CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
OF THE SURPLUS CITY PROPERTY PROGRAM
CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO
___________________________________________________________
Special Meeting Minutes
for
Tuesday, February 22, 2005 at 4:00 PM
san francisco redevelopment agency
770 Golden Gate Avenue, 3rd Floor
Present: Chair Richard Lee, Vice Chair James Reilly, Mr. Jay Bradshaw, Mr. Scott Clark, Mr. Bruce Engle, Ms. Jill Fox, Ms. Lori Bamberger (Sitting in for Mr. Matthew O. Franklin), Sister Bernie Galvin, Ms. Ana B. Gutierrez and Mr. Leroy Moore, Jr.
Absent: Ms. Jamie Armstrong, Chair of Finance Committee and Mr. Ben Rosenfield
Staff: Mr. Joel Lipski, Ms. Joan McNamara and Ms. Lynn Hua
1. Roll Call
Chair Lee called the meeting to order at 4:10 PM. Roll call was conducted and a quorum was recognized, with three members absent. Mr. Clark arrived at 4:15 PM and Mr. Moore arrived at 4:20 PM.
2. Approval of Minutes of Last Meeting
A motion to approve the January 18, 2004 meeting minutes was made by Sister Galvin and seconded by Ms. Gutierrez. The committee unanimously approved the motion.
3. Director’s Report
Mr. Lipski reported that the Mayor’s Office of Housing (MOH) has asked an architectural firm, Asian Neighborhood Design, to do a feasibility analysis of 150 Otis St. The analysis would include examing the building system for code compliance and a cost estimate of bringing the building into habitable condition. Asian Neighborhood Design has started the process and would probably be able to report on the findings at the next meeting. As for the 155 Grove St. site, MOH is working on it and talking to other city departments.
4. Consideration of Main Menu
Ms. Joan McNamara, Program Manager, presented data pertaining to the suitability for priority uses under the Surplus City Property Ordinance and disposition recommendations for the following sites:
(i) Kansas Street at Vermont
The site is located in the Potrero Hill neighborhood, measures 60 sq. ft and is zoned RH1. The lot size does not meet the minimum lot size of 2,500 sq. ft. Staff recommended the following resolution for the site:
“That the city offer the site for sale to the adjacent neighbors with proceeds from the sale of the site made available for development of affordable housing on another site to be determined. In the event the neighbor declines, that site is transferred to the Department of Real Estate for disposition, with any proceeds realized from a sale made available for development of affordable housing.”
Public Comment:
Mr. Bryan Finoki, of Land and Liberty Coalition, encouraged the CAC to explore other possible uses for the site that might benefit the homeless, such as arts space or a community garden.
Ms. Vicky Leidner, of Land and Liberty Coalition, commented that the CAC should considered the highest and best uses for the sites in their recommendation.
Mr. John Scott inquired if it would be possible to have a job training and placement center for homeless at the site.
Public Comment Closed
Ms. Bamberger inquired if the CAC has the jurisdiction to address other uses for the surplus properties besides housing. Ms. Amy Brown, Deputy City Attorney, responded that under the Surplus City Property Ordinance, the CAC can recommend other type of on site services for the homeless if the parcels are deemed not suitable for housing. Ms. Brown added that community gardens might not be considered on site services to the homeless.
Vice Chair Reilly made a motion to adopt the resolution recommended by staff. The motion was seconded by Mr. Bradshaw and unanimously approved.
(ii) Justin Drive @ College Avenue
The site is located in the Bernal Heights neighborhood, measures 962 sq. ft and is zoned RH1D (House Detached One Family). The site is shared by two existing single-family homes. Staff recommended the following resolution for the site:
“That the city offer the site for sale to the adjacent neighbors with proceeds from the sale of the site made available for development of affordable housing on another site to be determined. In the event the neighbor declines, that site is transferred to the Department of Real Estate for disposition, with any proceeds realized from a sale made available for development of affordable housing.”
Public Comment:
Mr. John Melone, of Senior Action Network and Homeless Senior Task Force, commented that one of the adjacent home overhang approximately 10 ft. on the College Avenue side.
Mr. Russell Morine, of Habitat for Humanity, inquired if the neighbors are aware that the parcels are on the city surplus properties list and that the CAC is contemplating their dispositions.
Public Comment Closed
Sister Galvin and Ms. Fox suggested that the city lease the parcels if the adjacent property owners decline to purchase them. Ms. Fox added that since she also serve on the Department of Recreation and Park’s Advisory Committee, she is aware that this particular neighborhood does not have a high level need for a park. She added that community gardens are expensive endeavors and would cost a lot of money to maintain. Ms. Fox made a motion to amend the language in staff’s recommendation to include for sale or lease and to change “adjacent neighbors” to “adjacent property owners”. The amended resolution is as follow:
“That the city offer the site for sale or lease to the adjacent property owners with proceeds from the sale or lease of the site made available for development of affordable housing on another site to be determined. In the event the adjacent property owners decline, that site is transferred to the Department of Real Estate for disposition, with any proceeds realized from a sale or lease made available for development of affordable housing.”
The motion was seconded by Sister Galvin and unanimously approved by the Committee.
(iii) and (iv) San Jose @ Cuvier and San Jose @ Milton
Both sites are located in the St. Mary’s Park neighborhood and are zoned P (Public Use). The sites would need to be rezoned to accommodate any other uses. The Cuvier St. site measures 2,034 sq. ft and is triangular in shape. It is located at the dead-end of Cuvier St., which ends at a retaining wall that holds up San Jose Avenue. The San Jose Ave. site measures 1,742 sq. ft. and is also triangular in shape. The site is located behind the house that sits at the northeast intersection of San Jose and Milton. The only accessible path onto the site is through the neighboring property.
Staff recommended the following resolution for both sites:
“That the city offer the site for sale to the adjacent neighbors with proceeds from the sale of the site made available for development of affordable housing on another site to be determined. In the event the neighbor declines, that site is transferred to the Department of Real Estate for disposition, with any proceeds realized from a sale made available for development of affordable housing.”
Public Comment:
Mr. James Tracy, of Land and Liberty Coalition, suggested that the recommended resolution be amended as in the Justin Drive resolution to include an option to lease the properties if the owners decline to purchase.
Public Comment Closed
Sister Galvin commented that the CAC would not be able to consider a second use for the properties if they are transferred to the Department of Real Estate in the event that the owners decline to purchase them. Sister Galvin made a motion to amend the recommended resolution by deleting the last sentence in the paragraph. The motion was seconded by Mr. Clark and failed by the following votes:
4 Ayes, 6 Nays, 3 Absent
Ms. Fox made a motion to amend the recommended resolution for Cuvier St. to include for sale or lease and to delete “adjacent neighbors” from the language. The amended resolution is as follow:
“That the city offer the site for sale or lease with proceeds from the sale or lease of the site made available for development of affordable housing on another site to be determined. In the event there is no purchaser or leaser, that site is transferred to the Department of Real Estate for disposition, with any proceeds made available for development of affordable housing.”
The motion was seconded by Mr. Bradshaw and passed by the following votes:
8 Ayes, 2 Nays, 3 Absent
Ms. Fox made a motion to amend the recommended resolution for Milton St. to include for sale or lease to the adjacent property owners. The amended resolution is as follow:
“That the city offer the site for sale or lease to the adjacent property owners with proceeds from the sale or lease of the site made available for development of affordable housing on another site to be determined. In the event the adjacent property owners decline, that site is transferred to the Department of Real Estate for disposition, with any proceeds realized from a sale or lease made available for development of affordable housing.”
The motion was seconded by Mr. Engle and unanimously approved by the Committee.
Due to the limited time, a motion was made by Chair Lee to move item 4(v) and 4 (vi) to the next meeting. The motion was seconded by Ms. Gutierrez and unanimously approved.
5. Committee Members’ Questions and Matters:
Vice Chair Reilly requested an update on the Broadway/Sansome site and the 155 Grove St. site at the next meeting. Sister Galvin added that the larger parcels should be given priority since they have more potential for housing development.
6. Public Comment:
Mr. David Zisser, of the Land and Liberty Coalition, commented that there doesn’t seem to be anything in the ordinance that requires the properties to be sold at market rate. Maybe the Broadway and Sansome site could be sold at below market rate. The Land and Liberty Coalition will put together a memo to the CAC regarding this option for the Broadway site.
Mr. James Tracy, of the Land and Liberty Coalition, urged the CAC to consider the proposal that was presented to them in the 155 Grove St. memo. The Coalition believes a mixed-use solution that combines both housing and arts would be the best use for the site and would like to see an RFP issued soon.
7. The meeting was adjourned at 6:15 PM.