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Planning Commission roundup: continuances, design reviews and several land‑use votes
Summary
The Planning Commission approved continuances and several project permits, heard updates on the Warriors waterfront proposal and the regional Plan Bay Area, and rejected a conditional‑use application for a Starbucks in Upper Market after a long public hearing.
The San Francisco Planning Commission met May 9 and handled a broad agenda that included procedural votes, design presentations and major public hearings.
The commission voted unanimously to continue three land‑use cases listed for continuance and approved multiple consent items by single roll‑call votes. On the regular calendar commissioners approved a wireless facility at 758 Divisadero after staff described the antenna layout and neighbors raised structural and habitability concerns that city building permits and DBI review would later address. The commission also approved a restaurant/bar conversion at 1785 Fulton Street (Barrelhead Brewhouse) with extended hours subject to conditions and cleared the La Torta Gorda rear patio in the Mission.
In a pair of larger development votes, the commission granted exceptions and conditional‑use authorizations needed for a 162‑unit residential project at 101 Polk Street, including on‑site inclusionary affordable units, and attached conditions addressing design compatibility and public‑art contributions. Staff and the developer emphasized transit access and union construction employment in support of the proposal.
A high‑profile, heavily attended hearing on a proposed Starbucks at 2201 Market Street drew dozens of supporters and opponents. Planning staff recommended denying the formula‑retail request under the Commission’s recently adopted concentration policy; after testimony from merchants, labor groups, residents and business owners the Commission voted 5–1 to approve the staff recommendation to disapprove the conditional‑use application.
The meeting also included two extended presentations: a Design 2 update for the Warriors’ proposed event center and mixed‑use development at Piers 30–32 and Seawall Lot 330, and a briefing on MTC/ABAG’s draft Plan Bay Area and its draft EIR under SB 375. Commissioners and the public pressed project teams and regional planners on shadow impacts, open‑space design, local hire commitments, displacement risks and sea‑level rise adaptation.
The commission directed staff follow‑up on several items and adopted the recommended actions where noted; several high‑interest items (notably the waterfront design and Plan Bay Area EIR) will return for further review and additional public comment as they move through environmental review and interagency permitting.
