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Planning Commission forwards major rewrite of Articles 10–11 on historic preservation to supervisors
Summary
The Planning Commission unanimously approved an amended draft of Planning Code Articles 10 and 11 to implement the city’s new Historic Preservation Commission and revised demolition, designation and review procedures; the draft will go to the Board of Supervisors with the commission’s recommended edits.
The Planning Commission voted unanimously April 9 to forward an amended draft ordinance rescinding and replacing Planning Code Articles 10 and 11 to implement the new Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) and to clarify landmark, district and certificate‑of‑appropriateness procedures.
Tara Sullivan and planning staff summarized changes and the HPC’s recommendations: a reworked powers and duties section for the HPC, clarified roles for CEQA review (staff and the environmental review officer remain central), a single‑point Historic Preservation Officer (HPO) reporting relationship, updated demolition definitions and standards, and an administrative certificate of appropriateness process (staff may issue minor COAs but items will be listed on the HPC agenda and can be pulled for full hearing).
Key debates at the hearing included whether the HPC should have mandatory review of all CEQA documents or “may” review, whether the Planning Director or the HPC should have greater input in selecting the HPO, how to balance preservation review with the Planning Commission’s authority on multi‑entitlement projects, and limits on staff discretion for administrative COAs. Commissioners and public speakers also raised concerns about cultural landscapes, protection of murals, mechanisms for independent third‑party technical review (especially for emergency demolition cases), and the risk that criminal penalties in the code could be applied without adequate safeguards.
Staff presented a one‑page set of revisions to the demolition standard clarifying criteria under which the HPC may approve demolition of contributory resources within a historic district (replacement structure must better implement general plan objectives and the HPC must make explicit findings). The HPC and several preservation organizations supported retaining strong demolition review; developers and some trade groups urged careful balancing so that designations do not inappropriately freeze redevelopment.
The commission approved the draft with the modifications discussed at the hearing and directed staff to transmit the Planning Commission’s recommended language to the Board of Supervisors for final consideration. The item will proceed to the Board for its legislative review.
