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Planning Commission supports citywide street-frontage controls with targeted exceptions
Summary
The commission recommended expanding street-frontage design controls (transparency, higher ceilings, mid-block alleys) to more commercial and mixed-use districts but limited alley-height controls in higher-density RC districts; motion passed 5'2.
The Planning Commission on Feb. 18 voted to recommend approval of a package of street-frontage controls introduced by Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi to extend urban-design standards (high ground-floor ceilings, minimum transparency of frontage, limits on garage frontage width and mid-block alley requirements) to additional mixed-use districts.
Staff recommended technical edits and asked that alley-height controls be limited so they are not applied to certain RC (residential-commercial) districts without further testing. Jeremy Pollock, representing the sponsor, said the measures are intended to create pedestrian-friendly commercial corridors by increasing ground-floor activity and limiting wide garage openings that break up commercial streets.
Livable City and other commenters supported the goals but sought exemptions for historic buildings and suggested calibrated application to neighborhood contexts; staff agreed to work with stakeholders where ongoing plan efforts are underway (e.g., Western SoMa) and to avoid unintended conflicts with other planning efforts.
The commission approved the staff-recommended modifications and preliminary Livable City suggestions by roll call, 5'2, with Commissioners Moore and Seguin dissenting. The commission asked staff to continue outreach and to return with clarifications if the ordinance is modified before Board of Supervisors hearings.
