennis courts and that there. this is the net removal of 70 trees. the reforestation will result in an increase of new trees, of 94. this would be a compensation for the removal and a net increase on top of this. these are real numbers that are not ambiguous, or unclear to me. >> and this does not compromise the green space for the park? >> there are over 4000 trees. >> glen park canion was my backyard and i did not even know

that there was a heating system >> thank you. seeing no other questions from the commission, let me just comment that i do not think there is a member of this commission that is ever happy about taking out a tree unless this is necessary to enhance the overall project. but we are interested in seeing a public process be followed with the people who use the parks and the associations around that me and contribute to the process to the point where we have a majority of support for improving these projects. i am sympathetic to those who don't want to ever see any tree disappear, i think the evidence is that this has been an extensive process with a very

good results. i would intend to support this and would like to entertain a motion. all of those in favor -- aye. opposed, unanimous. >> we are on item 11. general public comment. the general public may address the commission on items in the jurisdiction that are not on the current agenda. and is there any public comment? public comment is closed. item 12, commissioners matters? and is there any public comment on this item? public comment is closed. item 13, new business? nothing. is the public comment on this item? public comment is closed. we don't have anything listed for communications, item 14. is there any public comment on

this item? public, is closed. we are on item 15, adjournment. all of those in favor?

>> i love teaching. it is such an exhilarating experience when people began to feel their own creativity. >> this really is a place where all people can come and take a class and fill part of the community. this is very enriching as an artist. a lot of folks take these classes and take their digital imagery and turn it into negatives. >> there are not many black and white darkrooms available anymore. that is a really big draw.

>> this is a signature piece. this is the bill largest darkroom in the u.s.. >> there are a lot of people that want to get into that dark room. >> i think it is the heart of this place. you feel it when you come in. >> the people who just started taking pictures, so this is really an intersection for many generations of photographers and this is a great place to learn because if you need people from different areas and also everyone who works here is working in photography.

>> we get to build the community here. this is different. first of all, this is a great location. it is in a less-populated area. >> of lot of people come here just so that they can participate in this program. it is a great opportunity for people who have a little bit of photographic experience. the people have a lot, they can really come together and share a love and a passion. >> we offer everything from traditional black and white darkrooms to learning how to

process your first roll of film. we offer classes and workshops in digital camera, digital printing. we offer classes basically in the shooting, ton the town at night, treasure island. there is a way for the programs exploring everyone who would like to spend the day on this program. >> hello, my name is jennifer. >> my name is simone. we are going on a field trip to take pictures up the hill. >> c'mon, c'mon, c'mon.

>> actually, i have been here a lot. i have never looked closely enough to see everything. now, i get to take pictures. >> we want to try to get them to be more creative with it. we let them to be free with them but at the same time, we give them a little bit of direction. >> you can focus in here. >> that was cool. >> if you see that? >> behind the city, behind the houses, behind those hills. the see any more hills? >> these kids are wonderful. they get to explore, they get to see different things. >> we let them explore a little

bit. they get their best. if their parents ever ask, we can learn -- they can say that they learned about the depth of field or the rule of thirds or that the shadows can give a good contrast. some of the things they come up with are fantastic. that is what we're trying to encourage. these kids can bring up the creativity and also the love for photography. >> a lot of people come into my classes and they don't feel like they really are creative and through the process of working and showing them and giving them some tips and ideas. >> this is kind of the best kept secret. you should come on and take a

class. we have orientations on most saturdays. this is a really wonderful location and is the real jewel to the community. >> ready to develop your photography skills? the harvey milk photo center focuses on adult classes. and saturday workshops expose youth and adults to photography classes. [gavel] director goldstein: good evening, and welcome to the august 22, 2012, meeting of the board of appeals, and with us today is president hwang: , --

president hwang, vice president fung, and joining us should be commissioner hurtado. there is one vacancy. when there is, they may overruled by three members. four votes are not required to overrule a department zone action. robert will provide any needed legal advice this evening. at the controls is the board legal assistants, victor pacheco, and i am cynthia olstein -- goldstien, the director. scott sanchez is representing the planning department. mr. duffy, representing the department of building inspection, and we also have patrick o'riordan, and john. -- john kwong.

if you could, please, mr. pacheco, go over the royals. secretary pacheco please turn off yourself funds -- secretary pacheco: please turn off your cell phones and have conversations in the hall. the comments must be within the seven to three-minute periods, and some not affiliated have up to three minutes each to address the board but no rebuttals. to assist the board in the after preparation of minutes, members who wish to speak on item are asked, but not required, to submit a speaker card or business card to board staff when you come up to the podium. speaker cards and pens are available on the left side of the podium. the board also welcomes your comments and suggestions. there are customer-satisfaction

forms on the left side of the podium, as well. if you have questions about requesting a rehearing or rules, please discuss this with staff after the break or meeting or call tomorrow morning. the board of appeals office is located at 1650 mission st., room 304, between van ness and dubois avenues. it is broadcast on sfgtv, cable channel 78, and dvd's of this are available directly from sfgtv. at this time, we will conduct our swearing-in process. if you wish to testify and have the board in your testimony evidentiary weight, please stand, raise your right hand, and say, "i do" after you have been sworn or affirmed. there is the right of the

sunshine ordinance in the ministry of code. thank you. do you solemnly swear or affirm that the testimony you are about to give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? thank you. director goldstein: thank you, mr. pacheco, and we will start with item number one, public comment for items that are not on our agenda. is there anyone who would like to speak under that item? seeing none, we will move to item number two, commissioner comments and questions. commissioners? seeing none, then either number three is the adoption of minutes. commissioners, for your consideration and possible adoption of the board minutes from the august 15, 2012 meeting. president hwang: if thou art --

if there are no amendments, i would move to adopt. director goldstein: are there any amendments? seeing none, mr. pacheco, could you please call the roll, please? secretary pacheco: the vote is 3-0, those minutes are adopted. president hwang: we are going to take a very short break. thre

director goldstein: ok, we are resuming the august 22, 2012, meeting of the san francisco board of appeals, and we have item number four, a rehearing requests, where the board voted 4-1, with commissioner garcia dissenting, to grant the appeal and revoke the findings for a later time. the board voted with president s -- hwang absent. the permit number is 11wr-0002. we will start with the requester.