Commission approves 53-unit mixed-use building at Polk and Pacific despite minor shadow increase to park

The Planning Commission on Dec. 3 unanimously approved a conditional use authorization and shadow findings for a six-story mixed-use project at 2030 Polk Street (also 1580 Pacific) that will demolish an underused commercial building and construct 53 dwelling units with three ground-floor commercial spaces.

Planning staff said the project seeks a 23% state density bonus by providing 5 units at 80% AMI and a total of nine on-site affordable units, with the remaining inclusionary requirement satisfied by a fee estimated at roughly $1,040,000. Staff's shadow analysis estimated the project would increase the park's theoretically available annual sunlight by about 0.6%, with the new shadow primarily occurring in fall and winter afternoons.

Sponsor J. S. Sullivan Development and its architect described a design that places nearly half the units as family-size multi-bedroom homes and preserves a replacement storefront for a legacy business, the Jug Shop. Commissioner Diamond and others asked whether design adjustments could materially reduce park shadow; the sponsor and the project's shadow consultant said modest changes (setbacks or trimming the top floor) produce only small reductions and that losing an entire story would produce only marginal improvement in the metric cited.

Commissioners weighed benefits and impacts, noting the project adds housing with many family-sized units and preserves retail anchors while creating modest additional shadow at times when parts of the park are already in shadow. Given the public benefits, the commission found the shadow effects would not be adverse and approved the conditional use authorization and shadow findings 7-0 with standard conditions.