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Board affirms planning department—s categorical exemption for 652 Duncan Street after public hearing
Summary
After an extended public hearing on a neighborhood appeal, the Board of Supervisors voted to affirm the Planning Department's categorical exemption for a third-floor addition at 652 Duncan Street, rejecting the appellants' request for further CEQA review.
Following a multi-hour public hearing and testimony from neighborhood residents, preservation consultants, Planning Department staff, and the project sponsors, the Board of Supervisors voted Feb. 5 to affirm the Planning Department—s categorical exemption for a remodel and third-floor addition at 652 Duncan Street.
Appellants had argued the project required environmental review because the block may qualify as a potential historic district and because approving the project would set a precedent that could cause cumulative impacts across the block. The appellants submitted a historic evaluation and other materials and called a credentialed historic-preservation consultant as part of their testimony.
Planning Department staff and the project—s consultants presented counter-evidence concluding the property is not an individually significant historic resource and that the proposed work is consistent with Secretary of the Interior standards and the city—s residential design guidelines. The project sponsor and architect provided plans and square-footage figures and emphasized that the proposed addition is smaller, is set back, and would cause limited public-way visibility.
The board considered two competing motions. A motion to disapprove the Planning Department—s exemption determination and return the matter for environmental review (moved by Supervisor Dufty) failed on a 5-6 vote. A subsequent motion (moved by Supervisor Alioto-Pier, seconded by Supervisor Sandoval) to affirm the Planning Department—s categorical exemption and proceed with the findings passed by roll call, 7-4. By the successful motion the board effectively denied the CEQA appeal and upheld Planning—s determination that no further environmental review was required.
Actions: Item 28 (affirm Planning—s categorical exemption) and Item 30 (direct clerk to prepare findings) were approved; Item 29 (motion to disapprove the exemption) was tabled/defeated by board vote. Vote on the final motion: 7 ayes, 4 nos.
Provenance: The hearing record, expert reports, Planning Department analysis, sponsor testimony and the two roll-call votes are all logged in the meeting transcript under the 4:00 p.m. special-order items 27—030.
The board—s action affirms that Planning—s environmental determination for this project stands; the matter will proceed through the normal permit and building-permit process absent further legal challenge.
