he used to be downtown in the city by the embarcadero freeway. it used to have this very building itself in this repair. we believe this revitalizes the waterfront. we have already done a number of those projects that would involve changing the waterfront and the changing of the embarcadero freeway and roadway. some of those projects were done as a public/private partnership. some of those words oere the fe building itself. the building of harry bridges plaza. these are pretty significant changes that have happened in that area. these have all been pursuant to the waterfront land use plan that the port completed an extensive public process with many stakeholders, including many neighborhood groups and various people in the city. i just wanted to take a moment -- this is the building as it used to be. i just want to take a moment and acknowledge there were a number of wonderful things that happened as part of the process of building. we have had great public partners -- private partners. i want to acknowledge the work they have done and making it a

guy said that this product is consistent with the northeast embarcadero study. also, i believe that the project sponsors architect said that the project implements the study. it seems to me that, if the project implements the study and is consistent with the study, it is, in some way, a land-use plan. the cnr document denies that but i do not believe it is true. secondly, and i am not a ceqa expert here, but the response to the ceqa section guidelines at 15262 says that a project involving only feasibility or planning studies for possible future actions, which the agency board or commission has not approved, adopted, or funded, does not require the preparation of an 10th eir or negative declaration. but we did fund this study. outcome is not subject to an environmental report? i think those points were made earlier. it is also contained in the letter we received. i think -- i appreciate leaving the cnr documents in appendix c, the video simulation of the proposed project along the embarcadero. for me, it was rather revealing in many ways. it somehow more clearly

and the embarcadero would be really an escaped and widened. and you open space, also known as pacific park would be subject to the north lily site. it would measure approximately 11,500 square feet it is proposed to include grass seating areas, and children's play areas, as well as seating for an adjacent cafe. these bases would strengthen and expand an existing network of richly-landscape pedestrian connections. the project also includes 255 parking spaces within the garages that would be accessible to the general public in order to restore the health club and other resources on the site and to provide parking and other waterfront uses in the vicinity. several other parking facilities have been recently removed or proposed for future removal. therefore the amount of non- residential is appropriate for the project. however, in terms of residential parking, a project proposes 134 parking spaces to serve it well unit, and they are requesting a modification to the limitations maximum of 54 residential spaces provided within the district. given the

well-seeded and brilliantly planned for the embarcadero. this site is the ideal location for higher density housing on a major transit corridor with open access to the waterfront. the existing golden gate tennis and swimming club represents an integrated urban paradigm that serves to privileged few. it privatizes the waterfront that should be shared by all san franciscans. remove a portion of the private tennis courts in exchange for public open space is inappropriate, civic-minded compromise. -- is an appropriate, civic- minded compromise. this will change our city into a walkable city, connecting jackson square, north beach, and chinatown to the embarcadero, encouraging more pedestrian and bike traffic to and from the waterfront. in closing, no development is not better development. this project embraces a larger planning considerations that will activate our waterfront, providing a vital link to the embarcadero's urbanism, as well as engaged design excellence and standards that will look forward, rather than backward. [bell rings] assurin

well-seeded and brilliantly planned for the embarcadero. this site is the ideal location for higher density housing on a major transit corridor with open access to the waterfront. the existing golden gate tennis and swimming club represents an integrated urban paradigm that serves to privileged few. it privatizes the waterfront that should be shared by all san franciscans. remove a portion of the private tennis courts in exchange for public open space is inappropriate, civic-

they seek new development along the northern embarcadero. in the column "san francisco," -- "ever tumor i give my duty, first in rapture, first in ud, glad of the light god gave, cleanly and strongly she is my cool grey city of love." thank you. >> good afternoon, commissioners. my name is sarah and i am it proud to stand before you today in support of the 8 washington project. we believe this development is a significant improvement on a key intersection of the city's no. waterfront. this project is, as you heard earlier, of the city wide importance. many people testified the embarcadero is a tool. is -- a jewel. the 8 washington project proposes to provide publicly- accessible open space, housing, renovated clubs, and underground parking. not surface parking, but undergrad. we are pleased with the design of the project, which includes the addition of green roofs to the project and playground area. we support the current project, which we believe are perfect for the area. the project sponsor has made adjustments to the design and scale of th

i am a san francisco resident who cheered for the demolition of the embarcadero expressly. since then, i have often wondered what it would take for the city to stop turning away from its gorgeous waterfront. the answer is entrepreneurialism projects by private enterprises who are committed to the idea that our city, first and foremost, features a world-class waterfront. in my opinion, the project is a tasteful and thoughtful project for a difficult site. it looks towards the harbor in some of the ugly apartment buildings. it creates a sense of the embarcadero as a boulevard, rather than a set of chain-link fences and driveways. frankly, i think the city of san francisco is lucky to have attracted the project. my only advice is that the major buildings should be much higher than they are planned. 15 to 20 stories. that is what you see in chicago on lake shore drive, which is the closest approximation that i can think of of what the embarcadero should emulate. yours truly. thank you. [applause] >> thank you. daree, ms. ranier.

i am a san francisco resident who cheered for the demolition of the embarcadero expressly. since then, i have often wondered what it would take for the city to stop turning away from its gorgeous waterfront. the answer is entrepreneurialism projects by private enterprises who are committed to the idea that our city, first and foremost, features a world-class waterfront. in my opinion, the project is a tasteful and thoughtful project for a difficult site. it looks towards the harbor in some of the ugly apartment buildings. it creates a sense of the embarcadero as a boulevard, rather than a set of chain-link fences and driveways. frankly, i think the city of san francisco is lucky

its street frontage on the embarcadero may err on the side immodesty. finally, it should not simply be so difficult to build something of such excellence in our city. this project should be a cause of rejoicing and celebration, not controversy and obstruction. most respectively, daniel solomon. thank you. >> thank you, commissioners. i am president of the mark company. a key focus of our business is doing research in the residential real-estate market, is this ability -- specifically in san francisco. we have a standard research report each month, quarterly recaps, and annual recaps. i want to talk about the dire need for housing and why do support 8 washington. in the year 2008, which was a peak, there were 34 projects that were actively selling and had 10 units or more. 34 in 2008. today, the first quarter 2012, there are only nine projects in san francisco with 10 units or more that actively selling. that is a decrease of over 70% in terms of the number of projects. if we look at the number of units, the peak was 2007 with 3000 units where you could

commissioner borden, aye. >> i understand you want to move the portion of the embarcadero which is a map change and that is under this item as well since you voted the previous item to change the code so that portion can move forward. and how the rest of it continue to april. -- have the rest of it continue to april. >> commissioners. commissioner moore: the only question i would ask you to explain to us is, is it only a map changed? in a larger discussion, this happens to be the port's main street. i would prefer not to take this out separately but see it in aio get some guidance. >> again it would only prohibit general advertising signs and signs of greater than 200 square feet. in your last motion to approve to change the planning code. this motion would make the map correspond to that. >> if you are entertaining the possibility of taking action as staff has recommended, i would recommend that you open public comment before you take that action. commissioner wu: is there any public comment? seeing none, public comment is closed. >> is your microphone on? commissioner antonini: it s

the current zoning along the northeast embarcadero is from north point down to broadway, 40 feet as shown in orange. the purple section is the site of 8 washington from broadway to washington street. this crossesthis is currently 8n height. shown here in yellow, the entire embarcadero street front from washington to broadway will be reduced from the current 84 feet. from this point, i too will step back and away from waterfront and away from neighborhood of to address the city. this can be seen in detail. this outline shows the waterfront. you can see the insertion and how it steps down the neighborhood from the city and perhaps even more graphically here, for stepping down from the city alcoa building down to our smaller 8 washington shown in yellow and makes the transition from the city to the waterfront. but perhaps it would be best shown in three dimensions. it is a three-dimensional plan as well as the process. the current on global as 84 feet across the entire length and width of all three blocks. it also allows up to 600 dwelling units. our first design began with piercing this env

there is that partial obstruction for a portion of the trip along the embarcadero of that one aspect of the scenic view. but the rest of the scenic vista is still all there. the day, the bridge, treasure island, the ferry building, the clock tower. we concluded that, because you still have a majority of the scenic vista, a partial or whole obstruction for a limited part of that trip was less than significant. that was the basis for our decision. it is not trying to convince anyone to agree with us but we are laying out the evidence as to why we found less than significant. i wanted to make sure that that was made clear. president fong: i will make a couple of comments. i am continually impressed by the technical questions that this commission is able to bring up. i feel like i am intimately knowledgeable about this project and this site. after growing up on the waterfront, spending five years on the port commission when this product was being discussed initially, and watching the project sponsor shift the project, it has probably gone through four or five different changes in response

part of it will be higher than the embarcadero freeway was when it was up. the wit of this project is as wide as a football field. the comment had been made by others earlier that this project sets a precedent for the future. the eir says there is nothing pending nearby. that is just flat out wrong. many of the same entities that are involved with this are also involved with a pending project which is before the planning commission that would tear down 75 howard, replace all of that with a residential tower. that would be a precedent. along the waterfront, you will have a cumulative impact of not only a massive project at 8 washington but also a proposed project at 75 howard. you move on a little bit, you have a restaurant that will be moved again at the corner of broadway and the embarcadero. all of which will impact the ferry building which is an icon and critically important as well as the exploratory of which it be a good project for the city coming forward. we can and should do better. this project sets a precedent and it will have a profound impact and

the motion affects what would be item no. 6 which is adding the embarcadero -- excuse me. hat has to do with the scenic street. >> staff is recommending that adding embarcadero to the scenic street and approve the mapping changes to a later date. you discussed the relative tax changes. consistent with the last action. -- you discussed the relative changes. commissioner miguel: had we not separated things down, if i had been only on this, we would have had these items as one item, basically. that is what we're doing. commissioner moore: do we have a map so we can see the map? we have that anywhere? it is in words? >> it is in words but it is along the embarcadero. commissioner wu: any other discussion? secretary, could you repeat the motion? >> mine understanding is that you would -- my understanding is you would pull out the embarcadero scenic sign area and task that today to be mapped. all other components of the mapping legislation that is before you would be continued. i am assuming to your april 5 hearing. >> yes. >> on that motion. you asked me to call the question. co

this would be the high increase along the embarcadero. to give that big give, what is the city getting back? is there enough public benefit from the project? with regard to the shadows on the park. there are no shadow limits set for the park itself but the embarcadero plaza going north was part of the original list that has the no shadow increase. embarcadero plaza is closer to the embarcadero and on the northern edge of it. , i have some questions about giving exception to shadows for something that is not an exceedingly great public good again. i have seen the shadow exemptions. i have not seen it done before for something that is not an affordable housing project. the pud allows the developer to ask for a number of exceptions with regard to zoning or parking. parking in particular, the existing zoning on this site is rc4. because the pud, the developer is able to ask for something that is similar to parking regulations. the question is why, what is the overriding public good? i know there is a park or an open space considered on part of

north, walking along the embarcadero, we are sliding along here. you can see the qualities of very lively, pedestrian scale space. very important. this new aquatics center, recreation fees, overhanging park is a big restaurant, which will anchor this new child- friendly, family-friendly park at the northern end. if we look then at the details looking back, here is an elevation of the building. you can see how it is punctuated at the quarter that separates the building from the left and the embarcadero building on the right. to look at the street level view of what this will actually be, here we are in washington street. you can see a sidewalk of 30 feet, which will accommodate both new public benches as well as indoor/outdoor dining. likewise, looking back along washington toward the alcoa building, you can see this new urban edge that replaces the current surface parking lot and blank wall. this will now be a very engaged urban edge with public art throughout. looking back toward washington, again, indoor/outdoor dining, to be connected to the publ

along the embarcadero, the project is lower than the existing 84-foot height limit. the urban design scheme came from the publicly sponsored ne waterfront land use plan study. that is what set the highest -- the public process. i cannot think of any project that has gone through more public participation than this one. there is no reason why this project should not go ahead and malfeasance -- many reasons why it should. the benefits to the public are huge. $9 million to the mayor's office of housing for affordable housing, and as we have heard, this is virtually the only source of money for moh that we have today. an additional $5 million in initial revenue. $30 million to the infrastructure finance district. $83 million in resources. 3/4 of an acre of open space, and a superb urban design and architecture statement. furthermore, activated sidewalks, and a developer that has a sterling reputation based on their past waterfront projects. as a professional planner, i am absolutely confident that it is complete and accurate and should be certified today that the ceqa fi

if you think it is a fluke, walk farther down the embarcadero. the great waterfront city. every great waterfront city from vancouver to sydney has build high-quality projects along the waterfront. these projects provide the urban backdrop for the street lights and waterfront access that is so important to the vitality of these unique cities. the understand that surface parking lots on public land along the waterfront are not enhancing urban design or civic life. there is only a handful that are able to replace the missing teeth of urban design that will complete the embarcadero as a great urban waterfront boulevard. if there is one spot where you would build a building to transition to the edge of the financial district, this is it. this is the right place for this kind of project. moderate density is the other point. even though it allows 600 units, this includes 134. even though it allows for the flat height, this modulates the height to step up back front to back starting from 59 feet. even though it eliminates an of the surface parking lot, it replaces the places withi