Planning Commission

Remote Public Comment

Notice is hereby given to the general public that applications involving the properties and/or issues described below have been filed with the Planning Department for review as set forth in the City Planning Code. The Planning Commission intends to hold a PUBLIC HEARING on these items and on other matters on Thursday, May 4, 2023, beginning at 1:00 p.m. or later. Please be advised that due to the COVID-19 emergency, the Planning Commission may conduct this hearing remotely using videoconferencing technology or in-person at City Hall. Additional information may be found on the Department’s website.

2022-004965CUA: 2490 SAN BRUNO AVENUE – West side between Silliman and Felton Streets; Lot 012 in Assessor’s Block 5925 (District 9) - Request for Conditional Use Authorization pursuant to Planning Code Sections 202.2, 303, and 741 to establish an approximately 1,908 square-foot Cannabis Retail Use with no on-site consumption of cannabis products (d.b.a. “Portola Pipeline”) within an existing vacant commercial space on the ground floor of a two-story commercial building within the San Bruno Avenue NC (Neighborhood Commercial) Zoning District and a 40-X Height and Bulk District. A Planning Commission approval at the public hearing would constitute the Approval Action for the project for the purposes of CEQA, pursuant to San Francisco Administrative Code Section 31.04(h). For further information, call Maggie Laush at (628) 652-7339 or email at Maggie.Laush@sfgov.org and ask about Record No. 2022-004965CUA.

2021-012645CUA / 2021-012645VAR: 1596 POST STREET – North side between Laguna and Gough Streets; Lot 016 in Assessor’s Block 0687 (District 5) – Request for Conditional Use Authorization, pursuant to Planning Code Sections 155(r) and 303, to allow a new 10-foot curb cut on a Transit Preferential Street (Laguna Street) for vehicular access to a new private residential garage within the RM-4 (Residential- Mixed, High Density) Zoning District, Japantown Cultural District, and 50-X Height and Bulk District. The Zoning Administrator will also consider a Variance from the Rear Yard provision (Section 134). A Planning Commission approval at the public hearing would constitute the Approval Action for the project for the purposes of CEQA, pursuant to San Francisco Administrative Code Section 31.04(h). For further information, call Gretel Gunther at (628) 652-7607, or via e-mail at gretel.gunther@sfgov.org and ask about Case No. 2021-012645CUA and Case No. 2021-012645VAR.

2023-002633PCA: Planning, Building, Fire Codes – Small Business Month Fee Waivers Including for Awning Installation [Board File No. 230212] – Ordinance amending the Planning, Building, and Fire Codes to codify the annual waiver of awning replacement fees and awning sign fees applied for during the month of May, to annually waive fees for new awning installations applied for during the month of May, and to indicate that the Planning Code, Building, and Fire Code waivers pertaining to pedestrian street lighting as well as awning replacement, awning installation, and awning sign fees are keyed to permit application in May rather than permit issuance in May; affirming the Planning Department’s determination under the California Environmental Quality Act; making findings of consistency with the General Plan, and the eight priority policies of Planning Code, Section 101.1; and making findings of public necessity, convenience, and welfare pursuant to Planning Code, Section 302. For further information, call Veronica Flores at (628) 652-7525 or email at veronica.flores@sfgov.org and ask about Case No. 2023-002633PCA.

2023-003165PCA: Planning and Building Codes - Commercial to Residential Adaptive Reuse and Downtown Economic Revitalization [Board File No. 230371] Ordinance amending the Planning Code to 1) facilitate residential uses Downtown by authorizing the conversion of non-residential uses to residential use in C (Commercial) zoning districts, and exempting such projects from requirements for rear yard, open space, streetscape improvements, dwelling unit exposure, bike parking, dwelling unit mix, and Intermediate Length Occupancy controls, and streamlining administrative approvals for projects in the C-3 zoning district, and modifying the dimensional limits on exemptions to height restrictions for mechanical equipment, elevator, stair, and mechanical penthouses; 2) economically revitalize Downtown by adding Flexible Workspace as a defined use, authorizing large scale retail uses in the C-3 zoning district, allowing window displays in the C-3 zoning district, allowing Flexible Workspace as an active ground floor commercial use along certain street frontages in C-3 zoning districts, allowing accessory storage in any C zoning district, allowing the temporary installation for 60 days of certain signs in the C-3-R district, allowing temporary non-residential uses in vacant spaces for up to one year, reducing density limits for Residential Dwelling Units and Senior Housing in the C-2 zoning districts east of or fronting Van Ness/South Van Ness Avenue and north of Harrison Street, principally permitting Laboratory, Life Science, Agricultural and Beverage Processing, and Animal Hospitals in C-2 zoning districts, principally permitting Senior Housing, Residential Care Facilities, Outdoor Entertainment, Open Recreation Areas, Animal Hospitals, and Trade Schools in the C-3 zoning district, allowing formula retail as a ground floor use on Market Street, principally permitting office and design professional uses on the second floor and higher in the C-3-R zoning district, and requiring consideration of office vacancy in consideration of granting exceptions in the Transit Center Commercial Special Use District; on assessor block/lot 3781/003 remove size limitations on retail sales and services and principally permit formula retail; 3) streamline sign permitting citywide and in the C-3 districts by allowing for the repair and rehabilitation of certain neon signs, and exempting existing business signs in the C-3 zoning district from certain zoning controls; 4) streamline Historic Preservation review of administrative certificates of appropriateness, and minor permits to alter for awnings, and Qualifying Scopes of Work, as may be delegated by the Historic Preservation Commission; 5) provide alternatives to on-site open space in certain C-3 districts by allowing for payment of an in lieu fee as an alternative to providing open space; 6) facilitate residential adaptive reuse by amending the Building Code to add standards for adaptive reuse of non-residential buildings; and 7) affirming the Planning Department’s determination under the California Environmental Quality Act; making findings of consistency with the General Plan and the eight priority policies of Planning Code, Section 101.1; and making findings of public necessity, convenience, and welfare pursuant to Planning Code, Section 302. For further information, call Lily Langlois at (628) 652-7472 or email at lily.langlois@sfgov.org and ask about Case No. 2023-003165PCA.

2023-003166PCA: Planning Code - Development Impact Fees for Commercial to Residential Adaptive Reuse Projects [Board File No. 230372] Ordinance amending the Planning Code to exempt eligible Commercial to Residential Adaptive Reuse Projects from development impact fees in Article 4, with the exception of inclusionary housing requirements in Section 415; affirming the Planning Department’s determination under the California Environmental Quality Act; making findings of consistency with the General Plan and the eight priority policies of Planning Code, Section 101; and making findings of public necessity, convenience, and welfare pursuant to Planning Code, Section 302. For further information, call Aaron Starr at (628) 652-7533 or email at Aaron.Starr@sfgov.org and ask about Case No. 2023-003166PCA.

2022-010007CUA: 345 SPEAR STREET – East side between Harrison and Folsom Streets; Lot 002 in Assessor’s Block 3744 (District 6) – Request for Conditional Use Authorization pursuant to Planning Code Section 303(e) to modify the Child Care condition of approval of Motion No. 10501, related to a required on-site childcare center, for a Conditional Use Authorization granted on November 14, 1985, by the Planning Commission. This Motion authorized the conversion of the historic Hills Bros. building to office use and the construction of a new mixed-use building with office, residential, and retail space on the subject property. A modification of the conditions of approval for the existing entitlements is not considered a “Project” under CEQA. For further information, call Rebecca Salgado at 628-652-7332 or email at rebecca.salgado@sfgov.org and ask about Record No. 2022-010007CUA.

2013.1535CUA-03: 450-474 O’FARRELL STREET – north side of O’Farrell Street and east side of Jones Street between Taylor and Jones Streets; Lots 007, 009 and 011 in Assessor’s Block 0317 (District 6) – Request under Planning Code Section 303 to amend Conditions of Approval of Planning Commission Motion No. 20281, adopted September 13, 2018, for Planned Unit Development/ Conditional Use Authorization. A revised project scope includes demolition of the existing church at 450 O’Farrell (APN 0317/007) and the existing single-story commercial building at 474 O’Farrell (APN 0317/009) and proposes to construct a 17-story mixed use building with 261 dwelling units, 8,850 square feet of institutional use (d.b.a. Fifth Church of Christ Scientist), and 1,660 square feet of ground floor commercial space pursuant to the State Density Bonus Law (CA Govt. Code Section 65915). The findings and Conditions of Approval of Motion No. 20281 are to be amended to reflect the project revision and status for a Project within the RC-4 Zoning District, the North of Market Residential Special Use District, and the 80-T-130-T Height and Bulk District. This project has undergone environmental review pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act and Chapter 31 of the San Francisco Administrative Code. The Planning Commission certified the Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the project on September 13, 2018 (Motion No. 20279). On May 2, 2023, the Planning Department published an addendum to Final EIR for the Project. No further environmental review is required. For further information, call Carly Grob at 628-652-7532 or email at carly.grob@sfgov.org and ask about Record No. 2013.1535CUA-03.

It is strongly recommended that persons submit their comments in writing in advance of the hearing. Written comments may be submitted via email directly to the case planner.

Persons who are unable to attend the scheduled Commission hearing may submit written comments regarding these cases to the individuals listed for each above via email or at the Planning Department, 49 South Van Ness Avenue, Suite 1400, San Francisco, CA 94103. Comments received by 9:30 a.m. on the day of the hearing will be made a part of the official record and will be brought to the attention of the Commission.

Pursuant to Government Code § 65009, if you challenge, in court, the approval of a conditional use, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the Commission at, or prior to, the public hearing.

Corey A. Teague
Zoning Administrator
Planning Department
49 South Van Ness Avenue, Suite 1400
San Francisco, CA 94103

4/12/2023