Board affirms planning department on Green Street garage, upholds categorical exemption

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors on July 10 affirmed the Planning Department's finding that the proposed garage at 1135'1139 Green Street (the Bugbee cottages) is categorically exempt from environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), approving related motions and directing the clerk to prepare findings.

The decision came after an extended public hearing in which residents, historic-preservation experts, geotechnical and structural engineers, project architects and the project's attorney presented competing evidence about the project's impacts on an 1877 concrete retaining wall and the three cottages above it. Opponents asked the board to return the matter to Planning for a full environmental review; supporters, including the property owners and several neighborhood groups, said the project protects the wall and provides off-street parking and accessibility benefits.

Why it matters: The case ties local debates over historic preservation, hillside engineering and neighborhood livability. Neighbors said large excavations on Russian Hill have cumulative impacts on bedrock and historic fabric; the owners and their engineers said the proposal would remove loads from the old wall, strengthen it with modern concrete work and provide five off-street spaces plus an elevator for aging residents.

Key facts and actions - Project: Proposed internal garage and related excavation behind the historic 1877 retaining wall at 1135' 1139 Green Street (three Tudor-style cottages). The sponsor proposes an underground garage, a 10-foot garage opening in the retaining wall and associated structural work. - Hearing: Item 54 (appeal of Planning Department's categorical exemption) with companion actions 55 (affirm exemption), 56 (disapprove exemption) and 57 (prepare findings). - Motion passed: "Move items 55 and 57 and table item 56," made by Supervisor Alioto Pier and seconded by Supervisor Dufty. Roll call recorded the following votes (as read into the record): Supervisor Alioto Pier: yes; Supervisor Ammiano: no; Supervisor Daley: no; Supervisor Dufty: yes; Supervisor Elsburn: yes; Supervisor Juh / Jew: yes; Supervisor Maxwell: yes; Supervisor McGoldrick: yes; Mayor Karimi: yes; Supervisor Peskin: yes; Supervisor…