DZLU MEETING DATE: May 22, 2018
- ONGOING PROJECT UPDATES:
- Whole Foods 365 at 1600 Jackson — Nothing new since the April 26th Conditional Use hearing. The Commission voted to continue the hearing for 90 days asking the development team to consider incorporating housing on the 2nd floor and potentially in a 3rd floor penthouse expansion. A 20,000 sf store, as WF365 has proposed, would not be permitted if there were to be complete demolition and replacement of the building, as new zoning restricts retail space to a maximum of 4,000 sf.
- Philz Coffee — At the Conditional Use hearing on May 10th the Commission unanimously approved the project. RHN had supported this application. Though concerned about the large number of coffee shops in a two-block area and the potential impact of formula retail, there was a stronger concern about empty storefronts on Polk St. and recognition of the popularity of this San Francisco-based company.
- 915 North Point – DZLU representatives will have a project update meeting with Jamestown on May 30 A Conditional Use hearing is anticipated to be scheduled late summer or fall. The top level of the 37-unit, four-story building has been set back on the North Point side and set back from an adjacent residence on Larkin St. among several other adjustments that have been made in an effort to ameliorate concerns of neighbors.
- ONGOING POLICY UPDATES:
- Lombard St. Traffic Management — A report was issued by the City to manage traffic on Lombard St. with a reservation toll system. A meeting was held with Supervisor Stefani and Andrew Heidle who indicated that this would need State legislation (for introduction by Scott Wiener). Starting May 31st, “Ambassadors” will be assigned to the crooked portion of Lombard Street to aim to better manage the traffic.
- Historic Preservation – RHN President and VP met with Supervisor Peskin to register RHN’s concern about historic preservation especially within the Historic Preservation Districts. Supervisor Peskin said he is looking into refining demolition controls. This may supercede the Planning Department’s earlier work on the Residential Expansion Threshold that had been tabled.
- Polk Street/Pacific Avenue Special Area Guidelines — The RHN Board approved DZLU’s letter that has been sent to Planning regarding these guidelines that apply on Polk from Filbert to Post and on Pacific from Polk to Jones.
- Undergrounding of Utilities — Additional endorsements include D2 Supervisor Stefani and neighborhood associations in Districts 10 and 11. Discussions continue on appropriate per mile cost estimates for the project.
Undergrounding utilities- Here is a simple idea that should already be in place. Anyone who has to upgrade their service where there is poll service should also have to trench for future service. Eventually all polls will be gone someday so this seems like a no brainer. It will help in cutting down the cost when the street gets converted.
Thanks, Marvin. This was passed on to the DZLU/Undergrounding team.
We recently moved to Russian Hill on Green and Jones from west of Twin Peaks.
We’v noticed that Jones from Union Street to Nob Hill is an Uber/Lyft Motor Speedway. Their GPS must take them that way. Not only do they race along Jones, but they quite often do not stop at the intersection of Jones and Green, just roll through it, and are a danger to pedestrians because they can’t see if anyone is in the cross walks because of the steepness of the hill. Some locals probably do that, too, but the problem seems particularly associated with ride sharing. vehicles.
Some ticketing enforcement is in order.