Transcripts For SFGTV Government Access Programming 20180224

Devices. Items acted upon today will appear on the february 27 board of supervisors agenda, unless otherwise stated. Is thank you very much. Can you please call item one . Item number one, ordinance amending the planning dozed establish the gearymasonic special use district in the area generally bounded by geary boulevard to the south, masonic avenue to the east and assessors parcels block number 1071, lots one and four to the north and west respectively. Thank you. I will defer to supervisor stefani first since this is in her district. Thank you. You heard this project last week. Most important, it allows the number of Affordable Housing units in the project to go from three to 22. That is more affordable units than the total number of units in the original project. Again, these amendments raised the inclusionary from 18 to 23 and broken down as 10 at 55 of the a. M. I. , 4 at 80 a. M. I. , 4 at 110 a. M. I. And 5 at 120 of a. M. I. And the appropriate a. M. I. Bans will apply. The second recommendation is around car share spaces and the Commission Recommended four of the spaces be reserved for car share. On the advice of the City Attorney, the amendments increased the findings requiring car share and the 16 spaces to be reserved for car share use. Again, i want to thank the Laurel Heights Improvement Association for being forwardthinking and the Developers Working so well with the neighbours. This project in a neighbourhood that hasnt seen any new housing is very welcomed. And i just want to thank everyone for their hard work on seeing this across the finish line. I was aid to supervisor farrell when this started over two years ago and to see it now is just incredible. So im happy to bring this uniquely dense neighbourhood and project forward. Thank you. Thank you, supervisor. Any other colleagues . Supervisor safai . No. Ill reserve. All right. And if we dont have any questions for planning staff as well, then i will open this item up to Public Comment. I have two speaker cards. Kathy and richard and anyone else who would like to come up to speak. Please line up. Good afternoon, supervisors tang, safai, stefani and peskin. Im from the Laurel Heights Improvement Association and im very happy to support the project before you today. Because this project is on a small 12,000foot irregular sized lot, the density increase through the special use district would allow the Housing Units to be increased from 21 to 95 units. Which would serve the citys need for more housing. I think this density accommodation is reasonable because the building would conform with the applicable height limb and this would strike a reasonable balance. And the 95 Housing Units would be better than commercial use in the majority of the building that was the first it ration proposed. Although we sorted that out, too. Long time residents there were commission ago shadow study before the project was revised. And we worked with them and we appreciate that the developers worked with the neighbours on the issues of the project design in the height and the nature of the roof screenings and this is not talls case. But we had a free flow of information with these developers because they were willing to work with the neighbourhood so we thanked them for that. We support the building, its within the height limit and the Affordable Housing increase because it will provide 5 more for the middle income group, which is so needed because were losing the middle class in San Francisco. The developers responded to our information in a timely fashion and agreed to our request for a condition of approval that, to the extent allowed by [inaudible], that any roof screen be transparent in order to minimize impacts on the neighbourhood so we had a collaborative process and we thank you very much. Thank you very much. Next speaker, please. Good afternoon, supervisor and staff. Im richard frisbee, Laurel Heights Improvement Association. I would just like to thank the four parties involved in this planning department. Christopher may, the developers, supervisors past and present now supervisor stefani. And also the neighbourhoods of people who got involved in that. I think that the open, transparent process worked well. We didnt always agree but we always agreed to discuss and have an open dialogue and from that came what we believe is a productive, useful development in our neighbourhood. So thank you very much. Thank you. Any other members of the public . Seeing none, Public Comment on this item is closed. Supervisor peskin. Thank you, madame chair. First of all, i just want to acknowledge the mould work that the developers and the community have done here. And i think it is a sign that neighbourhoods that some might think are resist tanlts to more housing and dense housing is untrue and i was pleased to hear her speak about her support for raising what would have been 100 Development Unit to [inaudible]. And i wanted full recommendation that i wanted to speak is because there is a bill thats been introduced in the state senate, senate bill 827, that would really take away some of the zoning powers that local municipalities like San Francisco have had now since the beginning of time and heres Proof Positive that we dont need an sb827, we know how to hand it locally and ill be introducing a measure at the board of supervisors tomorrow and hope to get the support of my colleagues in opposing sb827 as the league of cities has already done and as l. A. Is preparing to do. And with that, i would like to make a motion to send this item to the full board with recommendation. Thank you. And before we do that, supervisor safai . I was just going to make a motion to congratulate supervisor stefani on one of the first pieces of legislation that shes able to lead on and something she started on when she was an aide. Thats pretty great. And also to have neighbourhood support to take something that was diminuitive in the overall context of whats needed in San Francisco to make it an impactful project without having negative impacts on the neighbourhood is commendable. I commend the neighbourhood leaders and developer and our new supervisor on a wonderful project to begin her term on the board with. Thank you very much. Ill second that motion. Ok. And i mean, personally im a little bummed that it wasnted home s. F. That we were using. But this is a better project for the neighbourhood. There was a motion to send forth with positive recommendation to the full board. Well do that without objection. Before we move on to item two, i neglected to ask if we could have a motion to excuse supervisor kim or do we need to do that . Yes. Motion to excuse supervisor kim from committee and supervisor peskin is replacing her. Motion, someone. So moved. Well do that without objection. [laughter] all right. Item two, please. Ordinance amending the planning code to regulate restaurant and bar uses in the Jackson Square special use district, broadway neighbourhood commercial district, north beach neighbourhood commercial district and the north beach special use district aming the Jackson Square special use district to require a conditional use permit for office uses, Business Services and Institutional Uses fronting on pacific avenue. Thank you. Well turn it over to our sponsor, supervisor peskin. Thank you, madame chair. Supervisor safai. This is an ordinance that contains a number of nonsubstantial cleanup amendments to the broadway, north beach n. C. D. S and north beach s. U. D. Zoning tables. Principally the ordinance contains amendments to the Jackson Square special use district relative to a increasing number of rest rhawns, limited restaurants and bar uses in the area. This limited control on bars and restaurants already exists in other parts of the Northeast Corner of the city. Particularly in the north beach n. C. D. Which saw a huge number of additional restaurants and bar answer oversaturation within its bound ris and in north beach in particular, those controls have helped to minimize speculative commercial rent practices in the neighbourhood and cultivate and maintain a diverse array of retail and other community services. So the folks in Jackson Square wanted the same thing. Jackson square has the largest number of pre1870 commercial buildings in the city. Its a very small discrete geography that encompass about five blocks and has an increasing number of residential units within it. And in that small geography, currently there are 17 bars and restaurants sprinkled among an array of unique and thriving ground floor commercial uses. It includes architectural philip morrisser and antique stores and emerging community of tailors and retail clothing establishments. Im very happy to say around the conversation of the Amazon Effect and whats happening in retail in general, the vacancy rate in Jackson Square as well as north beach remained quite healthy as set forth in the planning departments staff report. So long story short, we dont have a we have a healthy vacancy rate and its the threat of restaurants and bars that can afford higher rents and are displacing the mix of art gallery and retail spaces that this legislation addresses also the legislative file for this matter didnt include several letters of support, most of which went to the Planning Commission when they heard and recommended this without modification on january 11. And ive included those colleagues in handouts ive given you and they are now part of the board packet. You will see letters there, including from the Small Business commission, that unanimously voighteded in favour of the legislation without modification as well as letters from the Jackson Square Historic District association, which is a combination of businesses and residential letters as well as from homeowners associations in the area asking for our support. And with, that colleague, i respectfully request your support for this item. Thank you. Supervisor safai. Just to clarify i know you said this pretty clearly but i want to understand this is to protect the area from additional restaurant and bars coming in and displacing existing restaurant bars and other uses or to ensure that existing retail that is nonrestaurant bars and uses are why dont we have Diego Sanchez come up and give the staff report. I just wanted to note, madame chair, that our former board member, bevan duffty is in the chambers. Welcome. Supervise so as mentioned, the Planning Commission heard this ordinance on january 11 of this year. They voted 61 in support of the ordinance without any modification so as proposed by supervisor peskin. The commission believes that the existing retail conditions in Jackson Square are working. It is an interesting and Historic Place with attractive retail and sufficient eating and drinking places as well as the voe vacancy rate. The ordinance will help keep whats working, working. And supervisor, if you could repeat did you have a question my question was, so i understand the use that you are trying to the existing uses do you want to jump in, aaron . Sure. If you look to page four, which is section 249. 25, this is one about intensification and increase in Square Footage and, two, youll see that section two subb, which is conditional uses says restaurant, limited restaurants and bars uses may be permitted as a conditional use on the first story through the procedures set forth in section 303, which is the conditional use section of the code. Only if the Zoning Administrator first determines that the proposed new restaurant, limited restaurant or bar would occupy a space as currently or last legally occupied by one of the uses described below and those uses are a bar, a restaurant, a limited restaurant. So, bottom line, the answer to your question is that bars and restaurants may replace bars and restaurants but may not displace retail uses. Got it. Ok. So i can i make something for any of the rest raufnls, bars or other use similar to that, that cant locate here, theyre welcomed to come to my district. Because were encouraging those. [laughter] and the sunset. Outter sunset. Because we have a higher vacancy rate ands are a little bit more in demand, i made this joke during cannabis and i think it is a nice leadin because we talked about it limiting the uses and the amount of licenses around the city. But type 47 licenses, i think we have five in our district and maybe one of those is really being used in the appropriate manner. So, anyone just for the record that wants to use their type 47 license, come to the excelsior district 11 and i fully support this piece of legislation. And supervisor safai will offer a finders fee. And by the way, i wish we had these problems in district 11. [laughter] did toe. All right. Any members of the public who wish to speak on item number two, please come up. Ok. Seeing none, Public Comment is closed. Supervisor p esskin . Id like to make a motion to send this item to the full board with recommendation. All right. Well do that without objection. Thank you. Item three, please. Ordinance amending the planning code by revising zoning map sheet zn06 to rezone assessors parcel block number ab2719c lot number 23 located at burnette avenue and burnette avenue north from public to residential mixed district, low dense tiff rm1, rezoning a portion of burnette avenue north, generally bounded by ab2745 lot number 36 and ab2719c, lot number 023 to rm1. Thank you very much. Supervisor peskin . I see supervisor sheehys staff. I spoke to him earlier and understand that they would like this item continued. Well let holden couple and speak to that. Hi, good afternoon, chair tang and members of the confirm im here on behalf of supervisor sheehys office and we would like to continue this item at the call of the chair. And john gibner, the city Deputy Attorney is here to answer any questions that you might have. How about explain why we have to continue this item. Sure. Deputy City Attorney john gibner. This item is part of a package of legislation thats connected to a litigation thats pending in the oversight committee. The plan is to have that settlement ordinance move forward along with this ordinance and additional piece of legislation thats not yet been introduced to vacate the street. So, once that piece of shesing introduced, well work with the Clerks Office and supervisor sheehys office and your office to get everything schedule sod they move together. Great. Thank you for that. Lets open up item number three to Public Comments, then. Seeing none, Public Comment is closed. A motion to continue to call the chair for item three. Ok. Thank you. Well do that without objection. Item four, please. Hearing on the year two report of the Cannabis State Legalization Task force to report. Thank you very much. This item was sponsored by or is sponsored by supervisor cohen. I dont know if someone was going to come and make opening remarks or just call on mr. Allen here. Ok. Mr. Terrence allen. Thank you, madame chair. I have copies at the request of the clerk ofpt presentation that i would like to make available to the committee members. If we could have the slide, please. Thank you. I would like the begin with some introduction, if i may. My name is Terrence Allen. Im pleased to be the chair of the committee, but im actually one of three cochairs and i would like to introduce now my two cochairs who sit behind me. Sarah payen, who sits at the seat for two years of cannabis legislative advocacy and jen garcia, our labour advocate. Were also joined by Nicole Elliott in the box as im inclined to call it. [laughter] nicole is now the director of the office of cannabis and, as the task force will be moving from its facilitation role with the department of Public Health to the office of cannabis, this is the perfect time for this marriage to be introduced to you, the board as it was your idea to come up with this task force. In doing this, the department of Public Health and their role shifts. They are now deeply involved in all the Regulatory Framework, but it would be a mistake not to recognize israel rivera and gretchen poly who worked within the department for over twoyears to bring these issues forward in a comprehensive way. And in concluding my introductions, michelle and janine from harter company have been instrumenttal in bring us forward in a legal fashion so the continuety of each topic item can be brought forward to its conclusion and theyre joined by tim morrison who will be part of the team for this year. With, that those are my thank yous. And if i get the right buttton. Ok. I had one too many buttness to pushed. We have to begin by taking a look at what is the task force, what did it do in year two and what is its vision in year three. So, the task force had in its purpose the early job of facile tating a conversation between the community, the <