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Commission approves preservation‑linked Valencia Street project with condition to shift top floor after neighbor objections
Summary
After lengthy public comment and debate over a rear‑yard variance and shadowing, the Planning Commission on June 22 took discretionary review for 645–647 Valencia Street and approved a motion to shift the building’s top level toward Valencia by 5 feet (or alternatively reduce the top‑level rear by 5 feet if preservation staff objects). The decision followed spirited testimony from Mission Dolores Neighborhood Association and preservation advocates.
The Planning Commission on June 22 approved, with a condition, the discretionary review for an adaptive‑reuse and addition project at 645–647 Valencia Street (the building long known as Amelia’s/Elbow Room). The project proposes retention of the historic storefront facade and a multi‑story residential addition behind it; the sponsor emphasized historic preservation and adaptive reuse while neighbors argued a requested rear‑yard variance would cause significant shadowing, privacy loss, and tree impacts.
Project sponsors Dennis and Susan Ring and their architect described multiple design iterations and said the design had been…
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