Commission delays hearings on proposed SRO-to-tourist-room conversions after neighborhood requests

The Planning Commission on Feb. 27 voted 5–2 to continue two items proposing conditional use authorization and variance for conversions at 54 Fourth Street and 509 Minna Street to March 20 to allow additional staff review and neighborhood input.

A neighborhood speaker, Sue Hester, asked the commission to continue the items for roughly a month so the public and commissioners would have time to review information about whether units are occupied by tenants and to receive a staff report in advance. "This is really important to the Planning Commission understanding there's a whole lot of people in the South Of Market area and residential area," Hester said during public comment.

Commissioner Imperial moved to change the later date and said staff may need extra time "in terms whether there are tenants and whether these units are vacant" and to verify tenancy background information; several commissioners supported visiting the SRO units to assess conditions. Vice President Moore and Commissioner Williams backed a longer continuance to allow commissioners to visit SRO rooms and for community groups to weigh in. Staff clarified that tenant history and site-visit information had already been included in the packet, but commissioners still voted to allow more time.

The motion to continue items 1A and 1B to March 20 passed 5–2, with Commissioners Campbell and McGarry voting no. Acting Zoning Administrator staff also continued an associated item (1B and 5C) to the same later date.

Commissioners said they wanted time to review staff materials and, if needed, conduct site visits before the substantive hearing.

The continuance was recorded as the commission placed the items on the consent calendar but then removed them for later hearing per the motion.