Planning Commission approves HOME‑SF project at 2800 Geary with Geary entrance; orders traffic‑mitigation work

The San Francisco Planning Commission voted unanimously to approve a HOME‑SF authorization for a 42‑unit project at 2800 Geary Boulevard and to adopt the sponsor’s variant that locates the underground garage entrance on Geary Boulevard — but the commission explicitly rejected a late‑filed bulb‑out design and directed the sponsor and staff to develop traffic‑calming and loading‑management measures with relevant departments.

Planning Department staff (Matt Dito) described the proposal as a six‑story mixed‑use building with 42 dwelling units, 13 on‑site affordable units (31 percent BMR), and 23 below‑grade parking spaces. Staff noted the packet included a variant showing Geary Boulevard access; staff did not support that variant in its original form because of transit and street design concerns and asked the commission to require further SEQUEL/SDAT review if the commission wished to adopt changes that had not received full interagency clearance.

The project sponsor’s architect (Jonathan Perlman, Elevation Architects) and sponsor representatives said the site historically used a Geary curb cut (Firestone operated there for decades) and argued the variant would better serve neighbors because Wood Street is narrow and complicated by senior housing, deliveries, and frequent ambulances. The sponsor presented a transportation study estimating about 93 auto trips to/from the garage over a 16‑hour day and said design measures could manage the impact.

SFMTA Planning Director Sarah Jones and senior planner Daniel Sheeter told commissioners the agency’s clear policy is to avoid new driveways on transit‑priority streets like Geary because even small conflicts can delay high‑ridership bus service and disproportionately affect transit users. SFMTA staff recommended alternative tools — additional loading zones, curb management, extending separators out of the tunnel, or other physical/operational measures — rather than placing new turning conflicts on Geary.

Commissioners weighed competing priorities: the neighborhood’s narrow Wood Street with a senior facility and ambulatory needs, versus Geary’s status as a transit priority corridor. Several commissioners said they were reluctant to continue the item and preferred to resolve technical refinements through the normal Street Design Advisory Team (SDAT) and interagency review rather than by deferral. Commissioner Diamond moved to approve the variant that places the entrance on Geary Boulevard without the bulb‑out and to require the sponsor to work with staff and SFMTA (and other applicable departments) on traffic‑calming, loading, and safety measures; the motion passed 5–0.

On the record, the commission and staff clarified that the packet variant without the bulb‑out had SEQUEL clearance and was approvable; the specific bulb‑out plan provided late in the record had not received SEQUEL clearance and would require additional analysis. The approved action directs staff and the sponsor to finalize design refinements (for example, sight‑line improvements, loading‑zone allocation, red curb and visibility wings, soft post mitigation, and potential audible or other pedestrian warnings) and to return to required interagency checks where necessary.

What happens next: staff and the project sponsor will coordinate with SFMTA, SDAT and other departments to implement the mitigation steps described on the record and to finalize engineering and curb‑management details as part of permit review and street design advisory processes.