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Commission approves demolition and construction with conditions for Fillmore Street project; variance granted
Summary
The commission approved the demolition and new construction for a Fillmore Street site after divided votes on discretionary review and design issues, and granted a rear‑yard variance. Conditions included staff coordination on facade design and limiting noisy weekend construction.
The Planning Commission considered a discretionary review and related variance for a Fillmore Street redevelopment (cases listed under item 14) and approved the project with conditions after split votes.
Aaron Star of planning staff introduced the case, which proposes demolition of a two‑unit building and construction of a new multi‑unit building. Staff recommended granting discretion to require the new building to match adjacent light wells in line with residential design guidelines, while acknowledging exceptions could be considered if the neighboring condition made matching inappropriate.
Neighbors and speakers criticized demolition and raised preservation concerns. Bridgette Slattery, an adjacent neighbor, urged commissioners to preserve the existing building and highlighted longtime residents who live there. The project sponsor said the existing structure had been substantially altered and that rebuilding could improve light, parking and safety for tenants.
Commission votes were split across multiple motions. Commissioners voted 4–3 not to take discretionary review (effectively approving the demolition) after debate and a procedural motion. On the next motion, the commission approved the proposed new construction with findings and conditions — specifically noting that the decision was not precedent‑setting and directing the project sponsor to work with staff on façade details; the motion also included a condition to avoid noisy construction on weekends. That motion passed 5–2.
On the variance request for the rear yard, after closing the public hearing the commission granted the variance subject to standard conditions of approval.
Next steps: approvals are subject to standard conditions and coordination with staff on facade revisions and construction‑hour commitments. The variance was granted; standard permitting and conditions apply before building permits are issued.
