Public commenters urge caution on demolition rules, landmark revocations; planning staff announces new director and updates on Heritage on the Marina

Public comment highlights demo‑calcs, North Beach nomination, 447 Battery and Pier‑45; planning staff announces new planning director and board action on Marina project

Members of the public used the commission’s general‑comment period on June 18 to raise concerns about demolition‑calculation rules, delays to the North Beach historic‑district nomination, an ongoing proposal that could affect landmark 447 Battery and the possible demolition of the Alioto’s sign at Pier 45. The planning department also delivered announcements including a staffing update and a report on a recent Board of Supervisors decision related to a Marina project heard earlier this month.

Key public comments: - Georgia Shudish urged the commission to look at “section 3 17 demo calcs,” warning those calculations can be used to avoid enforcement and can affect A‑rated historic properties. She asked commissioners to review materials she said she would re‑send to staff. - Tom Murphy, a resident at the Gateway Apartments, asked for an update on a potential revocation of landmark status for 447 Battery Street, saying that revocation "would not only remove a bit of coffee history that San Francisco, very proudly continues to this day" and that a proposed 350 Sansom high‑rise could forever block east‑facing views of the Transamerica Building; he asked about opportunities for public comment. - Woody Labounty of San Francisco Heritage urged communication with the Port of San Francisco about the Port’s plan for Pier 45 and suggested preserving the iconic Alioto’s sign even if the building itself cannot be saved. Labounty also commented on 447 Battery and asked that mitigations be included in any development agreement if demolition proceeds.

Department announcements and updates: - Rich Ducray of planning staff announced that Mayor Lurie has selected Sarah Dennis Phillips as the city’s new planning director; Phillips will transition into the role beginning June 30. "The mayor, Mayor Lurie has selected Sarah Dennis Phillips to be our new planning director," Ducray said. - Ducray updated the commission on a Board of Supervisors decision on the Heritage on the Marina (30,400 Laguna Street) appeal. He said the board denied the appeal as to the EIR but modified conditions of approval for the Certificate of Appropriateness and Conditional Use to align the conditions more closely with standard practice; the board nevertheless approved the Certificate of Appropriateness and the Conditional Use with those edits.

Commission response and staff follow‑up: Commissioners noted the comments. Staff said the North Beach nomination is still being processed by the State Historic Preservation Officer and that the State Historic Preservation Office had requested additional property‑owner notifications before calendaring the district for a state hearing. Staff also said they have advised the Port to submit a historic resource study for the Alioto’s/Pier 45 site and that the commission will have an opportunity to weigh in on 447 Battery as part of the development agreement process.

Why it matters: The items raised in public comment—demolition‑calculation procedures, landmark revocation risks, and Port redevelopment plans—bear directly on the city’s ability to conserve historic fabric and on the public’s opportunity to comment during planning and permitting processes. The staffing announcement also signals an incoming leadership change at the Planning Department.

Next steps: Staff will follow up with the port regarding Pier 45; the commission will have an opportunity to consider 447 Battery as the development agreement proceeds; the North Beach nomination remains under state review and has not been calendared for the August state meeting pending notification issues.