DZLU MEETING DATE: January 18, 2022 (via Zoom)
1. ONGOING PROJECT UPDATES
Below is a very brief status recap of several projects of interest that have been covered in more detail in previous reports. RHN had written support letters for the first three significant projects—1600 Jackson, 1580 Pacific and 659 Union.
a. 1600 JACKSON (at Polk–Mollie Stone’s)
Building permits appear to be moving through the process, with a number having been referred to the central permit bureau.
b. 1580 PACIFIC (at Polk–Site of Jug Shop)
Visible progress continues. Demolition is complete, foundations are underway and steel reinforcement for columns is being installed. The tower crane is in place.
c. 659 UNION (at Columbus—Verdi Building)
No conditional use hearing date has yet been set. North Beach Neighbors and RHN have issued letters of support. Plans have been submitted, including façade retention and shoring, a shadow study (no new shadow on Washington Square Park) and a transportation demand management plan. Environmental review is also underway.
d. 939 LOMBARD (at Jones)
Sponsor has filed a conditional use application for a single-family project as originally presented at the pre-app meeting.
e. 842-860 California (at Joice)
A Pre-Application meeting is scheduled on 2/9/22 for a 24-unit 6-story condo project that would replace low rise structures. Concerns have been raised about loss of a possible historic resource. Though outside RHN’s boundaries, DZLU will follow the project as similar proposals could emerge on Russian Hill.
Inquiries about several other locations that have remained vacant for lengthy periods came up. Applicability of Proposition D’s commercial vacancy tax was raised:
f. 1198 Pacific (Jones): Remodeling of the former New Russian Hill Market is planned to convert it to a specialty market with wine shelving, coffee bar and sandwich shop. Building, mechanical and fire dept permits have been submitted and recently approved.
g. 1196 Pacific (Jones): Pre-App meeting was scheduled on 2/4/22 at 6:00 pm for a proposed retail cannabis dispensary in a long-vacant storefront. We anticipate DZLU presence at meeting.
h. 2227 Polk (Vallejo): At former House Rules venue, a new restaurant named Bonita is planned and building permits have been issued for the remodel.
i. 2360 Polk (Union): The former Tonic site remains vacant since relocating to lower Nob Hill in 2018.
j. 1298 Union (Larkin): There was a question about the status of the Pegasus Food Shop which appears to have been abandoned for years and is unsightly. A 311 inquiry has been submitted.
2. ONGOING POLICY UPDATES
a. HOUSING—SF LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS
Discussion at DZLU continued on Sup. Mandelman’s proposals on 4-plexes on RH lots and on “monster” homes:
The Planning Commission on 11/18/21approved proposals to allow 4-plexes in RH-zoned lots and to allow 6-units at street corner lots. See DZLU’s November 2021 meeting report for more detail. This is anticipated to move in the near future to the BOS Land Use and Transportation Committee. Additional proposals by Supervisors Safai and Mar may also be discussed at future Commission hearings.
Another iteration of objective design standards for RH lots was on the agenda at the Planning Commission’s 1/27/22 meeting. These are in lieu of the current Residential Design Standards which are considered to be subjective and inconsistent with the State’s recently enacted SB-9 enabling 4-plexes on RH-1 lots. One focus is on massing controls especially toward the rear to maintain rear yard light. The Commission approved the proposed massing and landscape standards, with the recommendation to continue to refine various architectural and detailing standards.
A link to the new standards is below:
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