Commission approves 5‑foot ground‑floor height bonus for Randolph–Broad corridor, limits 15‑foot retail floor height to commercial uses

The Planning Commission on Nov. 5 approved an ordinance introduced by Supervisor Avalos to provide a limited height bonus—up to 5 feet—for active ground‑floor frontages in the Randolph–Broad corridor, intended to encourage retail investment and more usable storefronts.

Frances Shea, an aide to Supervisor Avalos, described a long community process to revitalize the corridor and said affected neighborhood groups support the measure. Planning staff recommended refining the draft so the ordinance enumerates specific blocks and extends the boundary to abutting parcels that functionally front Randolph and Broad.

The measure would allow the extra height where a ground floor meets the planning code’s active frontage definition; staff said that approach encourages more gracious ceiling heights for retail (typically 13–15 feet) without substantially changing overall massing. The department also suggested listing exact blocks to improve clarity.

Commission discussion focused on whether residential ground‑floor uses should qualify. Commissioner Moore warned that allowing raised residential floors could inadvertently create above‑grade parking ventilated by open grates, which the commission does not want along walkable frontages. After debate, the commission accepted an amendment limiting the provision of taller (15‑foot) ground floors to commercial uses only; the motion to adopt staff recommendations with that amendment passed 5–2 (Commissioners Antonini and Lee opposed).