DZLU MEETING DATE: May 23, 2023
1. ONGOING PROJECT UPDATES
a. 939 LOMBARD STREET
Please see last month’s minutes for detailed background on this project. The owner and architect attended this month’s DZLU meeting and were joined by Stephanie Falkenstein, RHN’s Families Committee Chair who is also a Yick Wo parent. The owner and architect presented the project as well as a new shadow study. The study indicates an increase in shade on the northwestern quadrant of the school yard in summer during the late afternoon. Impacts at other times and seasons are nil or modest.
There was general DZLU agreement in several areas, focusing on (1) a desire to explore adjustments to the massing at upper levels to soften the scale transition toward the school and potentially mitigate any shadow and privacy impacts as well, (2) a request to look at strategies to improve privacy at east-facing windows and (3) giving consideration to incorporating an ADU in deference to advocates for additional housing. The project team seemed very open to concerns and willing to explore these items. We are following up to review any proposed changes. They also said they would gladly meet at short notice with Yick Wo parents and school representatives under Stephanie’s lead.
Subsequently, the team met via Zoom with several parents and school representatives. Revised drawings have been prepared showing an upper level setback along the entire east elevation facing the school, deletion of the stair and elevator roof penthouses, and increased sill heights at east-facing windows. These are being reviewed by Planning staff. In response to parents’ concerns about construction safety and impacts, we recommend the contractor implement a robust construction management plan and a communications plan with school staff.
Site Aerial Photo:
Proposed Elevation Along Lombard:
5. ONGOING POLICY UPDATES
a. HOUSING POLICY UPDATES
– Breed-Engardio proposals:
Mayor Breed and Supervisor Engardio have introduced legislation to eliminate the need for conditional use authorization for housing projects that are otherwise code-compliant, to remove zoning limitations on special types of residential projects such as senior housing, shelter and group housing, as well as to relax open space and setback requirements. Also, eligibility of projects for the city’s local density bonus program, HomeSF, would be expanded. These are all part of the ongoing effort to support production of housing as required by the recently adopted Housing Element.
https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/mayor-breed-introduces-legislation-speed-s-f-s-17904201.php
– SPUR/Gensler/ULI study of office-to-residential conversion:
This highly publicized study concentrates on buildings in San Francisco’s central business district. Candidates more likely to be feasible for conversion tend to be pre-1950 structures under 9 stories high. To achieve financial feasibility, the study recommends a range of policy changes including subsidies (citing Calgary as an example of a successful program), property tax abatements, building and planning code revisions to eliminate requirements such as open space mandates that may not be feasible or pertinent to downtown buildings, relaxation of impact fees and inclusionary housing targets that currently render many projects financially infeasible and implementation of streamlined ministerial approvals rather than discretionary processes.
https://www.spur.org/sites/default/files/2023-05/SPUR_Office-to-Residential_Conversion_in_SF.pdf
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