Commission approves EV fleet charging site at 1111 Pennsylvania Avenue with queuing and screening conditions

The Planning Commission on Feb. 13 approved a conditional use authorization to establish an electric vehicle (EV) fleet charging facility on two adjacent surface lots at 1111 Pennsylvania Avenue, voting unanimously 6-0. The proposal would install up to 52 charging spaces, six on-site queuing spaces and new landscaping and fencing in place of an existing self-storage container yard.

Staff described the site as PDR-2 zoned and adjacent to Interstate 280 and said the facility would be a suitable, low-impact industrial use for the location. The sponsor revised the proposal after community input to eliminate one of the two existing curb cuts on Pennsylvania Avenue, add a secondary entrance on 20th Street, increase screening and landscaping, and provide a queuing-management plan that would require vehicles to pull into the lot and use on-site queuing rather than waiting in the street.

Melinda Sarajapur, counsel for the sponsor, said the project would replace a poorly screened storage yard with repaved lots, coordinated access and 24/7 security cameras and would support the transition to electric fleets. The sponsor and union representatives said they reached agreements on worker training and hiring and that the Teamsters Local 665 and Electrical Workers Local 6 support the project.

Community concerns were limited in number; staff reported two letters on the project (one in support and one in opposition) and said the project had been the subject of outreach with neighborhood organizations including the Potrero Boosters and Dogpatch Neighborhood Association. In response to neighborhood concerns, staff added a condition requiring an updated queuing-management plan when an operator is finalized.

The commission discussed circulation, pedestrian improvements and the project's landscaping and lighting. Planning staff noted the project did not trigger a full Streetscape Design (SDAT) review but had been presented to the relevant public-realm office for comment; the sponsor agreed to submit an exterior lighting plan and landscaping details for staff review during the building-permit stage.

Commissioner Campbell moved to approve the project with the conditions included in the staff recommendation; the motion was seconded and passed 6-0 on a roll-call vote. Conditions require updated queuing plans when an operator is identified, submission of exterior lighting and streetscape details during permit review and continued coordination on security and circulation as permits move forward.

Staff said final construction would require PG&E coordination for electrical service and that the sponsor will seek building and electrical permits prior to construction. The project sponsor told the commission building-permit and utility-permitting steps typically take time and that an operator often is secured as the project moves into the permit stage.