CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
OF THE SURPLUS CITY PROPERTY PROGRAM
CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO
___________________________________________________________
Meeting Minutes
for
Monday, March 21, 2005 at 4:00 PM
city hall
1 dr. carlton b. goodlett place, room 408
Present: Chair Richard Lee, Vice Chair James Reilly, Mr. Scott Clark, Mr. Tomas Lee, Mr. Bruce Engle, Ms. Jill Fox and Ms. Ana B. Gutierrez
Absent: Ms. Jamie Armstrong, Mr. Jay Bradshaw, Mr. Matthew O. Franklin, Sister Bernie Galvin, Mr. Leroy Moore, Jr. and Mr. Ben Rosenfield
Staff: Mr. Joel Lipski, Ms. Joan McNamara and Ms. Lynn Hua
- Roll Call
Chair Lee called the meeting to order at 4:05 PM. Roll call was conducted and a quorum was recognized, with six members absent.
2. Approval of Minutes of Last Meeting
A motion to approve the February 22, 2004 meeting minutes was made by Vice Chair Reilly and seconded by Ms. Gutierrez. The committee unanimously approved the motion.
3. Director’s Report
Mr. Lipski reported that the feasibility study for the 150 Otis Street site has not been completed yet and should be completed for the April meeting. For the Broadway and Sansome site, the Mayor’s Budget Office is still working with the Transportation Authority and Department of Public Works on the $3 million debt that is tied to the sale of the site. As for the Grove Street site, MOH is exploring several different scenarios, including the potential to use the site to generate revenue for affordable housing development elsewhere in the city.
4. Consideration of Main Menu
(a) 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:
(v) Wilde Avenue at Alpha
The site is located in the Visitacion Valley neighborhood, measures 1,799 sq. ft and is zoned RH1. The top of the site is a flat plateau that is approximately 989 sq. ft. Staff believed the site is not developable due to its small size and steep slope. In order to build a single-family home on the site, a variance to the required minimum lot size of 3,000 sq. ft. would be needed. The adjacent property owner has submitted an application for a permit to build a two-car garage on his site. Staff recommended the following resolution for the site:
“That the city offer the site for sale or lease to the adjacent property owner 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 owner declines, 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.”
Ms. Fox commented that the site looks developable and inquired if there has been any precedent in the city for building on a 16 ft. wide lot.
Mr. Jerry Romani, of the Department of Real Estate, informed the committee of a design competition for the Central Freeway Project that includes two 16¼ ft wide parcels. Mr. Romani also added that the Planning Department would sometimes allow a variance to the required minimum lot size if the lot is a corner lot.
Public Comment
Mr. Joseph Bojanowski, owner of the adjacent property at 209 Wilde St., commented that he would be interested in purchasing the site if it’s at a reasonable price. Mr. Bojanowski does not believe that it would be profitable to build on the site because of the steep slope.
Mr. Russell Morine, of Habitat for Humanity, suggested that a Request For Proposal for affordable single-family homes be issued for some of the smaller parcels before they are placed on the open market for sale.
Mr. David Zisser, of the Coaliton on Homelessness and Land and Liberty Coalition, suggested that the language in the recommended resolution be changed to housing for very-low income instead of the general term of affordable housing.
Public Comment Closed
Mr. Engle and Mr. Tomas Lee commented that they would like more clarification on how developable the lot is in order to determine the fair market value of the parcel. Mr. Lipski commented that staff would research with the Department of City Planning to clarify the legality of the site to determine if it would be a developable lot. If a single-family home is permitted, staff will contact non-profit organizations to find out if there is any interest.
Vice Chair Reilly made a motion to continue the item to the next meeting in order for staff to resolve the legality of the site to determine if it is developable. The motion was seconded by Ms. Gutierrez and passed unanimously.
(vi) Lawton and 20th Avenue
The site is located in the Sunset District, measures 1,899 sq. ft and is zoned RH1. The site is the southern end of a drive-through alleyway that runs from Lawton St. to Kirkham St. and serves as a driveway for the adjacent property. Staff recommended the following resolution for the site:
“That the city offer the site for sale or lease to the adjacent property owner 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 owner declines, 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.”
Mr. Clark inquired if the design competition for the Central Freeway Project would have an effect on the City’s policy for required minimum lot size in RH1 zoned destination. Mr. Lipski clarified that the Octavia Blvd. site is in a unique location and that the design competition for the site is conducted by the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency. The Agency has special power in redevelopment areas that would permit certain zoning that would not necessarily be permitted in other parts of the city.
Public Comment
Mr. David Lupe, resident of 432 Franciscan St., inquired if the adjacent property owner has a building permit for the garage.
Mr. Bryan Finoki, of Land and Liberty Coalition, suggested that the committee not make any recommendations on the surplus properties until they all have been reported.
Mr. John Melone, of Senior Action Network and Homeless Senior Task Force, suggested that the city ask for the fair market value for the property. He would also like to see that affordable housing be made to people of no more than 20% AMI.
Public Comment Closed
Mr. Romani commented that since the parcel does not meet the minimum lot size and is not a corner lot, the Planning Department might not allow a variance to build on the site.
Ms Fox made a motion to amend the language in staff’s recommendation by deleting the first sentence in the paragraph. The amended resolution is as follow:
”The 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 Ms. Gutierrez and passed unanimously.
(b) Information Presentation
Due to the limited time, a motion was made by Mr. Tomas Lee to move item 4(b) to the next meeting. The motion was seconded by Mr. Reilly and passed unanimously.
5. Committee Members’ Questions and Matters
Mr. Engle requested that the meeting package be delivered a couple of days sooner.
6. Public Comment
Mr. David Zisser, of the Land and Liberty Coalition, reiterated that the proceeds from the sale of the properties be used for very low-income housing instead of just affordable housing.
Mr. John Melone, of Senior Action Network and Homeless Senior Task Force, questioned the delay of the 150 Otis St. site. Mr. Melone commented that the Homeless Senior Task Force received $500,000 from the State for the improvement of 150 Otis St. and the delay in hearing the project could put the funds in jeopardy.
Mr. Curt Holzinger commented that it would be helpful if staff could also talk about the issue of rezoning in the housing development presentation since many of the surplus properties are zoned P and would need to be rezoned in order to develop housing.
Public Comment Closed
7. The meeting was adjourned at 5:40 PM.