Discussed Matters
De Long Street Public Right-of-Way Acceptance
- The ordinance aimed to accept the dedication of a segment of De Long Street, transferring maintenance responsibility from the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) District to the City of San Francisco.
- The approval of this ordinance would allow the City to improve the safety and accessibility of the street, ending a long-standing issue.
- This project has been in the works since 2006, primarily due to community concerns about the street’s condition.
- BART offered the city $75,000 to help cover costs associated with surveying the street, and an additional $350,000 was approved through Proposition K funding for necessary street upgrades.
- There was a sense of relief among committee members that, after years of neglect, this street was finally being addressed.
Outcome: The committee moved to amend the legislation as needed and sent it with a positive recommendation to the full Board of Supervisors.
Interim Zoning Controls for Legacy Businesses
- This resolution, sponsored by Supervisor Peskin and co-sponsored by several others, sought to impose an 18-month interim zoning control requiring conditional use authorization before a Legacy Business could be replaced in certain Neighborhood Commercial Districts.
- The discussion revolved around protecting San Francisco’s Legacy Businesses, which are vital to the city’s cultural and economic fabric.
- The urgency of the legislation was emphasized due to the risks posed by the state-mandated upzoning in commercial corridors, which threatens small businesses with displacement.
- A major focus was on protecting small businesses from real estate speculation, particularly in areas like Upper Fillmore where properties have been purchased by large developers. This has already led to the closure of some businesses, such as Sushi Taniguchi, a long-standing family-run business.
- Public comments strongly supported the measure, with testimonies from Legacy Business owners and advocates highlighting how development pressures have jeopardized their livelihoods.
- Concerns were raised about the broader impact of upzoning on other neighborhood businesses, with some speakers advocating for extending protections to all small, neighborhood-serving businesses, not just those designated as Legacy Businesses.
Outcome: The committee unanimously supported the legislation and recommended it for consideration by the full Board of Supervisors on October 22, 2024.
Commemorative Street Name Designation – “Joe Rosenthal Way”
- This resolution proposed adding the commemorative street name “Joe Rosenthal Way” to the 600 block of Sutter Street in honor of photojournalist Joe Rosenthal, famous for capturing the iconic image of the flag raising on Iwo Jima during World War II.
- Rosenthal’s post-war contributions to San Francisco, particularly his long tenure at the San Francisco Chronicle, were highlighted as reasons for this recognition.
- The discussion was brief but supported by testimonials from military and historical figures, including former state senator Quentin Kopp and members of the Marine Memorial Club, emphasizing the lasting impact of Rosenthal’s work.
Outcome: The resolution was passed with support from all committee members.
E-Bike Incentive Fund
- The ordinance sought to establish an E-Bike Incentive Fund, creating a program to provide financial assistance for electric bicycle purchases.
- While briefly discussed, this item did not receive as much attention or debate compared to the zoning and Legacy Business topics. The establishment of this fund was seen as a step toward promoting sustainable transportation in San Francisco.
Outcome: The item was referred to the full Board of Supervisors with little opposition.
Additional Decisions
The following items received minimal discussion:
- Sunnydale HOPE SF – Public Infrastructure Acceptance: Accepting public infrastructure related to Phase 2 of the Sunnydale HOPE SF project, establishing street grades and sidewalk widths.
- Disability Access Improvements for Places of Public Accommodation: Simplifying disability access requirements for existing buildings by removing local mandates if technical infeasibility or hardship is determined.
- Non-Residential to Residential Conversion Fee Exemptions: Exempting certain downtown residential conversion projects from impact fees to encourage housing development.
- Street Vacation – Natoma Street Airspace: Vacating a portion of airspace over Natoma Street near the Transbay Transit Center, transferring it to the Transbay Joint Powers Authority.
- Zoning Change for 99 Rhode Island Street: Changing zoning from Production, Distribution, and Repair (PDR) to Urban Mixed Use (UMU) to support mixed-use development.
- 2301 Chestnut Street Special Sign District: Establishing a special sign district allowing two projecting signs at 2301 Chestnut Street.
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