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next person queued to speak. we'll take comment from those in city hall and then remote line for those persons call manage to submit testimony call 415-655-0001 access code: 2596 368 6683 ## to raise krour hands to comment you must enter star 3. you will hear the prompt you raised your thoond ask a question. wait to speak until the host callsow. when it is your turn you will hear, you are unmute exclude that is our indication to begin speak. >> for those joining web ex enter the password. to raise your hands to ask a question use the raised hand icon you will see a prompt

letting you know the most unmuted you. call from a quiet loevenlgz mou your phone and computer. for those in person, lineup on the screen side of the room to your right. speak clearly and slowly if you care to state your name for the record. i ask we silence our mobile device. at this time i like to take roll. >> commissioner braun. >> here. >> commissioner diamond. >> here. >> commissioner imperial. >> here >> commissioner koppel. >> here. >> vice president moore. >> here and president tanner. >> here. >> we expect commissioner ruiz to be absent today. thank you, commissioners now your consent calendar. item 1. record number 2019-000499 sorry.

that will take us on to continuance calendar. record number 2019-000499drm. with a continuance to may 25 and 23. members of the public here in city hall you are welcome to come forward the continuance of the item so that is whether or not the item is heard today and the proposed continuance date, those calling remote press star 3 or use the raised hand erickson convia web ex. public comment is closed and the continuance is before you. >> i have a question the item so

curious that it is continued almost a month. you can comment on that. >> yea. and we heard from the experience that time we were a bit surprised they were able to accommodate a month continuance. they reached out to the grander or who they received funding from the agency and received an extension. thank you. curious about the time conrestaurant hay would notment happen on may 25 to be pressure to make a decision because we are for a month if you could comments. >> taylor george. public affairs our lawyer make

sure the neighbors had time for review of the conditions and all questions answerd and so in regards to that, from the perspective of the neighbors we asked for the continuance from this commission and again we are able to make the timing work for special requests. >> thank you very much. >> thank you, other questions and entertain a motion to continue. ys second the on that motion commissioner braun >> aye >> commissioner diamond. >> aye. >> commissioner impram. >> aye. >> commissioner koppel. >> aye. >> commissioner moore.

>> aye. >> commissioner president tanner. >> aye >> thank you, commissioners that motion passes unanimously. >> that will now take us to consent. all matters here under institute consent and routine by plan and may be acted upon by a role call vote. there will be no separate discussion unless a member of the commission, public or staff requests the matter shall be remove friday consent and considered a separate item at this or future hearing. >> item 22023-001585 pc a nonconforming parking lots in the mission nct district. this is a planning code amendment. if there are members wish to remove this from consent you may do so at this point f. you near city hall come forward if you are calling press star 3.

raise your hand via web ex. move to approve >> thank you, commissioners on that motion to approve. that has been seconded commissioner braun. >> aye yoochl commissioner diamond. >> aye >> commissioner imperial. >> aye >> commissioner koppel. >> aye yoochl commissioner moore. >> and president tanner >> thank you, that item passes unanimously. we will take us on to ramaytush ohlone acknowledgement the planning commission acknowledges that we are on the unceded ancestral homeland of the ramaytush ohlone, who are the original inhabitants

of the san francisco peninsula. as the indigenous stewards of this land and in accordance with their traditions, the ramaytush ohlone have never ceded, lost, nor forgotten their responsibilities as the caretakers of this place, as well as for all peoples who reside in their traditional territory. as guests, we recognize that we benefit from living and working on their traditional homeland. we wish to pay our respects by acknowledging the ancestors, elders, and relatives of the ramaytush ohlone community and by affirming their sovereign rights as first peoples this will take us on to consideration of adoption of draft minutes for march 30 of 23. we will open public comment on the draft minutes. members if you are here and make wish to make comment on the minutes come forward. those calling remote press star 3 or use the raised hand function via web ex. seeing no individuals wish to speak. public ment is closed and the

item is before you. commissioner braun. move to approve the minutes. commissioner braun. >> aye. >> commissioner diamond. >> aye yoochlt commissioner imperial. >> aye. >> commissioner koppel. >> aye. >> commissioner moore. >> aye. >> commissioner president tanner. >> aye. >> thank you that passes unanimously. and we will take us on to commission comments and questions. >> thank you want to share i was able to talk with commissioner ruiz and saw a picture of her new daughter violet. they are doing well. if he is watching we are wishing you the best and miss you but hope you are having a good time as a new mom and tonight is the warrior's game we want to send good wishes for a win of the play-offs for them here at home.

i wanted to ask director hillous, wisdom. i am reading with -- increased frequency about projects becoming more questionable the latest i heard was the disagreement between partners at treasure island and in light of everything what we are doing, i'm disturbed about that. that is the closing of one oak as we know it. where does this leave us is there anybody assessing and had predicament it puts us in.

you saw significant numbers in our housing element and they seriously tracked on our ability to meet our goals since we have diligently and you and i know that best wed on the projects for over a decade. >> what do we do. who is listening to us. >> great question. we are working on it with other agencies the board and controller's office. i was going to mention in my report that the technical advisory committee which ch is not the greatest sounds name they got an important role to look at project feasibility and inclusionary rates and other fees to see why projects minot be moving forward. construction costs and fees play a role. do we provide time on entitlements.

they made a recommendation to the board of supervisors. will become legislation and come to you all the. i think we are grabbling with them and other agencies on just this question. you have a chance to weigh in on that. as well as the mayor put forward changes to our processes to make it easier to entitle projects. this does not help projects entitled the tax changes do. they are looking to make changes to existing projects. legislation allowed project experience this is significant product requirements to tap into tax increment financing to able to meet the obligations. which could help the larger da projects. so it is a huge issue and on our radar with agents in the city to get those projects moving.

one oak, their entitles stay. just because the projects sponsor or -- is not the one who is necessarily executing that project they exist the bank who took over will look for of another entity to carry ford on those. the tax recommending we will see them through the ordinance and make changes to help those projects. >> large number project and they are really sticking out and these are soft cites. promise made and noted delivered. commissioner imperial that was something i want to bring up about one oak that you know of

course for prioritizing the affordable housing and whether this fight or other fights that may not be visible by private market perhaps that can be identified for land banking or affordable housing again. it calls for funding as well. so that's something to think about for us. or for the city. as this -- projects are become infeasible. that would be my comment on that. so. thank you. joy think the group the mayor put together looking how to meet affordable how doing goal and this can be part of our housing elements a strategy to think about how to acquire the cites. >> commissioner diamond.

follow on to commissioner moore's question. >> so we are reliant on the private market to produce housing and commission we approved tens of thousands of units does not do good they sit on paper. we are told the projects are infeasible. i wonder if it might be helpful. you want to make sure we are not having a discussion about something not on the agenda today. >> i want to advise you all of that. >> thank you. why i wonder if it is possible to put together an information session with a number of private housing providers in town. not about their projects. the factors that go in the proformace.

the providers of housing regard feasibility. most of these developers are not the finance ooers of their projects they rely on pension funds and private equity. helpful to all of us to understand the factors that go in to their decisionmaking instead of living with the result, which we dom i feel we could make more informed decisions if we were sensitive to how they look at the issues. >> it is a suggestion i wonder if director. >> in the tax to had information. they were looking at generic projects. your point about hearing from developers who are actually in the midivity of getting projects finance exclude looking where rent and construction costs and fees. >> what is the tax report going to come when that legislation is. >> we can never hearing on the recommendations if you wanted to

advance of the ordinance. >> recommendation and the tax final meeting recommendations. i think that would be a good town to have this discussion. bringing that forward and have this discussion there >> last time if we -- is arnold director hill us attended the reparation's task force you may report on that the out come of is that i would like to see this host and talked about having discussion here of their draft recommendationing i believe they are finalizing by june. whether it is before or after or arnold when they finalize to have i discussion here and integrating that to our efforts for social equity and he looking at that we know we left a trail of bread crumbs in the housing element toward the recommendations. it is good to bring it back when they made their final.

ee request to adjourn today in memory of marvis phillips an active community member within district 6. if there are no comments and questions move to department matters. i have a meeting last night a public meeting to get input from custody commerce users of our permitting proisz. hosted with dbi and mr. christianson talked about potential reforms to the permit process. we got good feedback you will

hear this in the joints meeting with dbi >> if i can adjourn today in honor of elnor johns who passed reasonable tooshg mayor brown's chief of staff for a decade in sacramento and here at city hall and with the wife of richard johns a commissioner on historic preservation commission. and chair at the airport. >> thank you. >> and may be lastly if you have comments director on the mayor's legislation introduced also early this week or if they may be addressing that in comments. >> it feeds off the housing element. many of the recommendations we had are the requirements in the housing element we are put in legislation that the mayor has to improve the process. and reduce hearings and cu's and other things we get into when the legislation is before us. we will hear a bit about it next week we got a broader over view

on limitations we will touch on it and talk more about it and get recommendations in a month or so. >> thank you. why we can move on to review of past everyones at the board of supervisors, appeal and historic preservation. >> good afternoon, aaron starr, it has been a minute. hope you enjoyed your break and happy 4-20. it hen an auspicious week with 415 day incorporated in 1850. tuesday was the anniversary of the earthquake and fire approximate bicycle day. the first trip by scientists albert of machine in 1943. rhode his bike home after ingesting i quarter milligram of l sd. yesterday was my husband's 70th

birthday. shout out to my wonderful husband. happy birthday. why land ooze -- this week home sf ordinances were continued for a week. the communities considered the article 8 reorganization oranges. also known as neighborhood/commercial ordinance. sponsored by supervisor dorse. the meeting has been continued. heard terror on november 17th of left year and voted recommend approval with modifications. they include exempting childcare facilities. residential care from sarlimits and south park and redmx districts. row move the language everyoneses light and planning lighting guidelines from definition of walk up facility. permit night combament fronting folsom between 7 and division

and properties fronting 11th between howard and division street and encouraging the entertainment commission how best to mitigate impacts in mx districts from quality of life impacts from entertainment use. supervisor dorsey did add the amendments in a previous committee hearing. peskin made minor amendments and existing controls for adult businesses at a past hearing. this week with a short presentation from dorsey's aid the committee voted move the item forward with a positive recommendation. next on the docket was supervisor safai's ordinance exempt certain existing gates, railings and grill work from transparency requirements. amnesty program for nonconforming gate and transparency requirements or gates. you heard this on december 8 of last year and voted to approve

with modifications. the commission propose the modifications to require art work on security gates, allow 3 years for businesses with noncomplying gates to, ply for a permit to legalize the gate. businesses that failed to legalize subject to the existing gate requirements. amnesty program does not exempt historic bodiesings from review procedures and design standards. at land use, change the transparency requirements for all security gates from 75% open to 20% open. require all new gates a viewing winnow 10 inch in height for fire same cannabis businesses with the gate less than 20% open to have a mural on the gate. businesses with existing nonconforming gates to file a

permit in 3 dwroers legalize the gate. those this don't meet the deadline subject to fines they would legalize the gate after. and remove the provision requiring gate mechanisms to be flush or recessed but require the mechanism and gates to comply with design standards. after brief discussion. am at the committee they voted unanimous low to adopt the amendments before continuing it for 2 weeks. this was passed out of mittee with little to no discussion this week. also the land use considered amendmented to the castro tlaert's lan mark temperature is a landmark this revised the designate mission to include portions of interior they heard this on february first and voted approve the amendments proposed by staff. there were members of the public who many of whom urged the

committee to landmark the seats. mandelman urged to continue 2 weeks and the meantime instruct the city to draft amendment language to include fixed seating part of the landmark designation. the hope this in the 2 weeks the sponsor ap e would work with the mount to address occurrence regarding preserving the space as a movie approximatelyace. if that happened the amendment would not be necessary. after the hearing public comment the committee agreed to continue and urged ape work with the community. this week the community took up the issue again during public comment. both sides were represented. and after public comment the committee voted include the fixed rate seating as a feature and forwarded it to the board on 2-1 vote with melgar voting against the motion. >> the full board this week the article 8 and supervisor

safai's security gate ordinance passed first read. this week the board considered the c us appeal for cannabis we tail at 800 taraval street. new use have a mezzanine space above the italian restaurant. this commission heard this on february second and voted approve it. the appellate had 3 reasons for appeal. one, misrepresentation and lack of notice on site consumption. two, misrep 7ation of the restaurant as a vacant store front and incompatible with the neighborhood. public xhernt in favor was length and he issues were like what you heard. mow commenters in spchlt project at the board hearing. >> after staff's presentation. approvals why on site consumption was called out as an

use and vacant when it was a restaurant. staff said the access row use is allowed by planning code and calling it out was not necessary. we would reevaluate how we draft them in the future. >> regarding the pace it was vacant when application was submitted. but staff visited and the mezzanine question was not used boy the restaurant. >> melgar expressed simple 3 in faithful. make sure. >> the support for the appeal and concerns the cannabis retail was not promote at the location begin to children. the neighborhood was clearly against the retail location. supervisor melgar made a motion to over turn the action and amend the prove to include

additional conscience one, min tang the commission's conscience of approval except for hours of prescription from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. inside of 10 p.m. no on site consumptions, smoking or vaping. and good neighbor policies related to community engagement parking and loitering. when put up for i vote the motion to over turn commission's approval passed 9-2. supervisor steph no and engardio voting against. that's all i have for you todaych 648 jackson street and cam passionate tree on du bows

and recommend landmark to the board of supervisors for the church the fellowship of all people that 2041 larkin and lastly adopted a recommendation for a legislative item commercial to residential doopt adaptive reuse in downtown revitalization that will be you guys will hear in a couple weeks. >> and i don't have a report from the board of appeals. >> no discussion on department matters move to general public comment. at this time members may address the commission on items of interest to the public within the subject jurisdiction of the commission except agenda items. with agenda items your opportunity to address the commission will be aforded when the item is reached in the meeting. each member may address the commission for up to 3 minutes when the number of speebers

exceed 15 minute it may be moved to the end of the agenda members of public, if you wish to provide your name for the record, additional low, we will starred -- members of the public here come up and furthermore a line on the screen sifted room to your right if you are call nothing remotely press star 3 or use the raised hand function via web ex. >> hi. says 5 minutes. i will reset. tough to get 3. there we go. great. georgia shootish. good afternoon i have an article for you i will hundred out. from the "wall street journal" last saturday about the housing

supply in the u.s. approximate raises the question how many homes the u.s. needs. and i >> that raises questions for us in san francisco with the numbers some people question. you sought article, great. if you did not here it is again. >> the other issue is affordability. and the housing crisis in san francisco is a crisis of affordable housing. for people in families at the low are ami. the other issue that is raised in this article is not only building new housing but preserving existing this . is manage i talked about for a long time. unfortunately, section 317 tandem to demolition values were to preserve housing were never adjusted despite commission's empowerment to legislative authority to address them per section 317. i don't think the 2014 housing element was fully implement exclude existing housing is

cheaper approximate this is common sense. so, preserving housing in the future. please cod fight residential flat policy preserving the configuration. preserve them. additionally, san francisco entitlements are for sale. not only the big projects but little once, too. housing in neighborhoods is unoccupied. tenants bought out. more houz housing is commodified. i put examples on the article for you to see. one of them includes the project you aprufed on grand view. it is a cua and they have not gotten the permits and its for sale. with an adu. the other one that struck me hard was 7 units approved on south van ness. they did not file permits got the cua6-7 months ago november of 22 and tenant buy outs.

here is the article. here is the list on the back. thank you very much, have a good day. sfgovtv can we go to the laptop?

>> good afternoon i'm jerry. the next planning hearing on san bruno avenue needs to address the problems allowed fester for the last 4 years. in may of 2019 the planning department and dbi issued 4 building permits for a total of a million dollars for temporary scaffolding to address the san bruno avenue egress problems there were no reported inspeksz by dbi in the last 4 years i have copies attached. planning mission is unable to determine the viability of demolishing a portion of the 5 buildingos san bruni. the planning commission does not know if they are sound and if the formy gas station site is

contaminated. dbi matthew green sent an important letter dated april lefrn of 22. the letter mentioned dbi issued 16 notices of violation. against the san bruno avenue properties. or the contractor hos did the work on the dbi no fly list. mentions 1088. 7. one of the building code out lines inspections to determine if the unpermitted work at san bruno is safe. dbi focus include review of the san bruno plumbing and electrical work. >> green mentioned dbi has established san bruno avenue special project team of staffed by 2 building inspectors. mr. green present the safrn bruno avenue dbi project findings and the findings of the

city's multiagency task force prior to the commission april 27, scheduled hearing on the san bruno cua. this slide is a list of topics that should be included in mr. green's presentation. includes the soils report that the weekly inspection report and most importantly point 4 the results of testing and inspections under the intrigz of dbi. in sum row, the public -- building tenants and the planning commission deserve disclosure of the continue of the 5 buildings on san bruno prior to the commission's approval of the proposed cua. thank you. any -- additional members of the public.

come forward. >> i'm james i don't have any slides or stats and i'm not sure what my fellow citizen are talking about in the previous presentation i encourage this commission to do everything they can to increase the amount of housing in the city to have more natures and build a vibrant city that away more to people to live in the city. >> i'm don asan francisco resident. i'm here to speak in favor 469 stevenson. >> i'm going to. you we will call for 69 stevenon later. when the items called you can in back up. i was unable to follow the agenda, thank you. >> no problem. >> thank you. any members of the public wish to speak under general public

comment? if you are call nothing remote press star 3. raise your hand via web ex. seeing no additional speakers general public comment is now close exclude that will take us to your calendar item 8ab and c for record number 2019-023037gpa, pc a and m ap. amendments to the general plan, planning code and zoning maps. >> good afternoon president tan exert commissioners i'm ed schneider of department staff and i have diane from the port. before you this afternoon is the approval of general plan, planning code and map amendments associated with the port's waterfront plan update you

neighborhood these at march ninth hearing the port provideded are w a background of plan and we provided a description of the amendments that are now before you. for this presentationil briefly touch upon the waterfront plan to gift discussion condition text. approximate dive deep in details of the amendments. >> >> the waterfront plan service the port of san francisco major policy documents regarding the development along the 7 and a half mile waterfront. plan land use plan was created per the requirement of prop h and complete in the 97. less than 20 years after the approval and after pret significant amount development the port commission asked staff to update the plan and the update the other policies. after an extensive engagement process the port set forth 100

recommendations to update the plan and expand content for transportation. resilience, public participation and other topics. on march 13, you certified the eir that covered the amendments that are now before you the port commission adopted the updated plan at april 11th meeting. >> so as a part of this process to update the waterfront plan the port and planning staff worked together to do perform a thorough analysis of aspects of our general plan to see what the policy and elements needed be updated so that the waterfront plan and the general plan were alined. for the area plans we did determine needed updates looks beyond top see what other policy developments and physical developments in planning occurred to make sure the leaderships were alined since

they were last updated. staff looks to update language around inclusion and sustainability and resilience. several elements are part is committed to working with us to make sure their document and ours are alined together. the 2 plans that did not need updating includes northeastern waterfront and central plan and one element that needed updating was rec and open space elements. and then also the presentation will describe planning code and zoning map ma'ams and touch on the area plans the nerth eastern plan adopt in the 1967. the oldest of our area plans. the intent to protect merry time

and protect against encroachment and large are development from neighborhoods downtown. it was updated in 1998 with the adoption of the original 1997 plan. and because so much change immediate this 20 years staff is recommending amendments to this plan. and while extensive we would not describe significant policy wise. most of the amendments described the development changes that occurred in 20 years. along the water front are northeastern water front from --iester son street to the ballpark. language continues to emphasize merry time activity and language consistent with the plan update the that is expectancyive and what that means and more emphasis on water transportation and access and perhaps less on cargo. with the transportation chapter in the updated waterfront plan language around transportation has been updated for multimodal

transportation and transportation needs. refers to the waterfront resilience program the plan refers to the users largely as adjacent residents tourists and describes the history of the your as beginning with western settlement language. added be inclusive regarding use and provide a context of history the system of the aloney thousands of years ago. the northeastern plan includes objectives and policies for rincon and south beach areas, they are not in the bound easier of the northeastern waterfront plan and are instead the bound easier of east soma and we

decide rmdzing the objectives and policies regarding them. change the slide. central water front plan approved part of eastern neighborhoods program in 2008. northeastern plan updates the plan updates largely describes public and private development occurred since adoption. the adoption of pier 70 and per contrary power station project and port and planning work. the creek for publication of the creek southeast mobility adoption strategy. revisions reflect removal of the science sud exist instead northern portions of the plan area. language updated to reflect mta plan and similar not northeastern plan. language added throughout. >> for the rec and open space

amendments are largely reflective of changes in development references to policy documents. the updates include reference to the waterfront plan. no longer the land use plan and updates planning of new park and open spaces included in those proposed development agreementses in southern waterfront. and the other -- recreation and open space projects including expansion of the indz uponia basin shore line park. policy documents have been updated including the city's climate action plan. and commissioners, in the packets we sent to you. we included some maps proposed to change we just included the plans as is with an indication they would be change . i forwarded to you this morning what those maps would look like after revised on the screen now. one of the maps the -- existing

and proposed open space maps you can't see a difference they are there the mall park and da areas the next slide we added purple circles to show you where they are. and similarly, similarly, with maps 11 and 12, regarding the san francisco bay trial and regional trail. we wanted to make revisions just to indicate progress that is made on that again, the southern waterfront around pier 70 and potrero power station and development agreement projects. moving on to the planning code amendments. planning staff are proposing ma'ams to section 240 the waterfront special use district. this establishes the design/review process for property under ownership of the port. and establishes 3 subembarrassed

suv subareas which 2 are subject to design controls. the amendments include cleanups asugar the plan reference the waterfront plan not land use. administrative cleanups regarding appointment and management of the design advisory committee and creates a new special use district number 4 to cover port properties along the southern water fronts. as a minor policy change removal of cu requirement not screened from public view. they were confusing and unnecessarily a burden to mall businesses. >> >> and finally, the map amendments including creating the special use district and putting the respective parcel in what special use district. and includes one minor clean up

lot 31 and 3941 contain port property. this contains private including kelly's mission rock sf boat works. in time in the past the lot was rezone friday n1a lighthouse each to credit a nonconforming wagz. principle to establish the m1 zoning so use condition as conforming. >> and this is a quick remindser the ordinance before you had tiny changes from what you saw huinitiated them. and provided a list for the general plan amendments they add additional language to emphasize water, rescue rigz. this is in alignment with had the port went through and the final portions of waterfront plan. we wanted this to be in alignment and for the c

requirement in planning code text amendment. we initiation we identified one of the subspecial use districts this change would be meant to do that has been corrected. this concludes my presentation. approval of the general plan amendment and planning code amendments and approval of zoning map amendments. this concludes my presentation, i'm happy to answer questions and diane of the port is also here. thank you. >> thank you. we will open this item up for public comment. members of public here wish to make opinion comment come forward if you are call nothing remote. press star 3. or use raised hahn function via web ex. seeing no individuals wish to speak public ment is closed and commissioners items are before

you. >> i think staff both planning department and the port for being here and the many hours of work that have gone in bring thanksgiving before us. turn over to other commissioners comments, questions or motions on the amendments. commissioner imperial. i also would like to again i read the whole legislation itself. there are so many again the policies rejected and all of this are very inclusive. and the goals that -- in general i support the policy objectives and the amendments that are put in this plan amendment. am i'm also looking in the maps find the maps helpful as well. so thank you for adding this and i'm looking forward to the open space, actually. that are added on this. and i'm very excited the trails

that are part of it. i'm looking forward to one day hike. all of those trails. i think it is a great addition to the liveability of the city and applaud staff for doing this. why thank you. >> thank you. commissioner moore. i would like taupe second my. what is in front of us. san francisco is dormant in downtown the water front will pull us out of this demise. i'm in full support. thank you. why excellent is that a motion. gi will make it a motion. >> thank you. commissioner braun? >> i was going to make a motion i will lends support to this as well. >> thank you. >> thank you, commissioners on this motion to approve items 8a, b and c. commissioner braun.

>> aye. >> commissioner diamond. >> aye. >> commissioner imperial. >> aye. >> commissioner koppel. >> aye. >> commissioner moore. >> aye. >> and president tanner >> aye. >> thank you that passes unanimously 6-zero and now item 9 union square alliance strategic plan an informational presentation. >> good afternoon. lilly, planning staff. the item before sua presentation by the union square alliance of their strategic plan. recall we were here in february presenting the union downtown and happy to have the alliance here to present the plan. and we'll be buffer in 2 weeks to present the mayor's legislation has the amendments that you will hear about today. with that, i will turn it over to ken. >> and to ma marissa rodriguez.

>> is this one working? sfgovtv if we have have the laptop, please? >> good afternoon. thank you for having us here and to president tanner. we have a presentation of what we have been working on in union square. really to help us get out from the pandemic as was discussed earlier. and what we plan for bring revitalization back to the square. miosis to seat commissioner in this different capacity.

so, i'm marissa rodriguez from the union square alliance. decided to make this transition in light of fact our downtown needed support and excited be in this role. hello to director hillous as well. thank you for your support. with the work we have been doing. the union square alliance is business improve am district support the area from bush to market, kearney to taylor, providing core service as clean and safe advocacy marketing and events, street scapes and public realm we talk about those when that they mean. we had an opportunity to look at things as a reset the downtown as you know was impacted tremendous low and00 oop union square was no different. we are a destination location. we are 12,000 holing rooms and

visitors come to the square 47% of all to san francisco come to union square. when we are shut down. awful our buildings really suffer am and that's when we saw. we are hovering 30% vac analysisy which is unpreps dented and the last time we saw something like that was probably the great depression. it has been difficult for everyone. so. the downtown as a whole, 75% of the 73's gdp is housed here. 40% of our city's jobs in the downtown and the highest concentration of employment for people color this is important to me and of course, to the fact that we have service job in union square. retail and entry scomplefl first comer jobs the organization is the second chance organization. people in to work essential workers to the downtown and safety is irrelevant paramount.

what that looks like is important. they are taking transportation and coming to work in the downtown. 15% of the city's total sales tax revenue from union area. 37% of sales tax from general retail come from union square. and i mentioned before we have a huge number of hotel rooms the hotel industry is large there. we are the crowned jewel the city. we want our best foot forward and the gateway the cable car turns around and union area up the beautiful hills. why the strategy plan, why now? really important timing. gave us an opportunity to dot work and research and talk to stake holders and talk to our city officials to speak to everyone that would lynch, what did our downtown need to pull itself out of this. we were coming out of the pandemic on top thank you very

much the unprecedented looting and we were front approximate center on this despite the fact it happened across the country san francisco took the brunt and still suffering. people are afraid to come downtown they say employees are afrid to go downtown. we knew we needed to independent and the support our city official and make this everyone lone nothing to address the issues and so this is why we put together in strategic plan. >> good afternoon. commissioners i'm ken rich the chief operating officer of the union square alliance. nice to be back in front of this body after 3 plus years away. hopeful low not another three years. to continue on with our presentation the most important parts of our planning process we went through this strategic plan is allows us to take a look at

the status of union square as a premiere retail destination. consulting team we worked with created a thoughtful conditions and opportunity which is the under pinning of the strategic plan we will walk through quickly with you. ir wanted to walk through with you the highlights of -- sorry i within back one. how do i go back? >> okay. so -- the quickly go through the findings here. which i think, double side copies that's what is fouling me up. here is what we found we look to this. first, you heard a significant sigma regarding safety and clean liness in union area that defews everything we do. we need to rise above and need to make sure we understand that is something that needs to keep

improving the other thing that we came up with number 2 was there is a significant clinical mass of retail in union square, it is competing with renaling nap mall and while a lot get the backup when they hear it nothing like a mall it is not. shoppers are going instead of union square. we have to recognize that and continue promoting uniqueness of the square tell never being like the competition we have to make sure people understand and uphold that. inter~ national visitors were an under pinning they are novelty coming back. they will be back. so we need to kind of continue supporting the retail, which is what is called mass market or middle of the road retail. macy's and attracting more locals. they taken a larger hit during covid compared to the electric

retailers. an important food and beverage. in the 21st century. retail districts people expect eat and drink when they shop was and union square there are opportunity for that, compared to competition and it is looking we need to solve that mechanic problem of how they afford the rent in union square. going throughout rest. this is relevant to the zoning package in front of you in 2 weeks. i wanted to stop and say we have been working close low with your staff on that package and we are happy and grateful for the per inship from director hill us and liand he rest. so in the 80s the zoning put in place the c3r zone in a world where we wanted make sure downtown high rises would not jump kearney street and retail was 2 and 3 story energy shipps zoning looked and called for

this and did not allow a lot else. nacreated an over supply of space. approximately now you will key in will 've 've see in 2 weeks will address. we need more cull roll offerings good 1 in the theatre district and could use more and important low we don't have residential in union and think that in the 21st century this needs to be a full neighborhood and in the a retail center nameans more residential. and means more office as well on the upper floor we think we do that. upper flowers are learningly about 50% vacant and we would like to fill them up i will talk about that more later. >> and just to add to give a visual. union square was built out 8 mile if yous stretch typeset out of retail space and 2 miles is

vacant. we want to think outside the box. how can we attract new uses. how can we be dynamic as far as the location. next up we want to touch on the really 5 yours we look at with the plan. the first is clone and safe. we talked about that. we have, lot of people lead nothing to union square the heart of the city i like to say. many arteries. bay area wide and lowly get people there we want to be sure arrival points are clean and safe. but they are not bombarded by crime. we also. to make sure we can do our part to provide clean and safe service. we clean the streets. we power wash and provide hospitality. as well with our ambas doors. the way we will get vitality

back is to fill up the building we have heff vacancy rateos grounds floor and upper floors and we want to direct our activities bringing up and staffing the alliancemented to spends more time on the issue than has in the past. mil filling the buildings up and making sure we have retail on ground floor. not much else that is retail or food on the grounds and upper floors based on the changes to the code coming. anything to get that activity in the buildings. we are working on all fronts. sponsored as a partner with zoning we are working with brokers and figuring out how to make deals working in the environment. and everything we can it get the vacancies filled. >> we are excited for the port we are seeing.

the support small business through pop ups or in general around food and beverage they start or see in union square we have availability in that space. 5 years ago market and social media we would not talk but today important. activating public space. people want to be outside and want experiences we want to provide that. and that is what marketing is. we want the center of union square the park a great opportunity. to be world class music venue we are working on ways to make that the case and look music from all over to come and feel like that is a space art will be appreciated and public realm. >> union square as a unique public realm and activity of the business improve am district to improve and steward and manage that. we want to focus on 3 very important spaces. first the square itself. critical space. powell street promenade from

market to union square it is a shabby condition. we want to fix this and make powell street unique, cable car centered promenade people are drawn there and an alley network prominent main lane used to be a striking space and not as full of people it used to be and like to bring that back. and lastly we had in our plans internal staffing organizational things that we were covered. so, yea. so -- no a great opportunity we don't want to logs our crowned jewel. such a beautiful pace and want to cell brit it and not take it for granted. we are so appreciative our plan was recognized by the mir and our city officials who would be necessary for making this come true. againmenting to thank those at planning department. our director.

rich hillous and lilly, thank you for your support and for the team at the planning commission and we are appreciative the coverage of the plan. you can read more in the chronicle and the standard. and the business times as well. there is excitement and energy we understands the importance our downtown play in our greater viability of the city in general. want to continue to prop up the innovation we have as a city and our downtown fuels a lot. thank you for the opportunity to talk it looks like we have one more slide. trying to keep this entertaining going back and fourth. hopefully it is working >> just to wrap up, thank you for your time on this. we have not been sitting around since our board adopted the plan last year. we have done a number of things, working on others and increased police presence. we managed close the union

square garage over night. we started w on the zoning changes you know. with the leadership of the mir and supervisor peskin. formed a broker committee and sitting with retail brokeers and the city and building owner and our staff to figure out how to fill update vacancies. we got a number of grants many for the alliance way more then and there we got before am from the city to implement public realm improvements. the most significant is a mrarj grand evergrrnt for 10 sick concert in the park 2 years. some of you responsiblesed the winner wonderland over the holidays that was our doing and keep it up. but will close out now and thank you for your time and happy to answer any questions. we will take public comment o

this item. >> members of the public if you wish to peek on this item and here today in the chambers come forward. public comment is closed and the enemy is before you. why thank you. >> i want to thank the staff for being here for this item. encouraging news. i have a few questions. one of them points around compete with regional mall it is interesting and having worked for the city where the shopping centers are doing well. and did well during the pandemic.

i'm curious the mall as a competitor single lands lord. you know. lots of tenants and, lot of control over that is happening on the site. had you think about union square how do we compete or the strategies that is the plan, in that specific irrelevant mg of competing with class a mall that is the competition.

more than mall is a uniqueness you can only finds in the core of the city a vibrant city we have the theatre district and the holts. we are right next to china town and the tenderloin. of right in center a cable car going up and down the street you can't find this in the same strip mall you finds every else in the subbushes. highlight this and certainly keep it. we are on the brink here and it

is important that we make change. want to add. >> i would add. marissa covered the reasons anyone would want to in to union square and not to a competing places. when we face we and i are trying to work on all the competitors and all of the malls can curate and say i need 3 restaurants and 4 of this and 6 of this. any so we have to solve that, that's i do know it is answer, no. we are working hard trying to work as a city to figure out how to equalize that a bit >> that goes to my other questions we touchod. i'm not a lucks shopper i have no shame in saying that i don't go to union square because i

don't buy those goods the pauls that have the price points of when they sell and more food. with your broker committee and working with the land i'm curious what conversations are having and add of not only restaurants can't pay that much they are expensive it open if you are not out fit exclude have a lease and do your build out of your space as a restaurant. who would want to do this? that is a lot of capitol. i wonder what the conversations are like. when you are learning where the bright spots and challenges you hear of the brokers. >> doesn't matter if you are a fashion house in europe or a mall business. at this point the landlords do. we see mall business pop ups which is exciting that lendses to the landscape.

i think these are yours we want to explore i know we are in a tough pot as a city it gets difficult on say, make this free and who is paying for temperature those other things we are up against. not giving up because it is our -- base our economic base is this square. we want to make sure it stays interesting and something exciting for those visiting to walk washing way and say i did in the see the same whereaftera i can see all over the world.

i saw bride tex and s footwork only and they are hanging on by a thread t. is difficult on get the mix you have and can reach san franciscans i know we had a lot of wealthy people and people like me those stores are nice to walk by. that's it and not a place i need to shop i will go there and shop. trying to figure that out and the mix and the small local shops. how they have outlets pop ups or something this is more in ways like a popular tenability you have a large space. and ways we can building on the pop up have folk this is don't have the cash or capitol to have a stands alone store. think about the food hall we have. in the tenderloin. that opened and doing well it is preponder lawyer. how we find the right landlord. we need one or a few.

i'm excited about the concerts happy to hear that. a great the real estate there with the square is so set up for garthing. i had conversations around night life think burglar the san franciscans and the tourists industry eating and drinking and carrying over to the evening with more restaurants issue bar and that falls in the restaurant category. kewe make it w for a restaurant we can for the bar. have you heard feedback or desire for this in the square your? if this is not as high up on the radar for folks yoochlt the square has been home to night life. you think of the star light lounge. temperature is perfect and prime when you travel you want to go out piano bars we have that.

what i'm hearing from business owners is foot traffic the perception and how we get people to move away from the feeling when they come to san francisco and narrow it down to downtown they feel safe >> thank you. i see other commissioners with questions i will call on commissioner koppel yoochl thank you. great work. i think will have a bigger role of populating union square. a couple months ago they were at the st. francis jp morgan had a conference well and so many people all overnight streets the embarrass were packed and restaurants and lines out the door and lots of people walking with badges it seems like that was when we were used to. is there conversations with whether it is mosconi or the convention bureau itself.

continue the conventions happening here. >> a couple things the jp morgan conference was based not at mos sceney in st. francis. those days our offices there transformed union square. and had even more than a large are conference that was down in mos sceney it transformed union square we worked with sf travel to get on the big conferences and initiated conversations with them it around can we get more of the small conferences based in the union square hotel. we are focused on that. there will be a clove point.

union square is proceeding new once smaller once grow in this is the conversation with sf travel now to prepare for the future. we hope next year will be tough. we lost a few and hope we attract them back as we see the revital wragz and organizations like ours and the city at large are leaning in support tourism. i think we are at a point we need to double down on tourists they are the only ones showing up downtown. i deponents want to repeat

everything. i wanted bring up 2 points. what attracts me to union square is not to shop or the stores or the other stores it is the square itself. the combination of what how can i say. music and magic and mystery. you never know when will help in union square like the tulip give away. unexpected. it was incredible and wonderful in the square and people were wandering all around downtown holing tulips. happiness. all over the place. but the -- skating arena. the winner celebrations. concerts were amazing. i wonder if you use the night shows you see downtown in the winter and other big cities and barcelona and other in particular that attract great crowds in the evenings to see

the lights on the buildings is that manage in the bucket of tools you were thinking about. why we are thinking of ways, where do walk or transforming the plaza. we did that last year. and certainly a list happy one we are looking for grant money and support i'm glad you mentioned tulip day that reminds me of the what it takes to novemberigate the process. we could lose manage like tulip day because of that. and such a terrible loss to our city. we had other cities that went viral and not. we expected 10,000 to 15,000 to sdendz upon the square 35,000 people did. it went viral and other cities are chomping at the bit. we will give you everything to come to the city there is an opportunity where in now to say what are we doing and give everything to are our experiences back to have our

light shows and support them. i know light mapping is what you are talking about. it is wonderful and beautiful. and know downtown does it. at the holidays and i think it cost upwards of almost a million dollars. so it is a big list. we would love to and look for money to do that. now we are looking for money to do something for the hell days for the winter walk this year. and i like to invite nerve the room and all of you mother's day is our huge kickoff to union square in blom. a new initiative where we are celebrating our floral tradition. you recall in 1964 the flour show started in maceys the first in maceys and union square then chicago and new york. they discondition tuesday both here and chicago. we want to keep that tradition. if you come downtown you will see flowers on the hotel awning.

mother's dpa sundayville i concert in the park. and salsa dancing and concert. a 10 piece band of food truck and passport to see the blooms. society other thing i wanted explore with you is -- having it be a 24/7 area with residents we

had an interesting project at the commission the conversion of the large -- retail stores -- former magnets. to a residential project. does not electric like it has started. and i know challenged boy a large floor plate. i think we really need to hear from you what we can do as a commission to make -- that more viable. >> yes. >> so, yes, thank you. there is an incredible building stock in union square. i'm new to work thering every day and walk and look up and i can't believe the beauty of the buildings. and you know the other thing is due to a number of factors the restrictive zoning they are vacant and 40 and 50% vacant. everyone's top choice is

residential they are difficult physically. the package of controls coming or change in 2 weeks will help a lot. when you have a short, fat bodiesing you have to bring sometimes light down in the middle which is expensive and things like that i think staff proposed reluxurying the requirements when we talked to our colleagues in the l.a. downtown. they survived corid and did in the lose retail they had residential unit and they were still there and shopping during the shut downful so, yes we want to see that retail that residential. and what we like to do when we get the controls passed and figure out how to garth people and educate the building ordinance. they are not general low they sometimes are not sophisticated as the large buildings dun town. we need to educate them on opportunity. there are people interested in

nosing around on residential conversions but well is more office conversions at play than residential in union square. >> i got a question. i know this spur did a study looking at conversion of office to residential. the class b and c and came up with a dozen prospects has there been w done by similar groups looking at conversion of the large retail building to residential. >> they locked at our -- a wide range of buildings. and the conclusion was always the same. right mou at least it is not feasible because of the cost of conversion. and you know the rents they would otherwise get. but you know hopefully they change approximate things become more viable. if we want that to happen at scale how do we provide

financial incentives. not just the zoning. >> tell at this point scale to make these viable. >> i would add. mills act could be expandd and allowed be used downtown in historic buildings.

thereupon is the high end stores armani and fendi and the -- devil wears pardona. and -- but. we lost that second tier of retail to which many of us go and casually dropping in. i go there and finds something i buy manage. and it is a way to targeting -- finding people like hnm and oak low to come back. we are not going out to stones

town. i'm not going to stanford it is too far and can we find manage by reattracting them. like anon union that draws people from the square back to where their shop and the square. it is so fabulous. those other very basic belling blocks we need to put every energy to pull back. and even almost like do we need to subsidize them? so, yea, they are -- and they will go and have our espresso.

it is a little trick we need to do. >> i had a couple thoughts. i want to tie it become to foot traffic. middle market retailers are sensitive to foot traffic and to employees feeling safe. up scale once hire the squarey guy in front and they are fine. >> right. middle market ones we have to get the support of city hall around safety and cleanliness to get them back there are conversations about subsidize businesses to go in the grounds floor their focus more on small businesses may be a hard sell to subsidize you know them to come back it. men we should be.

i want to figure this out yourself. i think soften being the barriers between security and inviting to new who come. and i think this is something which we need to communicate or ask you to the sidewalks in and creating a vacuum in a vacuum that suck life out of us. cater more to people of normal

income. first with foodservice of different kindses and the one thing i want to ask a big elephant in the room. i don't believe that some of the local papers and i will not mention have treated. making comfortable for us. >> we all were forced not to go because. covid and we wanted to go and experience the quality of our city, the paper at this moment is pushing us further away. how they community to us of what is going to happen.

ie what you describeed commissioner diamond about coming up from out of state, et cetera . >> i wish a quit day to come to mother's day. it is there is a mother's day event and just coming off the heels of looting it is negative news and could not be more right. a bit of a chicken in the egg. i can't get the source without the foot traffic or without clean and safe. i guarantee that everyone in the room come to the event for mother's day you will be surprised how wonderful the square is. does it have challenges? it does. does the rest of the city? yes. we are a beautiful place and people from all effort world are there and walking around to your point temperature has been very difficult time. holts were hit the hardest. i'm surprised they are there to this day. i you know my prior role as you

know, i was working remote low like sxefrn living my best life dress friday here up and come holidays union square will be there i will go when it is time. i did not go the first or second year. got tricked come down and see and i was shocked at the ghost town it had become. a year and a half later it is notice and day. i will say it was shuttered. there was a lot of ptsd suffered by employees in the district. those on the ground, essential workers. holing work and service providers, they lost employees. it just felt like doomsday. it was heard and, lot of the businesses are try to come become from that. which is why you do see the security guard the fear they don't feel the city has their back and creates negativity to

the point of social justice and rest. i want union square to be the place we excess everything. it say wornful thing. sometime its guess arye and we suffered an extreme amount of damage during the pandemic if you knew the monteis awful. there is a lot of that feeling we are trying to peal heel from that. we will move forward. we will appreciate the support the city provide third degree is noted to be should not be pitted against the rest of the city. providing support, police support to the downtown. and lieu of someone else. i'm a native to san francisco i know how person this is. i understand the importance of downtown and where people work is safe and not at expense of anyone else this is a san

francisco unify the approach. and in order for you to come out of this, healthy, we have to make sure we are looking out where we get our bread special butter. it is our crowned jewel. >> thank you. >> thank you, commissioner braun? >> yes, first i have to open by saying i need to make a disclosure i did not realize this plan was worked on by mig. my company i work strategic economics does sometimes work on projects with mig as one of the others. generally. for example now we are working on the general plan or santa rosa general plan. and so -- close that business relationship but not impact my ability in assessing this. so -- i will not rehash everything. i have a few questions swon --

vice president not heard about the -- west field mall. and may be p that is happening in the square. the middle market mid tiered stores we are talking about that have closed they have another out post in that mall that is you know i know that as member as a resident who takes transtit is easy to just get off and go to that mall and go to the stores. ir don't see that changing. my question is how does the strategy try to make address the need to have complimentary between that is in the union square versus the mall or envision the doors have a second location 2 blocks from another. what is the path there. >> like the star bucks across the street from the star bucks.

>> yes. i appreciate this question and almostment to say -- there was a time when it was such a huff and he will bust excel so many people you could not walk across the street without bumping shoulders. it was fine have the star bucks cross from the star bucks. certainly, now. market street could easily extinguish if we are in the careful. the street as far as west feld is on that street. peeking about market and those stores we have grown to lost rosses and ridiculous and all of those -- bark stores having a very difficult time. they want out of their leases.

i k ea will do limp we know the know what that looks like. now we are not thinking, well, this store that happens to exist in the mall sch may be on the square is competing not even the issue for us it is how do we make sure west field stays west field. >> a bit more of nuts and bolts take care of this and the problem now. -- okay. and so then the -- my other question is about the upper floors. how they can be converted to housing potentially but there is more interest in office. i'm sort of curious if there are other uses entertained for upper floors one thing that come to mind the primary reason i go in this area is for medical appointments. and -- you know -- time for

those. >> 4:50, all of us have to go. >> dears many times when i'm down i go and do shopping or manage like that. and so i'm that's one example. freakien draw for people not area. other examples thought about that could occupy the floors. why one of the meetings with supervisor peskin has been supportive. he asked us what had be okay on the upper floors. i mean boost ground. in the buildings? i said, anything except a power pleasant temperature is downtown. there is a small number of things that should not be there. massive self storage. probable not. nuclear power plantful not. the point of the zoning changes that are coming to you it essential low says anything goes on upper floors. we needed to have the changes and in terms of when we think we

can get besides residential and office. uses we love to get schools down there. medical offices as far as i understand permitted under the zoning changes. i think we don't know enough about the future market to get specific. our goal make sure it is flexible. the last, again scompleen safe

that is the purview as well. i'm curious hat strategy is or approaches in the area and one thing that pops in mind is you go to -- michigan avenue and mag 957 mile in chicago. wonder the bid campaign for the area. and event with flowers but on going basis. also great question. when you zoom out. to spends now 75% of budget is going just to clone and safe alone a combination of ambassadors hospitality and cleaners and of course over time police officers and 24 hour

security. the security company became 24 hours during the pandemic. until we wrap our arms around that does not allow us to pend on other things. we lean in on public realm. provide plan and hanging baskets. we would love a uniformed plan of beautification. an area of great interest and also to planning is the powell street corridor how can we beautify this. the parklet is 7 or 8 years past the life. it was a great gift from odd competence way back when 2011 now it is looking shabby. we try to keep it up it is costing more to do that than anything else. you know drive into it and whatever else and fix it. in we have a great plan. beautiful corridor -- flat level

plan or boxes and seating. finding the funding we are doing that. we are not giving up. there was funding available prior to the pandemic. it hit and disappear. well is a bit of grant money from the state last but it is not for those beautification items we like and need. we are work hard. thank you very much and thank you for your hard work >> all the lightingly you see is the bit. like the tree and everything else. >> one thing in this

conversation with how the stones town mall thrive. even after pandemic. wonder through if there hen like you know communication between the stones town mall or something like a teaching lesson and how can this what are the strategies that the stones town mall apply in the union square. when i go to stones town i'm amazed of varieties of activities and restaurantses. food and beverage is the number one thriving. the fact also because it is close to san francisco state. parkmerced and residential areas. i wonder if there are those communications between you know other aspects of the community as well. and different parts of sudden front you guys think like this

can be applied here in the union square. >> absolutely. i think commissioner tanner you hit it when you said the competitive advantage of a mall a single landlord and the opportunity to say, i want food and beverage not going to charge you rent i need you here. i think that is where we don't have what. but historically we never needed to have that. we had people we can have people again this is san francisco the most beautiful city in the world if you ask me, i'm biassed. we need to get become to the nut and bolts securing our being district and welcome to families. which they do and want to remine everyone around the holidays remember you do and it is there. we actually we did and legaled out the strategy plan i want to make sure to pull in the young folk in my office and get their

feedback. i sent them to stones town for research and development. they came back with a whole strategic plan membership you want them to present for you pacific around retail. what they like to see in their downtown. when you think young millenials or ge network zers are interested in importances andment something happening. music, they want weird nail art. they want -- consignment. you know they want -- food. ethnic food. many are offered in our malls baudz of that model the lost leader. we can attract those businesses. i love the idea of other additional ways. commissioner moore you mentioned, how to provide punishment to the businesses to be attractive and in the end route them to bring people back >> i punishment again there will

be upcoming legislations of different rezoning or changing the zoning codes i believe there should be change in diversifying the office office well. my dentist office is near union square. to know this build suggest about medical offices is one of the factor why i chose that dentist it is close to my work special accessible. so -- you know i want to also mention that -- and i'm a millenniumism do agree of having your team full of millenials or genz. you are in the age of technology. when we like it or agree with it or not. perceptions the marketing. perception marketing. you know and -- i'm on gram gram and i see different kinds of

activities you know -- there are -- doing this like activities there are gram gramable and the way you do now that is instagramable activity. and tourests in san francisco is always a number one industry sector. i think we all need to recognize that. so, i am look forward on in revitalization. i don't want to politicize this conversation the perception of san francisco crime rating is really gravitated in international level. i think a lot are conservatives and republicans are trying to attack san francisco. and i think we should counter back. it is in the true. every city has crime and property crimes. what happened on the murder. on the late -- and it is has

been categorized something random. when it is not even -- nothing no investigation is happening on that but. as we emphasize on public and safety we should all will i would encourage a positive communication with you know -- companies or newspapers that san francisco is safe. it is truly safe. yes, there are property crimes but that always happens in every city. i think it it is manageified and sensationalized by other factors. thank you. i have one last question forow the left comment. something you mentioned in the report and applies to other areas the foundation for really all of the other strategies and if we cannot roach that clean and safe temperature is both perception but experience.

employees are squareed go to work they have they are seeing and experiencing things making them unsafe. and i think it it is both00 automedia committee coverage and the click bait and that. blowing it oust proportion and people's experience feeling unsafe and you know and i'm not walking down there with nile year book i will have my [inaudible] and make sure i'm like know what is happening. figure out cerneling the perception and dealing with reality. the reality is what people makes people unsafe are behaviors. question of how do we influence people's behaviors to me the conversation everything from cleaning up after their dog and having responsibility to say this is my city, street and doggil do my responsibility to clean up after it up to folk who is may be on drugs and the

behaviors that are and are not acceptable and how do we influence or change behaviors. in certain space. that is to ask you as you have been limited resources to clean and safe where are you seeing changes in behavior through ambassadors and security and other means and where we continue to as a city or through organizations like yours or contractors you work with to bolster this and get to the point people are not doing the behavior. the easy cheaptory stop someone from litering than people cleaning up everyone's litter that is a mind set and behavior change that takes place over time. and how do we got bavenlth approximate i'm curious the bright spots or challenge and money shoving out of the door and you are looking for that bright pot on the horizon? >> i know it it is a tough

question. >> certainly, the rule is in the to change behaviors. we want to amplify with the beautiful and wonderful about our city and our district. i can't help but think if we look from the perspective of what do we want the head line to read in 2 years and let city agencies, commissions and organizations private and public coming together with all our part to get us there. it is dangerous to think we assume tourism will bail us out. this is unpreps dented this narrative jumped the bondch pond and now people don't want to being here or come here they are afraid it is unsafe when they get here they did not read the news they are like what is going on. right. now is it as bad. no, like every major city in america. pretty close but may be worse.

be honest we have our challenges. what are we doing. working together or in scyllos or get thanksgiving right. i will say being creative about how we are supporting our police department is first and foremost. we have to learned this lesson and we can continue to have reform and acounsel act to your point the 2 things are imperative. i think we need to be supportive to attract young people we talk about pep in the force we have a deficit and need to make sure we are trying to get in front of it. can be years before we are. the police -- 30 years off of the job they are coming off of retirement and want to give

become temperature is a great program on many levels. wonderful idea and creative. prop to this. our ambassadors have been great. those other ones in the oranges coats they are walk and they make people feel there is someone in uniform there. you are not alone at night wondering you feel like well is a presence which is great. we are not creative about the terms everything is ambassador we get confused by this. but they serve a different function and important until we have police. i hope we goat a place we don't need so much. a clear level. union square used to only have 2 police officers to beat officers assigned to our district. prior to the pandemic. i can't imagine. today we are at a number that

makes more sense we are equal to a time square. you want community police and police who are there. yea i ask them. or lost my cell phone or something actually happened. i think -- there are, let of components to your question. i will say all and all if we think about what we would like it see our city and what head lines read it does not fall under one organization. not only gentleman or us but together we push to get it shifted. >> great. we all have cell phones and social media we can do it. >> thank you very much. appreciate your time. >> thank you for questions. we will take a break and

>> take you to item 10. 2017-014833enz at 469 stevenson certification of final vipiral impact report. 11a, 2017-014833env adopt ceqa finding. 11b. a downtown project authorization and item 11c, 2017-04833 a cu authorization. why before presentation american braun will make a disclosure. where i have the same i made when we heart the draft eir in doesn't study that feeds into the feir was performed by a

consulting group and the company which i work do cross paths sometimes and -- we were both working for the city of mountain vow on analysis of master plan development agreement. had a separate contract we coordinated and combined reports to a single report. it is the prior professional relationship no on going relationship. never a business relationship, and no impact on my ability to be fair in hearing this item. sfgovtv, please bring up the shieds. >> good afternoon. members of the commission i'mieny planning staff. and environmental coordinator for the 469 steinson street project. planning staff includeies cat planner for the project. item before you is a certification of final environmental impact report or

eir the project is accurate and object and i have prepared with the california equal oyst act or ceqa and chapter 13 of the administrative code. i will promicide an over view. project and conclusion and draft eir before i sum rise the comments received. >> the project site in south of market neighborhood and front an on stevenson and jessy between 6 and fifth street. sponsor proposed to demo existing surface parking lot and construct a mixed use building. 4 november dwelling unit and retail use on ground.

30,000 square feet of common space. 178 parking paces and on site freight loading spaces. the project requested state density bonus and 73 fordable units on site. project also certified by the govern or office of plan and research an environmental leadership development. sb7 project. at the planning commission hearing on the draft ei r the had a history of the project shown on this slide. the public comment period closeod december 19 of 22 and on april 5 of 23 the department published the supplemental responses to comments sponds to all comments. we are here to certify the final eir consists of previously circulated draft eir. sponses to comments and

supplemental responses to comment document. >> the planning commission certified the fine eir on july 29. appealed to and over turned by the board of proirzs directed the department to study the project impact in low area. historic resource. technical issues and gent restriction and displace am of locals. theage of topics having a final eir were accurate and objective. department appropriated a recirculated eir addressing those 3 topics found would have less settle cant midgation impacts on historic resources and less impactos geology and soils and population and housing. >> found no new written comments

on the draft eir. with verbal comments at the december 82022 planning hearing. the is up elemental sponses to documents sponses to all under the draft eir and revisions to the draft eir. the slide presents the themes in the comments received. the department received comments that express pregnancy of agreement or disagreement with displacement analysis appropriated for the draft eir and received a meant questioning why it impact and mitigation member identified in the draft eir and received comments of general support for or opposition to the project. jot supplemental contains responses to the comments. and these comments don't change

the conconclusions in the recirculated eir and don't institute new information this rours recirculation of the recirculated eir under ceqa. the planning upon department prepare today in accordance with ceqa of the san francisco administrative code and planning policies. the final eir is adequate and provides information required pursuant to ceqa to understand the potential environmental impacts in mitigation measures. the planning department staff requests the planning commission adopt the eir motion before you. the motion not approved the project complies with ceqa and @way and accurate. this concludes the presentation on the eir certification i'm rabble for questions for now i will turn it over to my colleague who the present the additional item associated with this project.

why thank you. >> good afternoon. president tan and moore. commissioners with staff. i will keep my comments hor and we. covered the program terse the address and unit count wanted to run down the unit mix for your benefit. you saw this 20 months ago in july of 21. so 495 units will include 192 [inaudible]. 149, 1 bedroom. 96, 2 bedroom and 503 bedroom and 8, 5 bedroom units 73bmr units below market rate. this project is utilizing state bonus law to achieve a 42 and a half percent of bonus of floor area. invoking and requesting cu to exempt 56,000 square feet from the code. specific low devoted to

affordable housing. i apologize words missing nonsubstantive changes to make it clear for the record and you as a decision make are there are 2 buckets of public benefits one hard code exclude requires and second bucket of community benefits vol tailor by sponsor and rereferenced in attachment a the project is the same project you saw in july in 21. the 2 changes iing think one is grit. 4400 additional square feet of open space on the roof deck. wind screen and rooms adjacent had to come up by 6 feet. that is within the height limit

codified in the code. in total all of the public meant leading up to the july 21 hearing inclusive of today's hearing we have 45 letter in passport and 5 in opposition. clear the letters of support celebrate the primary goal of delivering 500 to a project service ping lot. the comment letters in the decent did raise occurrence. traffic, construction and indirect impacts attributable to the project. we ask for your passport approximate find if necessary and sdoirable and compresidentable and on balance and consistent with the general plan. i will stop there and turn it over to the sponsor. thank you.

>> good afternoon. president tanner. director hill us. i'm lou with build. deja vu all over again. we on yet? next screen. this project is -- interesting in light of the union square presentation it is 8 minutes away cross from i k ea and down the block from west field and add 1200 residents to this neighborhood. planning approved this in july of 21. and -- the project is the same project that we brought them with the addition of the 4400 square feet of open space that nick mentioned. we had continued out roach to the community.

and included community benefit's agreement with the neighborhoods and the stake holders i mentioned and go through this in the next slide. the groups are listed here this are -- participate with us in the community benefit's agreement. they are the benefits are comp pensive across all of these mid market groups. and include the affordable units on site. the inclusionary housing fee. the dedicated public art fee. 50 thousand dollars in annual in kind contributions. half million dollars in programming funds. rent for 4,000 square foot

ground floor pace to accommodate community groups and -- am the holings lease. as well as donation of 596 site on the corner of sixth and jessy. additionally this is the first large site to be included in the states environmental leadership development program. as such, it is committed to be green house gas neutral. it is -- commit todd be 100% union. it will provide many environmental benefits to the city and the surrounding neighborhoods. >> the roof deck is shown here. and providing open pace in recreation pace. for the residents of the

building. >> next. and it is the same project we brought you. near low 2 years ago now. the affordable fees directed to the neighborhood. with a cooperation of [inaudible]. and -- the family housing in the project is substantial. 31% units are 2 bedroom plus. and 38% of the total square footage is will be dedicated to larger units. so, once again, site across the street from i k ea down the block from west field. 8 minutes from union square on a transit hub. great project and i look forward to your questions and reapproval. >> good afternoon.

[inaudible]. as you seen the building largely remains consistent with the previously approved now improvement to the roof top terrace. you remember the facade scale increases from the level to the skyline transitioning from the single story rithdim and blendses with neighboring buildings the top that emphasizes verticality on the urban scale. warm copper tone panels to compliment the brick and pay homage to the rivets on the local levi's. waited to jessy treat to radios shadow and lessens visibility from sickth street. the street scape will see

improves and accyst from residents. >> benefits from a thousand new residents to live in this building. i look forward to questions you may have on the design during q and a. thank you. that concludes presentations. this commission did approve and heard testimony about it in previous hearings. >> thank you. if you are call nothing remote press star 3 or use the raised hand icon.

we will take those in city hall first. 2 minutes. through the chair you have 2 minutes. good afternoon again. i'm donna. i'm a resident of the sunset district. i'm here to urge approval of 469 stevenson. let me say that -- it is too body this has to be deja vu all over again. i remember when i first read about this project. well over a year ago and i read about the site. residential. and the advantages of that location. and i thought, whatever could go wrong? with approving this? >> but i know freshman my own

neighborhood some residence are simple low too entrench in the what exaggerations of environment they simple lowment status quo. got 2 on my street and talked to the one on the north side advantages and benefits of having more housing, nice looking 4 story apartments in the sunset and simple low i don't want disturbance in things. i will not get in to that. other than to applaud the project and keeping -- our eyes on completing the project. that concludes my remarks.

americans, thank you for taking comment. i'm brett young. i w at 54 mint. historic building in the mint plaza. the project of 469 stevenson is u nobodying. will provide a core for a communities to grow. and it is u nobodyingly positioned between market and mission. so it is in the on either of the busy street its is a more pleasant place to be. it allows the neighborhood to develop and provide safety and local revenue for the city and the local market merchants this are needed.

495 units and on sight affordable housing close to public transportation. near the powell street station i walk it every day. muni. walkable to mint plaza. buena vista park and downtown union square and cross from west field mall an i deal location without impeding view or lifestyle. another thing that is grit about the building and a zero carbon building. and upon catch with modern times. please help this area and support the struggling businesses approve the project approximate help them improve the area. thank you. i live in north beach. the saga of 4 schiene stevenson an embarrassment for our city.

made a mockeiee of ceqa's purpose of protecting the environment. i know you are not responsible for room 250 had a clown show. we have a housing crisis. we need housing. we don't need a parking lot. reapprove this. thank you. >> i'm [inaudible] i live in00 eye support the project and look forward to construction. >> i'm jerry drat ler. building has entitlements for 2, 500 san francisco housing u

first the prior to defaulting on one oak. building entitlements are lower due to the default. and one oak street was an important part of the city hope planful buildings second entitled project is 1, 575 units in india basin. is for 69 stevenson street a viable project? one.5 trillion with a, t in real estate loans will mature by 2025. venders are shrinking loans not refinancing maturing loan ands no new loans. national vacancy rates of 20% and 30% in san francisco make it difficult to finance new construction. >> if the city is to achieve the houseings goals the planning commission contract ability of building to finance and complete

the 469 stevenson street project. what is the probability building can secure financing for 469 stevenson after defaulting on one oak, thank you. i don't know how many years ago it was approved but i remember the metropolitan in time when the projects eir was reverseod the ceqa lawsuit. i'm sure you remember the flash point the couple of days after. the conversations that happened. and housing element conversation happens and the city san francisco had a unique microscope from the state of

california and watching housing elements. san francisco was treat in the a unique way. right. i think the microscope guess forwar employed just before that. right. the types of decision i know you all continue. the general public i want to encourage them to understand how all the domino affects play a factor when people see good housing projects get rejected do you to politic this is make its doyle reach our housing goals. 've when we have is an opportunity tuesday to reverse that head line. 469 stevenson approved by the planning commission and san

francisco can step forward with the project and other good projects. this we need to get built and have people move in and not just in soma but the city. all right. this project for better or worse was ended up being a birth then and there this one project. and so i hope today is know example of san francisco moving forward from bad decisions and reapprove it. thank you. >> i'm james. i would like to peek in support of project and like to publicly express my dismay that as a resident of d8 my supervisor rows the reason this had to be brought back and thank the commission for enthusiastic support. i'm richard i live in low are knob hill for 50 years advocates for seniors.

getting affordable housing. so i support this project because tell provide up to 100 affordable housing units and may be some of us seniors will get those units. thank you. of >> good afternoon will commissioner ryan patterson attorney for yes in my backyard. thank you for your time today this is a code compliant project. meets the applicable objectives and criteria under the housing accountability act and must be approved. we support the approval of entitlements for off the reasons in our first amended pelling tigz and briefing in the san francisco sf court case. and upon i have a copy of that for you today.

we are passed the hearing limit of the it's this point and no further environmental review is proper. we look forward to the commission's leadership in getting housing built and the city's compliance with state housing law. thank you very much. >> good afternoon, americans i'm the san francisco organizing director for nb action i'm here to ask you for your swift approval. i know that was outside of your control but as corey smith pointed out. this is a [inaudible] garthed attention and we need to continue to dot right thing. so i implore to you do that. each cd locked at had and said there was no benefit. and we need to look at our practice it is big are than this. and about of so much more i continuing got takening. we have harder conversations we

will are to have and alegality of place. the parking lot is not one. reapprove this. thank you. >> i'm joannea i'm a castro residents and executive director of urban environmentalist. we support mull just communities policy reform. much has been said about this project. i want to note that not only does this project not hrm the requirement in fact in this zip code. housing is the top climate action can be taken locally for 2030 carbon e missions accord stoth u c berkeley and california board local government climate policy tool. not to mention an environmental project for so many other reasons that have been mentioned. i look forward to your swift

approval of the project. >> i'm admissible i'm a volunteer with urban vipiralists and the residents of san francisco. and i'm here asking near your approval of this project. as a resident, i know how hard it is to finds housing in the city. sxhp especially in transit rich locations like this one had you are near the powell street bart station. i hope that you all again approve this. and allow for more people to find affordable and help with the housing criss in the city. thank you. >> hello i'm kent. and i want to thank all of you for approve thanksgiving project before. any ask you to hopely do it again example one tiny

observation is this we live in the city where people are hyper local. it is hard to get san franciscans to go like 10 blocks to a restaurant or a party x. so it makes sense the conversation about union square. that's all. thank you. last call for comment in city hall. if you are in the cham combers like to make comment. come forward. if not we will now move on to remote callers. if you wish to make comments on this item. press star 3 if you are joining web ex use the raise the hand icon. >> good afternoon i'm dave alexander. i organize with richmond family san francisco around land use and transportation issues. i work in d 6 and 1, strong

support for this project. it is transit oriented. hundreds of affordable home and union built and this would result in state investigations. and uproar. [inaudible] approve this needed housing. thank you. >> [inaudible]. i'm christopher, i am a member of the housing action coalition and chair our project commit each i'm peek nothing support of this project. which has been stated before. it had been approved the first time years ago and realized that was approved by this commission. this project is a transit

oriented development well located, providing housing much needed housing. and is an exemplary project. this meets the highest marks cross criteria. and thankful low we know -- this project >> i appreciate your support and look forward to approval. >> i'm jim a 45 year san francisco resident urbeenist and member of the housing action

coalition. please pass the entitle ams today. you know this this it is a great project you approved this before temperature is now time to end this open opera once and for all. earlier in the meeting you were discussing the projects are not pencilling and proceeding today. this is true. we all know that. that is all the more reason to pass these measures today. when development does become economic againful can we all a rush to come to the planning commission resulting in long back ups on entitlements. let's ghet out of the way and get it t's up and pass the measures today. thank you. this is have nesza i'm a 40 year

resident. of san francisco. i'm call with the other callers and -- folks testifying in reapproving this. this project is just a [inaudible] many commented on. that it could have been under construction boy now had been -- now life here even though the previous caller said this will get financing down the road. i think it the be awhile now. a project that should have been under way and adding ritalitity to the area based on the earlier discussion i was listening to it is a tragedy.

we miss third degree opportunity. please, reapprove the eir. and let's try to remedy what was just a sad story for san francisco. thank you. i'm nathan women a 25 year old [inaudible] and calling to add my voice to the voices approve this project. talk about a no brainerch it is surface parking lot next to a train station and tons of jobs. so, it is embarrassing it took this long i than is not your fault but encourage to you approve this project. thank you very much.

last call for public meant if you are remote press star 3. no additional requests to speak, public comment is closed and items are before you. dments, questions or motionos certification of the eir from commissioners. >> commissioner diamond. yew wants to do this in 2 parts first. okay. move it adopt the ceqa and the statement of consideration. >> second. >> i think first we need to certify the eir. >> okay. >> not listed separately. they need to be separately under item 10.

>> okay. move to certify the eir. >> thank you, commissioners on that motion to certify the eir commissioner braun. >> aye. >> commissioner diamond. >> aye. >> commissioner imperial. >> aye >> commissioner koppel. >> aye. >> commissioner moore. >> aye >> and president tanner. >> aye. >> that motion passes unanimously sick 6-zero. >> move to adopt the findings statement of over riding consideration the downtown plan authorization and c u authorization. >> second. >> will thank you. commissioners on this motion to certify or -- adopt ceqa and approve with conditions sorry b can we clarify is that the same motion. all that can help.

under 11a, b and c that can be the statement motion. >> correct. upon the approval findings including ceqa adoption can be made at the same time >> thank you. >> and i apologize i over looked 10 it is listed. i noticed properly my make. gi will read through to make sure we are on the same page o. that motion to adopt ceqa finds beings and approve with conditions items 11a, b and c, commissioner braun. >> aye. >> commissioner diamond. >> aye >> commissioner imperial. >> aye yoochl commissioner koppel. >> aye yoochl commissioner moore. >> no >> commissioner tanner >> aye. >> thank you. that motion passes 4-2. >> and -- we will take us on to item 12. conclude the items thank you for coming and thank you staff and

all those that call in the and came to give testimony and staff, thank you for bringing the project back. why we'll give a minute as people clear out to help with sound and noise. >> thank you. that will take you us to item 12 record number 2022-010833cua,

1151 washington a cu authorization. >> good afternoon chris may of planning staff. you have buffer a request for cu authorization to permit demolition of single dwelling on property and construction of 4 story 40 foot tall building 10 dwelling units in the rm3 zone and 65 aheight and bulk district. planning code allows 9 permitted units and no inclusionary units the project proposes one bmr offers to moderate households up to 120 aishgs ami qualifies for a 5% density bonus or one additional unit through the state density bonus program. including that proposes 10 units the dwelling mix of 1, 3 bedroom fronting on wish wash street. and 9, 2 bedroom behind each with pedestrian access via a

shared 5 foot path way on the east side lot line. one street park nothing garage and 10 bicycle parking in each unit. the project includes 1, 913 square feet of private open space on roof decks and each of the roof decks accessed a stair penthouse occupies less then and there 20% of officer area and exempt from the conciliation of building height. the 40 foot tall building does not trigir a joint hear with rec and park urndz planning code 295 shadowing on a property under rec and park department. the project is seeking 4 waivers from development standards including a reduction of the front setback from 4 to zero feet. a reduction of the rear yard from 345 inches. dwelling exposure for 9 of 10

unit and access to class one bicycle parking spaces. with state law the city minot apply development standards preclude the construction with incentives went building envelope unless find the waiver would have a specific adverse impact on healing or safety and adverse impact on property in the california register of historic resource. that cannot be mitigated or contrary to state or federal law. the department received 1 where are 8 letter in support of the project and 8 in opposition. the opposition relates to potential shadow the p. electric of adequate off street parking. impacts on mid block open space and access to the roar units in the events of a fire. in response planning staff reviewed the project with the fire marshall. who confirmed minor adjustments may be required improve

emergency access the project does not have life and state concerns. the planning department finds the project is on balance and consistent with objectives and policies of judicial plan including the recent housing element. will replace an existing 3 story single family with 4, 4 story 10 unit building below the height limit of 65 feet. affordable housing will be on site. i will visible for further questions. thank you. . we will hear prosecute project sponsor.

sfgovtv can we have the laptop, please? you have 5 minutes. good afternoon. planning president tanner and vice president moore and fellow commissioners i'm mark macy principle architecture i'm here with my college and project architect. we are pleaseed present our tiny on behalf our clients alison and todd davis the tiny town homes of knob hill project at 1151, washington. this project under way for 5 years. upon xhernsing in 2018 the

remodel and expansion of the porns's alison and todd davis existing home to accommodate their growing familiful responding to plan check letters and d r foilings and the left moment victim to the mandates of the interim controls thattory feedpedoed their project in november of 21 had this commission disapproved it. at this point they brought ace architecture on board we are known for is developing solutions at the creative intersection, constructability. cost effectiveness and involving context. the davis' heeding directives of the board of proirzs and the commission condition received it to 10 town homes from controls mechanic myself density. and guess beyond to provide a below market rate unist

otherwise not required by regulations. this is the project 5 years later presented today seeking approval. 4 inspirations the interim controls san diego cottage row or san francisco's cottage row. dutch row house and english terrace housing. the inter~im controls was board resolution 1021 and 40422 extended now expired. and replacing a single family home on a large lot with 10 modest town homes they are more affordable and ownership opposed to a rental project. 2, cottage row within the tradition of infill development. local president cottage row historic item an town

neighborhood housing access from pedestrian path a yeasant to a public park space. inpyration 3. dutch row houses amsterdam canal houses. narrow frontages to optimize urban landful large windows for natural light. and compact interior spaces seem larger. spiral stairs. flag hoist system the dutch use third degree to move items in andous and the famous dutch doors. we added a bike ramp. at the stepping walk way for bicyclists. and inspire agsz 4 english terus housing. often regarded england's greatest contributions to the urban form. an person characteristic of the

english terrace is machineo crop attic treatment for unified collective expression. stepping with the topography differentiating each home and custom colored doors. materiality. the material ponded to the neighboring context. it issan willing to the existing facade treatments. homes, cable car museum and recreation center have the tercota color. and the tiening town homes. this is showing the features of this. we believe that this novelful route in the urban history. can help inform efforts of planning and commission as they guide the implementation of the

now fore 4 and 6 plex initiatives in the western part of the city. long delayed gentle denseit. i want to thank you. and lastly not least i want to acknowledge the excellent work of the planning adopt this project. specifically current planning director liz watty. senior planning planner chris may and senior environmental engineer don lewis they were grit to work with and througho responsive and timely >> thank you that's your time, sir. >> at this time we'll open public comment on this item. if you are here come forward and form a line on the screen side to your right. of those in city hall first and remote callers. get in the queue. press star 3 to raise your hand.

before we start in person upon presentation, you will have 3 minutes. >> given the number of speeshs we'll reduce to 2 minutes. we will have 2 minutes. >> good afternoon board members i'm richard representing clayton. i'm here to urge to you reject the ceqa exemption and require ceqa review. the site on which the project is heavily contaminated with chemicals that staff failed to mention in their presentation. chemicals are unusual to find on a site of this nature including chromium upon. am valium an are the poison and ethylene a cleaning solvent they are known to cause cancer and

project site at high levels and the site immediately a jayceien to the betty young rec center. human health risks here that must be addressed under ceqa. the plan relies on a measure call for visual and olfactory observation by the construction workers. what that meaners they hope the construction workers will see or smell the chemicals that measure is absurd because valum and chromium are ordless and colorless.

thank you, sir. that's your time. >> we are to move on. thank you. upon richard pran live in low are knob hill 4 blocks away from this project. i'm speaking on behalf of the project. i believe replacing one family unit with 10 family units is good policy. i believe that -- families will utilize the 2 bedroom and 1, 3 bedroom units. and perhaps may be some of those

units will be afforded a seniors. i urge your approval of this project. >> good upon afternoon. gene again. urging approval of this. this will is the housing we need more of in more place. it is creative and highly resourced neighborhood. a desirable place. and some place i would not mind. there are in the a lot of opportunities. you know and when we been all of the goals we have and people talk about the numbers. we need to build units. that is unit by unit we can't do that through big project its takes creative thinking. i love to see that as one parking space we move away from understands happening what people need.

and it seems like a great area for that housing. so realliment to encourage to you move forward with this. and support these creative uses. i would like to note hopeful low you will hear fewer of these. we need more stream lining and get quick or this. and be fast 30 is why the mayor and supervisor engardio put the plans out there and hope. low we will find creative ways to still keep our character of san francisco and building homes we need. thank you. i live in north beach. before this in low are knob hill. i love this project t. is great. i think that the creative think suggest when we need to get us out of our housing crisis. replacing single homes with 10,

we should replicate this across the city. let a thussand projects bloom. the bonus you think it looks nice and it is visible from the street. tell improve views. thank you. >> good afternoon commissioners

i'm bob a licensed architect. lived and practice in the san francisco for more than 40 years. designed and build hundreds of housing units. i recognize the need for new house thanksgiving is poorly conceived and unnecessarily creates negative impacts that will damage neighborhood including the betty recreation center. i submitted detail and can answer questions i will highlight a few upon points the design is unusual and read cal. has flaws. irrespect to the fire marshall i would like ton what the minor adjustments would be. there is one way in and out. imagine in an emergency. firefighters carrying latter and equipment. hopefully known is if you look

at the need for the how an elevator will be propped up against the building. in order to comply we have to reduce the width of the units by 4 feet. may be 4-sick. result nothing living room and bedrooms not meet code requires floor areas. this is00ue know classic an fran opt park on the recreation center and replaced by this. and it would loom over the center. the most difficult and most worry some part is cast the maximum shaddose at the time of maximum use. in the afternoon. prisoning and fall.

>> thank you. that's your time. i can answer questions. >> thank you. sfgovtv can we have the over head, please. i'm a lands use attorney not an architect i don't see amsterdam i see a strip motel in walnut creek. but -- if the rule is you in any

housing project is good. you mode to at this time public that. if the rowel is you mode to make findings what are your packet i don't know how you make the findings about this project. a c u finding you are asked to make the project is keeping with other properties in the neighborhood. and comply with residential design guidelines. and it is -- necessary, desirable and compatible with the neighborhood and the arrangement. this is the neighborhood. green space next door. green space in the back and the key recreational areas in this area. this dp this are not compatible.

now -- upon not every project is a good project. you could install a project this has more affordable and taper in the a way that respects the neighborhood and does in the harm the neighbors and the those who use this residential recreational resource. so, don't approve this project. ask it to be redone so it is compatible. thank you. >> representatives yourself or somebody else? i work width neighbors to -- next to the project mr. bawl and mrs. [inaudible].

hello i'm a volunteer with urban environmentalist and residents of san francisco and denseifiying the neighborhood is irrelevant good for the environment. lessning lands use and -- improving the city. and personally even for me as a young millennium in the city, a big conversation that come up is are we ever able to afford property or be able to own homes. and it makes you worry about whether i have like friends in thes future in the city. but projects like this that will increase housing supply and make it more of a pot this could be in my future. and -- i really -- i -- encourage y'all to please, support this and approve.

hello. this is the homeownership housing san francisco needs badly. strongly recommend you approve the project and with regard to shadows i think there are many worse things in the world than finding shade in a park on a sunny, warm day. i urge you to abide by the regulationings we have around shadows and allow this build to cast the allowable shadow on the park. thank you. >> hello urban environmentalist and a residents of the castro. i used to live 5 blocks from this location. i love live nothing a walkable, thriving area when i look at other ways in short term housing

to stay longer, no there is not housing there that is available t. it is a very contrained area we need more of exactly this property. also, on the environmental side, as previously noted for shadows, we are facing climate change. our climate will be more like los angeles. or even hotter. a lot of folk in thes older buildings don't have air congress. a matter of safety and important this we have shaded public areas. on the single stair issue that is an excellent environmental measure to reduce the aim of resource need to build a build and to allow for better air flow within the building and there is better climate adaptation it it is a clay environmental benefit we need more of this type of

project. thank you. i live in thein are sunset. i agree with the previous speaker about some more shade not being bad. especially the climate gets warm and have few are days of fog and i think that this project does fit in to the neighborhood limp you walk 10 minute in any direction and find styles from different eras. so. please approve this. thank you. i'm alec i live at 1155 washington next door to the project. i was born and raise in the san francisco and lived the city my

life. my wife and i were excited buy in the city and start our family we care deeply for the city. happy to see it built next to us. there are many designs we would support. but the design that is reviewed today by seeking waivers from elements of the planning code that were designed to protect light and air and sdrnlt the resource will cause harm to us and neighbors including the families in the recreation center next door. to give an example the impact of the waivers if this project proceeds we will force to board up half windows in the house and our bedroom and living room. the shame is that this unnecessary for the sponsor who is have a successful project and increased housing density on their property.

the project sponsors refouzed engage with us and our neighbors on changes to the design mitigate the negative impact and a luto achoef goals. please before making your decision imagine how tell be foal to board half the windows of your home. thank you for your consideration. >> good afternoon i'm chu fong. i'm living right one house above next to the project.

i understand the project try to demolish the building to build one single housing not additional townhouse. [inaudible]. in doing so tell cast a big shadow over the project. i'm living well i know i know who people who -- in our are using it. and affected and the people use it who live in china town mostly, they will very disadvantage. in upon -- most television live in single room house. and they get no sun or fresh air.

and what the people will go? it is so dense there are no amount in the area at all. they can't go for they have [inaudible]. and besides, the houses -- the unit not hurt them it hurt our families as well. i'm [inaudible] my wife is asian iso and we have lots of health issue. i have asma and need fresh air. when that yard gone we get most our fresh air.

president tanner and planning commission. good afternoon i'm jennifer mison upper china town neighborhood association we are opposed the project for 2 reasons. first concern the significant negative impact the project have on the play ground and on the [inaudible] and recreation center. we see the rear yard as a spiritual refuge in mid block open space. share the concern by all sick neighborhood organizations regarding the shadows. being tested bet competence play ground. shaddose will impact the health and well being of those who are there. am not only do young people benefit from playing together it is social space for parent and grandparents they watch their loved once. and fosters a common ground among them. we are concerned about the e

elimination of the rear yard. rear yards in our neighborhood and other district services is a play-offs refuge in mid block open spaces. every ethnic and racial groups have ways of being together in sun light and fresh area. for many live nothing high density neighborhoods need open spaces to be together. this helps to reduce the stress and tension of daily responsibilities. and in so dog they strengthen their family connections. we urge the planning commission to reconsider the project, shadow test overnight play ground and mid block open space impact the mental and social health of our neighborhood. thank you.

>> i was born and raise in the upper hint town. i used to pend time at the rec center. and then i went to school and 50 years back i have been in know front upper china town for 50 years. i love my neighborhood and the people and the diversity of the people. and i'm here and concern body when richard raised. in addition to what jennifer said the social space an informal spiritual way of being connected. zoe a health issue. we have a serious toxic problem that will affect our children. our youth approximate elders who sit and parents that sit watching the kids. we can't vice president this. this is a toxicity.

i urge the commission to take this matter seriously and to look at and -- ask the ceqa analysis. really needs to be done in order for us to feel safe in the neighborhood. and i urge the commission to endorse the recommendation by -- thank you very much.

ja hello will i want to speak in approval of the project it seems beautiful and creative i could imagine mag a lot of people enjoying living here. i think it is important as we provide housing that affluent and safe neighborhoods in the city provide a space for people to live in and don't just put all the develop inspect soma and other places. thank you. deb are holly planning consultant. can i have the over head. why this project asks for so much and providesingly. unlike stevenson street project this provides one additional unit.

upon under 317. you are charged with making demolition findings including the following throw this can't be met. whether it serves neighborhood character for cultural come economic diversity. whether it locates housing on site in established neighborhood and whether the project is of suburb urban design meeting guidelines to enhance neighborhood character. it does in the meet these findings. it result in life safety impacts. e lim nit windows at 1155 wish wash. it would create significant new shadows on the recreation center play your. and the project for the project conflicts with design guidelines and detracts rather then and

there enhances the neighborhood character. planning staff recommendations states unbalance projects consistent with objectives and policies of general plan including the new housing elementful i respectful low disagree. this shows 2 critical plans of the new housing element with which the project is inconsistent. goal 3. racial low and socially inclusive neighborhoods through equal distribution of investment and growth and per prosecute mote neighborhoods connected. health competence rich with community culture. this project candlesticks with [inaudible]. thank you for your time and please consider these pointses.

my name is mike chen with northern neighbors who support walkable, fordable environmentally sustainable neighborhoods from presidio to north beach i ask for your approval on this project. it is a thoughtfuly designed development that adds more housing. near transit and close to jobs and personal low, i'm 32 and alegality of my friends and colleagues in my age are leaving san francisco it is really dang expensive. and i think these town homes that are that are by design cheaper then and there a single family home gives folks the chance to stay in san francisco in a community they love. thank you very much.

i'm anna fong. i'm don't speak english limp i'm living in next door 1165. i have a son who is 11 years old. as a mom i am concern body because the building will be higher than us. and then they will block our sunshine. and then airch i real concern about my son we grow in the house and you know no sunshine will be 24 hour open [inaudible] and i i'm upon concerned my dad and mom is healthy. they are going i'm sorry. yea elderly, yes, a let of issues come out and so when they

block sun and air they don't have a fresh air. yea. thank you. if you are calling press star 3 to get in the queue. this is maggie we submitted a letter in opposition to this project we know naa lot of families who live in china town and knob hill depend on access to the park and a lot of people in sro's don't have windows or open pace they enjoy on their own. to have a project impact the

park will be detrimental to the community. i know the families will not live in the project proposed here. it is sad to see very well loved community resource that has money invest in the it. become shadowed. the people who are in charge did in the take that in consideration. that's why we are opposing the project. thank you. hello i'm here on behalf of community for rec in china town. i'm here to oshg pose the washington street project because of shadows cost on the

recreation center. mack shadow from the project on to the search cover 17% of over all open space. this center is in shadow and the project will mitigate it during available sun hours. the study uses rescue and park definition of organism space. percentage of added shadows on open space will be higher a concern in the community like china town needing sun and open space. many of the residents are elderly. in cramped living condition this

is don't get enough sunlight. out door pace is kroo usual for all people as it provides sunlight and fresh air or low income communities don't have the privilege of regular compared to others who can afford housing this have air and sunlight every day. we urge you to not let our community get over shadowed. when we need is afford annual how doing not market rate housing that will shadow a park that is needed in a low income municipality. thank you. 99.

i'm frank and i want to say, i passport this project. it great we ever building close

to transit and that's a tremendous benefit. i'm surprised and shocked to see people want to preserve a parking lot. this will create hundreds of affordability housing units and something we need. with climate change sun is a problem in san francisco can cause skin cancer and that should instead be a wagz. i hope you support this project. thank you. i am in support of this project andment to answer the lawyer's question whether we have to approve any project. it is loved. yes, you do have to approve zoning compliant family housing project unless there is an add refers impact on healing or safety.

i have not heard objectives or serious occurrence. [inaudible] in other words it is tempting for team to decide that prioritize everything above having affordable and fall flat and that's why we are [inaudible]. police stay objective and approve this housing project. thank you. last call for public comment. anyone wish to comment in forward or raise your upon hand. we have one more remote caller.

i'm a residents i live 4 blocks away and call manage to oppose this project on washington street. [inaudible]. i understands the importance of why sunlight is important for community approximate also shodo is a big deal for people who cannot afford to live anywhere else spept for resident this is live in china town and get to see the sunlight a lot and use a lot of the partials around the area this is the housing project and would also increase a lot of units.

that concludes public comment president item is before you. thank you to the call and we have not had a full house in awhile. good to see everyone here. i had questions regarding the discussion of the soil. we heard soil contammy nanlts can you address that. good afternoon member i'm lisa gibson help to be here when i anyhow this item would come up. and the issues raised.

addressed at plan commission and assessment is than i don't alter a conclusion. project does qualify for exemption and no significant impacts associated with circumstances that would preclude issuance of cad ex. regarding hazardous materials it is in the moderate area and the sponsor has enroll in the the program required by san francisco health code article 22a. healing department requires subsurface sampling. detecting soil the health department requires to prepare assess mitigation plan which was

approved by the health department. site plan identifies several measures the sponsor required take to assure the project will not result in public health or safety hazards compliance will ensure less significant impact related to hazardous materials. i hope that answer the question. >> yes, i appreciate that. i wonder if the architect could come, to the podium? thank you for your presentation and pawk walking us through i know the shadow studies are in the required for this project if you have comments regarding shadow or interaction with the build and the recreation space? >> 40 feet it -- senior planner

pointed out 25 feet lower than what one could build here. not, plying state density bonus. i know in the architect letter he was convinced someone thinked fulfill the same program and not occupy the roar yard come cast less shadow that is a curious. like to see that design if one was to reconfigure the program into a building that was occupying just of the upon front 3 quarters of the property. murder to achieve the 11,000 square feet of residential space. your building would be 30% larger require an elvirtand corridors and exit stairs would not be as efficient as this building all accessible from the ground without corridors that building would be more massive

at least 75 feet tall and use the state density bonus for a more expensive project and one that would trigger the shadow ordinance. you know our proposal was actually modest, walkable, walk up units along here. and -- that's when we have done. >> great. gi wonder if you could share to about the well is concerns around fire and exiting and there was diagrams that i believe you produced that provided to us showing the fire exist and not so much to go in the details you can if than i are necessary. say you get to your building permitting press and turned out that the fire department is not okay and cannot support aspects and had are you appropriateed do or have you feel confident that you will be okay with the building department and others this review that.

>> this project is 100% in compliance with build and fire code. the opponents the architect have misunderstood this concement of exit travel distance and apply today to the exit discharge that's not what the code says. our exiting means of egress is 100% compliant. with regards to fire access with our proposal for perpendicular it is safer and quickerch it increases access for the fire department to the fourth floor bedroom not required by code we are enhancing safety as well. access to the third level for emergency access and egress from the bedrooms. the eero's. rescue openings.

i was prized to read that last minute letter. i think this is scatter shot type thing. it is like i would never in a million years look at this project and say it is not code compliant. i think that is why when planning was able to get attention of the fire department, they concurred they need have a stand pipe here or there but nothing that would affect the configuration. >> thank you very much. commissioners, i say you know i think that -- the challenging part of this project for me and that person can silence his phone would be of appreciated. contacting our standard and code. to health and safety.

we are behind and a find research and studies around access to open spaces necessary and i think that one handled we want to make sure that folks had on sight open space in the project. and need in the you need access to caused by a private development. i think this is highlights need to dial in how we are connecting health and safety to open space and sunlight. no disrespect to the caller. we are not there yet and had it is 55 degrees and i'm outside i'm stand nothing every sliver of sun i can find.

i think that is a challenge that i find. i don't know we have anything or see i have any finding that i hang my hat on to say well is too much shadow and the code does not require analysis of the shadow at this level of height. not to say we should change that but again we don't have the tools and information to protect the one thing i see is challenging about this project the shadow cast on a modest but more that reason important recreation space. we need standards a we can't approve or impacting public health and safety if it cast x percent shadow. we -- it is change to find that information and the scientific research to back up how we quantify that. that is right.

is that is the change the groups that wrote in concerned and here today about open space i share that concern and finds it to be manage that we need to figure out how we dial in because it is important. everything you said about sunlight and the social pace. public open pace and the trends

we see don't think we will abate soon is the density bonus the way folks prowse or propose to produce and get housing in the city we gotta work with rec p and others to figure out how we dial this in not in a way obstructing housing but help it to intgrit in the neighborhood and maintain the values that worked hard through the code to develop. i will call on commissioner moore. >> i like to remind director hillous and i like to share with the commission that a few years ago. explore public open spaceos slopped side.

and ajoining heights to 20 feet to protect a lower line open space. there is i strong movement to protect all public spaces with no increase in shadow throughout the city. then the discussion of -- the transit center. which is built on the flat and moved away from supporting that as a way to g. however the issue about open spaces on slopped cites impacted by uphill buildings as we have here is an issue. that had and should stay center of when we are concerned about. i happened to live near by. and the -- upper knob hill china town is completely void of open spaces. density build.

except for that peculiar community center. which a community we built after decades of fighting for it to be improved. a central community garthing spachls i have a couple of other questions. i want to remine people there was an attempt for building height along slope side and open space of 20 feet that has been done in the past. i want to ask first there drurary to explain you to what the background of the site is and your reaction to these

chemicals are known to cause cancer. they are unusual to find in a site. we are curious how it is there. it is unusual and highly to beingic chemical. environmental chemist used to run the super fund program. he said he was shocked the chemicals were there and site mitigation plan is inadequate. visual and of factary observation for dem cals odorless and colorless is

absurd. the fact there is a mitigation plan cannot be an exemption. if mitigation is required, you cannot exempt the project from ceqa. that is established case law at court of appeal level there is no question a site mitigation plan there are measures required there has to be a ceqa document as a matter of luwe believe that the show this mitigation is inadequate to negate the risk and like the mitt fwagz to look at shadow and can the project be redesigned to reduce heado on this important rescue rigzal center and we are talking about safe guarding the children. the elders who use that recreational center. not just from shadow risks which

has been down by people saying it causes cancer. but we have chemicals that do cause cancer we had safe guard the children approximate elders who use the center >> thank you i appreciate you clarifying that i like to remind everybody the cable cars all around this site. there was a cable car you have cliff. well is one going up wish wash street and a cable car will going up jackson street and a cable car down powell street and x. this area originally i have to assume was heavily dedicated to the operation of cable cars as like entering in industrial age of public transportation in san francisco. i would be interested in hearing and seeing more clarification on what is potential low wrong with the site.

i like to spend a mobile home asking mr. mazey a couple of questions. the project as a tiny townhouse project is a great idea. however, given the ways the townhouses sit closely attached each other being too tall in the context to occur. the tien word does not quite resonate with me. if the townhouses would be townhouse one, 3, 5 approximate 7 it would be a different story. i would like to ask you with a 5 foot access path for all 9, how do you think mail is delivered? >> how do you think recology

taking garbage is done? the practical ways of operate nothing a multiunit environment has project cal aspects. for example i like the idea of bicycle. that is not clear enough. there was a hand rimissing when i bring up my bicycle and handel bar. the handel bar is where the my [inaudible] i would like to pull my personal shopping cart up in r. perhaps a family with a baby stroll and a ramp that allows that. there are practical questions i like to throw out together with the fact your analogue of hol around as much as i like hol around we don't have the canal in front of our house where my by come delivering my stein way

piano and -- how do you seat practicality of bring a 60 inch television set in my house approximate up my spill roll stair which is 3 feet and radius. those are like fiimagine living there those are questions i would ask. why i will try to start from the beginning of in terms of -- mail. we provide mailbox collective mail box at street level entry. all mail at street level. postal worker would not have to travel up the stairs. trash recycling and compost, the basement where the 1 parking space is has a dedicated trash/recycle room. all the trash is at grade and so

it does not require recology or a service to go to each unit. >> it is a walk up. wagz you gotta go down the 20 feet or 15 feast to that area i do that in my building where i live i go down from the third store tow the first floor and walk it down. not a big deal inform terms of the bike the bike ramp it is work is they are the channel that guides the wheel. allows to you angle your bikes you can avoid hitting the code required railingings we have on both sides of the access stair. i don't know if anyone installed in san francisco but i seen them other place in europe and they are darn effective. see the other question the about the if there will be i slant

prosecute vision for my shopping cart and for my baby carriage. that would address that issue of family housing >> likewise. we have a large garage which is not dedicated to any unit i believe there is space for things like strollers i myself had 3 kids over 30 scombroers i know the need for strollers. prosecute so, yea, again well is plenty of room in the unassigned garage for those with learninger items. like i carry my groceries up 3 flights. my 92 year old mother live in a 3 story home and this kept her healthy going up and down the stairs. yea. no project is perfect we tried optimize it given the site constraints and it it is on a sloping site and trying to avoid a massive elevator type building. i mean with regard to shadow as

well i know this is not one of your questions we are in theup slope and there are tall buildings beyonds and high rised the top of the slope in the western sun we are not blocking southern sun when the western sun drops down it is shaded from the hill the massive russian knob hill above us. again you think we tried to minimize that providing with the commission the city set as a policy. family sized housing. and everybody knows the financing make it challenging. torous the number of bedroom and to reduce the height of buildings. and then work counter to that. policy goal does not seem to be a good approach. would not make or threaten the project and make it less financially viability.

i disagree with you on the issue of the project not providing open space. only in the sensitive mixed retail can look for denseification the degree you are proposing. i think you make a voluntary choice to add an affordable unit it is in the affordablism could not afford it i'm looking around i'm not trying to speck lit on what our earning capables are under 20ami is requires a high income and the units you are building are easy low in the 1.6 million dollars a shot. hard to imagine given the everything else you are doing. i'm like, a bit disturbed by fact that your skills as an act make you somewhat gain system. heardly anybody unless it come

to large projects you throwing and an afford okay unit in order to do the state density bonus thing. and since we don't require anymore soundness report of the existing building demolished i dare to say the existing building is of sound condition special i don't believe that the narrative you are spinning out with adding this unit is comfortable to me because the denial of or thing xepz of using the wrong word. the exceptions you are asking for on open pace and setback is questionable to me. i as a commissioner, have a difficult time signing off on off the findings i need to make. and there was one person here a commenter who poke about this. that is compatibility. context and.

and, and. i like the basic idea buoy believe this it would require alegality of tweaking including the materiality which inpresent for the neighborhood. this neighborhood is basically clear and simple and materials a legality of horizontal siding far from core 10 and as far as from any dialogue with the beauty of the cable car bond that i don't understand of how you could protest that. i saw a core 10 building overnight weekends and horrifyd and i had not fully reviewed your proposal yet. i was horrified how bad it locked and core 10 is core 10. under peculiar climate act. dem pending what neighborhood you are in. find core 10 a poor choice of material. >> that's where i am.

yao want him to responded or make the comments. i'm finished. >> thank you. >> thank you very much. >> ms. gibson i'm concern body this soil contammy nanlt and mr. drew easier asertions and want to understand had the program is my understanding we have a program in which the project is enrolled i'm looking at the flow chart now anybody can look. the flow chart this has a yes on everything they had to submit i mitigation plan and concludes actions they must take and buzz there is a plan therefore ceqa exemption is in the appropriate. i understand use the same word and different meeting could you elaborate had mitigations might have been a part television. where lisa gibson environmental

review officer this is an on going will disagreement that the city has with mr. drewy about his characterization of d ph review process and the site mitigation plan provisions. we acert that those are not mitigations in the sense environmental quality act. the program is uniformly applicable process. the experience dp makes a commitment that is a manuscript that they must implement the measures that are identified by the department of public health and apply state standards that are approving methods of mitigating the contammy nanlts

on the site it is i common situation. if it were the case that the mere presence of a detectible level of contamination were to require mitigation that would mean mitigated declaration for a number of projects every year. we updated the program to specifically implement the measures in a way that does in the trig are the measures being mitigation measure under ceqa this . is an of process because we did mitigated the machine wagz of condition tammyination. ceqa has an exception for cites that are on the cortez list. this is in the. and therefore we do finds this is present for us to issue an exemption on those grounds >> i would assume what while

there may be some contammy nanlts which observation or of factary observation is present that other contaminants have other mean and they are part of the mitigation plan. those are not appropriate but appropriate methods may be include elsewhere in the plan? could you elaborate. i'm not an expert in hassard offs materials we have the department of public health to over see this important issue. i don't in any way want to be per received min miegz the concerns. they are serious and understand upon why neighbors are concerned about temperature we want to make sure that the project is in the endanger public health and safety of the workers doing the excaeration on the site as well as neighbors in the vicinity and the future occupants of building it is the dhas is alarming it

miapore there are contammy nanlts. there are rue ways to address those and has been testing then informed the development of the site mitigation left lane and i don't have these measures committed to memory. but based on the information i have in front of me. some of measures include -- the vapor intrusion. vapor mitigation system that he cited as well as manage to address the soil and stock piles that during excavation and protocols for ensuring that there would not be any limiting ingress and e egress during the excavation of the materials. some are volatile and i'm concerned that's where the vapor intrusion system will address