Planning commission votes 6–1 to initiate review of 8 Washington St. plan despite neighborhood opposition

The San Francisco Planning Commission voted 6–1 on Dec. 8 to initiate a general plan amendment that would allow portions of the proposed 8 Washington Street development to rise above the current 84-foot height limit.

Planning staff described the proposal as demolition of an existing surface parking lot and the Golden Gateway Tennis and Swim Club to build a new health club, residential buildings ranging from four to 12 stories (145 dwelling units), about 20,000 square feet of ground-floor retail and 400 off-street parking spaces. Staff noted the sponsor requests map changes to show a 92-foot limit on part of the site and a 136-foot limit on another portion and that a draft environmental impact report has been published and a comments-and-responses document is being prepared.

The vote to initiate does not approve the project or the final heights; it only allows the commission to consider a formal amendment at a later public hearing. Commissioner (speaker 27) moved to initiate and the motion was seconded; roll-call voting produced a 6–1 result with Commissioner Moore voting no.

Why it matters: supporters…