Hearing Procedures (HPC)

The Historic Preservation Commission holds public hearings regularly, on the first and third Wednesday, of most months. The full hearing schedule for the calendar year and the Commission Rules & Regulations may be found on the Department's website.

Public Comments: Persons attending a hearing may comment on any scheduled item.

• When speaking before the Commission, please note the time. Speakers will hear two alarms. The first soft sound indicates the speaker has 30 seconds remaining. The second louder sound indicates that the speaker’s opportunity to address the Commission has ended.

Sound-Producing Devices Prohibited: The ringing of and use of mobile phones and other sound-producing electronic devices are prohibited at this meeting. Please be advised that the Chair may order the removal of any person(s) responsible for the ringing or use of a mobile phone, pager, or other similar sound-producing electronic devices (67A.1 Sunshine Ordinance: Prohibiting the use of cell phones, pagers and similar sound-producing electronic devices at and during public meetings).

For most cases (Conditional Uses, Planned Unit Developments, Section 309’s, etc.) that are considered by the Historic Preservation Commission, after being introduced by the Commission Secretary, shall be considered by the Commission in the following order:

1. Presentation by Staff
2. Presentation by the Project Sponsor’s Team (which includes: the sponsor, representative, legal counsel, architect, engineer, expeditor and/or any other advisor) for a period not to exceed ten minutes, at the discretion of the Chair
3. Public testimony from supporters of the Project not to exceed three minutes, at the discretion of the Chair
4. Presentation by Organized Opposition recognized by the Commission President through written request prior to the hearing for a period not to exceed ten minutes, at the discretion of the Chair
5. Public testimony from opponents of the Project not to exceed three minutes, at the discretion of the Chair
6. Staff follow-up and/or conclusions
7. Public comment portion of the hearing shall be closed and deliberation amongst the Commissioners shall be opened by the Chair
8. A motion to approve; approve with conditions; approve with amendments and/or modifications; disapprove; or continue to another hearing date, if seconded, shall be voted on by the Commission

Every Official Act taken by the Commission must be adopted by a majority vote of all members of the Commission, with a minimum of four votes. A failed motion results in the disapproval of the requested action unless a subsequent motion is adopted. Any Procedural Matter, such as a continuance, may be adopted by a majority vote of members present, as long as the members present constitute a quorum (four members of the Commission).

Appeals

The following is a summary of appeal rights associated with the various actions that may be taken at a Historic Preservation Commission hearing.

*An appeal of a Certificate of Appropriateness or Permit to Alter/Demolish may be made to the Board of Supervisors if the project requires Board of Supervisors approval or if the project is associated with a Conditional Use Authorization appeal. An appeal of an Office Allocation may be made to the Board of Supervisors if the project requires a Conditional Use Authorization.

For more information regarding the Board of Appeals process, please contact the Board of Appeals at (628) 652-1150. For more information regarding the Board of Supervisors process, please contact the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors at (415) 554-5184 or board.of.supervisors@sfgov.org.

Challenges

Pursuant to Government Code Section 65009, if you challenge, in court, 1) the adoption or amendment of a general plan; 2) the adoption or amendment of a zoning ordinance; 3) the adoption or amendment of any regulation attached to a specific plan; 4) the adoption, amendment or modification of a development agreement; or 5) the approval of a variance, conditional use authorization, or any permit; 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.

CEQA Appeal Rights under Chapter 31 of the San Francisco Administrative Code

If the Commission's action on a project constitutes the Approval Action for that project (as defined in S.F. Administrative Code Chapter 31, as amended, Board of Supervisors Ordinance Number 161-13), then the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) determination prepared in support of that Approval Action is thereafter subject to appeal within the time frame specified in S.F. Administrative Code Section 31.16. This appeal is separate from and in addition to an appeal of an action on a project. Typically, an appeal must be filed within 30 calendar days of the Approval Action for a project that has received an exemption or negative declaration pursuant to CEQA. For information on filing an appeal under Chapter 31, contact the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors at City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 244, San Francisco, CA 94102, or call (415) 554-5184. If the Department’s Environmental Review Officer has deemed a project to be exempt from further environmental review, an exemption determination has been prepared and can be obtained online. Under CEQA, in a later court challenge, a litigant may be limited to raising only those issues previously raised at a hearing on the project or in written correspondence delivered to the Board of Supervisors, Planning Commission, Planning Department or other City board, commission or department at, or prior to, such hearing, or as part of the appeal hearing process on the CEQA decision.

Proposition F

Under Campaign and Governmental Conduct Code Section 1.127, no person or entity with a financial interest in a land use matter pending before the Board of Appeals, Board of Supervisors, Building Inspection Commission, Commission on Community Investment and Infrastructure, Historic Preservation Commission, Planning Commission, Port Commission, or the Treasure Island Development Authority Board of Directors, may make a campaign contribution to a member of the Board of Supervisors, the Mayor, the City Attorney, or a candidate for any of those offices, from the date the land use matter commenced until 12 months after the board or commission has made a final decision or any appeal to another City agency from that decision has been resolved. The San Francisco Ethics Commission has more information about this restriction.

San Francisco Lobbyist Ordinance

Individuals and entities that influence or attempt to influence local legislative or administrative action may be required by the San Francisco Lobbyist Ordinance (SF Campaign and Governmental Conduct Code Section 21.00-2.160) to register and report lobbying activity. For more information about the Lobbyist Ordinance, please contact the San Francisco Ethics Commission at 25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 220, San Francisco, CA 94102, by phone (415) 252-3100 or fax (415) 252-3112.