Planning Commission delays Academy of Art and several major items amid notice and quorum concerns

The San Francisco Planning Commission voted on Nov. 7 to continue a set of high-profile agenda items, including the Academy of Art University matter, after members and public speakers raised concerns about public notice and commissioner availability.

Public commenters including Sue Hester and neighborhood groups told the commission they had only just learned how to access voluminous project materials and that the project records — including the environmental review — amount to thousands of pages. Hester said the documents are hosted at sfplanning.org/academy and urged a Dec. 12 hearing date when a fuller commission is likely to be present.

Commission staff told the body that staff had coordinated preferred continuance dates with applicants and the city attorney, and that the Academy matter had been slated for Nov. 21. Commissioners pressed staff and one another over whether holding so large and complex a matter with only four sitting commissioners was appropriate.

Commissioner Coppell moved to continue items 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 14; the motion carried by roll call with five votes in favor and one opposed (Commissioner Moore). The public comment period on the continuance calendar had included speakers who said they had received notice only within days of the hearing and requested more time to review the development agreements and EIR materials.

What happens next: the continued items will appear on the dates identified in the continuance motion unless applicants request alternate dates or the commission later amends the schedule. The commission’s minutes record the roll-call vote and speakers’ written material will remain part of the project file.