CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE
OF THE SURPLUS CITY PROPERTY PROGRAM
CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO
___________________________________________________________
Meeting Minutes
for
Monday, July 17, 2006 at 4:00 PM
city hall
1 dr. carlton b. goodlett place, room 408
Present: Chair James Reilly, vice-Chair Jay bradshaw, Supervisor Chris Daly, Mr. Bruce Engle, Ms. Jill Fox, Ms. Teresa Yanga (sitting in for Mr. Matthew O. Franklin) and Sister bernie galvin
Absent: Ms. Jamie Armstrong, Mr. Scott clark, Ms. Ana B. Gutierrez, Mr. Richard Lee, Mr. Leroy Moore, Jr. and Ms. Noelle Simmons
Staff: Mr. Joel Lipski, Mr. Scott Madden and Ms. Lynn Hua
- Roll Call
Chair Reilly called the meeting to order at 4:10 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 March 20, 2006 meeting minutes was made by Vice-Chair Bradshaw and seconded by Supervisor Daly. The committee unanimously approved the motion.
3. Director's Report
Mr. Lipski updated the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) on the status of the 341 Corbett Street site. He explained that in order to rezone the site from its P (public use) zoning to a residential zoning, an approval by the Planning Department is needed. The recommendation to change the zoning went to the Planning Commission on June 8th and was approved with one condition, that the Mayor's Office of Housing (MOH) and the Department of Real Estate (DRE) confer with the Department of Recreation and Park (DRP) to determine if there is an interest from DRP to purchase the site at fair market value. DRP has determined that the site does not meet the criteria for purchasing. The Department of Real Estate is in the process of preparing a resolution to the Board of Supervisors for the sale of the property.
4. Consideration of Main Menu
(a) 1051 Palou Avenue Site
Mr. Madden presented for Committee review data pertaining to the development potential of the site for priority uses under the Surplus City Property Ordinance. The parcel is located in the Bayview District and is very irregularly shaped. It is a relatively small parcel, with a total square footage of 4,530. The entire site is paved over with concrete slab and is used as parking for the adjacent church. The site is zoned M-1 (light industrial), which does allow housing as a conditional use. Due to the narrowness of the site, there is not sufficient space for the required RH-1 setback. In addition, it would be difficult to develop housing on the site due to its irregular shape. Staff recommended that the parcel be transferred back to the Department of Public Works (DPW).
Both Supervisor Daly and Ms. Fox felt that the site has some other value besides housing and would like DRE to put it out to bid either as a M-1 or NC-1 parcel.
Mr. Lipski explained that the process of putting a property out to bid includes obtaining an appraisal, getting sign-off by the Planning Department and approval by the Board of Supervisors. The process cost approximately $15,000 to $20,000 and DRE has advised MOH that unless a property clearly has some potential value, it should not be put on to bid.
There was no public comment on item 4(a).
Chair Reilly agreed with Supervisor Daly and Ms. Fox. He felt that the market value for the property should be worth approximately $200,000. A motion was made by Chair Reilly to recommend that the parcel be sold on the open market. The motion was seconded by Supervisor Daly and unanimously passed.
(b) 114 Elmira Street Site
Mr. Madden presented for Committee review data pertaining to the development potential of the site for priority uses under the Surplus City Property Ordinance. The parcel is located in the Bayview District and is adjacent to Interstate 280. It is approximately 2,420 sq. ft., paved and trapezoidal in shape. The site completes the northwest cul-de-sac corner of Elmira. The adjacent properties are all single-family residential homes. On one side of the parcel is the public right of way that comprises Interstate 280. The site is zoned P (public use), and would need to be rezoned to RH-1 for housing uses, which would allow one dwelling per lot, up to one unit per 3,000 sq. ft., with a minimum lot size of 2,500 sq. ft. Since the parcel does not meet the minimum lot size for an RH-1 zoning district and would not have any potential for residential development, staff recommended that the parcel be return to DPW.
Supervisor Daly inquired if there was any unused land adjacent to the lot line. Mr. Madden responded that the only potential unused land would be in the rear of the lot.
Chair Reilly commented that the side entrance to the adjacent property appears to be on the lot line and inquired if there was an easement. Mr. Madden responded that staff is not aware of any easement on the property. A title report and/or survey would need to be obtained in order to determine if an easement exist.
There was no public comment on item 4(b).
Chair Reilly made a motion to recommend that staff investigate to determine if an easement was granted to lot 069 and to find out the owners of lots 051, 052, 057 and 058. The motion was seconded by Supervisor Daly and unanimously passed.
(c) 900 & 2627 Cesar Chavez Street, 840 Clipper Street and 195 Portola Drive
Mr. Madden present additional information on the properties for possible reconsideration by the Committee of its previous recommendations regarding the transfer of the sites.
900 Cesar Chavez
The parcel is a small, corner lot located in a heavy industrial district. The adjacent building appears to be constructed on part of the subject parcel's rear property line. After consulting with DRE, staff felt that the transaction cost of selling the property would outweigh any net proceed from the sale. Staff felt that the parcel is inappropriate for housing development and has very limited market value, therefore; staff recommended that it remains under DPW's jurisdiction and not be transferred to MOH.
Chair Reilly made a motion to approve staff's recommendation of not transferring the parcel from DPW's jurisdiction to MOH. The motion was seconded by Mr. Engle and unanimously passed.
2627 Cesar Chavez
The parcel is a long and narrow lot that is currently used as a parking lot. The two adjacent parcels are both city-owned properties under DPW's jurisdiction. Due to the narrowness of the parcel and its current use, staff felt that the site is inappropriate for housing development and recommended that the parcel remain under DPW's jurisdiction and not be transferred to MOH.
Chair Reilly made a motion to direct staff to draft a letter to DPW inquiring if the two adjacent sites, lot 004 and 006, are also surplus properties. The motion was seconded by Sister Galvin and unanimously passed.
The parcels are located in the upper market area, in the Twin Peaks/Noe Valley neighborhood. Both sites are designated as Open Space (OS) per the Height and Bulk maps. Mr. Madden explained that because the sites are designated as open space, they do not meet the definition of surplus properties and are not available for housing development.
Mr. Lipski added that there are a number of parcels that are designated as open space on the Height and Bulk maps, but not on the Open Space Zoning maps. Properties that are designated as open space are exempt from the Surplus City Property Program as stated in the ordinance.
Supervisor Daly commented that the open space definition in the ordinance refers to properties that are owned and operated by the Department of Recreation and Park. The definition was not meant to include properties that are under DPW's jurisdiction.
Public Comment
Mr. Bill Wilson, Chair of Park and Recreation Open Space Advisory Committee, commented that the 840 Clipper parcel has been a community garden for 20 to 30 years. He felt that the parcel could be transferred to DRP since the department has memorandums for community gardens such as the one at 840 Clipper.
Public Comment Closed.
A motion was made by Chair Reilly to have staff get clarification from the City Attorney on the open space definition as written in the ordinance and how it may apply to the open space designation in the Height and Bulk maps. Supervisor Daly amended the motion to include that staff inquire with the Department of Recreation and Park of their interest in purchasing the two parcels. The motion was seconded by Mr. Bradshaw and unanimously passed.
5. Committee Members' Questions and Matters
Ms. Yanga requested that there be a discussion on the Surplus City Property Ordinance and how it can be improved. She suggested that the topic be agenized for a future meeting.
6. Public Comment
Mr. Bill Wilson, Chair of Park and Recreation Open Space Advisory Committee, commented that there needs to be a better process by which properties are evaluated so that junk properties do not get dump on any particular department to maintain.
Public Comment Closed.
7. The meeting was adjourned at 5:30 PM.