Planning staff reports SHPO consultation and Ferry Building update; preservation design standards to return in March

At the Feb. 19 hearing, Planning Department preservation staff Richard Crewe told the Historic Preservation Commission that the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) has acknowledged receipt of a letter from the commission and is consulting with its legal team before responding. Crewe said the SHPO’s reply has been delayed by pressing matters in Southern California but that a response is forthcoming.

Crewe also reported that the Port of San Francisco has asked to remove a previously listed agenda item and that the Ferry Building project sponsor now appears to be focusing on outdoor areas and has "likely abandoned the arcade and the interior work for now," a point Crewe said he would ask the port to clarify directly with the project sponsor.

On preservation design standards, Crewe said the commission’s preservation design standards (a compendium to citywide design standards focused on historic properties) were adopted by the HPC in December and were scheduled for Planning Commission review. Staff have engaged with the American Institute of Architects and others and will return with modifications and a clear record of responses to commissioner comments. The current schedule calls for the HPC to review the revised document on March 19 and for the Planning Commission to consider it on March 20; commissioners requested a two‑week packet to allow sufficient time for review.

Commissioners asked for clarification on whether the Ferry Building canopy concept was abandoned or merely delayed; Crewe said he would seek clarification from the port and project sponsor. The announcements closed with staff offering to calendar presentations as Port and sponsor schedules allow.