Planning Commission OKs continuances for multiple big projects, sets 1145 Mission for Nov. 19

The San Francisco Planning Commission voted to continue several heavy-lift items and to set a November hearing date for further consideration of a contested Mission Street site after residents and community groups asked for more time to consult with developers amid COVID-19.

At the start of the meeting, staff read a list of proposed continuances that included multiple large-project items and a request from the Board of Supervisors for a three-month delay on the 1145 Mission Street application. Community callers including Rachel Laster of SOMA Pilipinas urged the commission to grant extra time for outreach, citing racial-equity priorities and the need to develop a community-serving reuse or 100% affordable option. Other nearby residents testified in favor of permitting the site sooner to address housing shortages.

Commissioner Imperial moved to continue Items 1 through 4 and to grant the three-month continuance requested for Item 11; the motion was seconded and carried. The commission placed the 1145 Mission continuance on November 19, after discussing scheduling constraints around the Thanksgiving holiday. The motion to approve the consent calendar item for 227 Church Street (case 2019-017421 CUA) also passed unanimously 6–0.

By the time commissioners concluded the continuance votes, staff reminded participants of remote-hearing procedures and public-comment protocols that were put in place under the mayor’s and governor’s emergency orders allowing remote hearings during the COVID-19 shelter-in-place.

The commission’s action preserves procedural options for residents who want more direct engagement on sizable projects while allowing other cases to move through the calendar with staff-recommended scheduling.

Next steps: Items continued will return on the dates set by the commission; the 1145 Mission matter is scheduled for Nov. 19 under the continuance motion.