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Planning Commission approves 363 Sixth Street large‑project authorization and findings
Summary
The Planning Commission approved CEQA findings and granted large‑project authorization for a proposed 9‑story, 104‑unit building at 363 Sixth Street, including 12 on‑site below‑market rental units; the project passed on a 4–2 vote after discussion of ground‑floor design, floor‑to‑ceiling heights and developer commitments.
The San Francisco Planning Commission on Oct. 15 approved the adoption of findings and granted large project authorization for a proposed nine‑story mixed‑use building at 363 Sixth Street.
Staff presented the project as a demolition of a two‑story former warehouse and construction of an 85‑foot, nine‑story residential building with 104 dwelling units, roughly 700 square feet of ground‑floor commercial space, 45 off‑street parking spaces, and bicycle parking. The project elected the on‑site affordable housing alternative and would provide 12 below‑market rental units; staff said the BMR rental units would follow City policy, be targeted at roughly 55 percent of area median income and be scattered through the building per Mayor's Office of Housing requirements.
Developer representatives described community outreach and a community benefits package that included approximately $1.8 million in impact fees and contributions, local hiring commitments and multi‑year programming support for neighborhood youth and parks. Several community organizations and labor groups spoke in favor; at least one trade representative said his organization had not secured a formal agreement with the developer and opposed.
Commissioners questioned the project's floor‑to‑ceiling heights, the technique used to gain an additional residential floor within the 85‑foot height limit (narrower slabs and lower residential floor‑to‑ceiling heights of about 8 feet 6 inches), flood‑zone elevation constraints that required raising the building, and ground‑floor design guidelines for walk‑up units and retail frontage. Staff explained the zoning allowed a higher ground‑floor commercial height to achieve more floors overall and that the project met code requirements for the ground‑floor commercial space.
On the motion to adopt the project findings, the Planning Commission voted 5–1 to adopt the findings with Commissioner Wu voting no. On the large project authorization motion the commission approved the authorization 4–2; Commissioners Richards and Wu voted against the authorization while Commissioners Antonini, Hillis, Johnson and President Fong voted in favor.
The commission approved conditions of project approval as documented in the draft motions and asked staff and project sponsors to continue outreach and to formalize mitigation measures where appropriate. The commission recessed for an extended break after the vote.
