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Commission continues Star Motel student-housing conditional use amid strong neighborhood opposition
Summary
The Planning Commission continued the Academy of Art University’s conditional-use request to legalize student housing at the former Star Motel (1727 Lombard) for one week (to May 1) after extensive neighborhood testimony about livability, crime, and process. Staff said environmental review is incomplete and recommended continuation.
The commission heard a contested conditional-use application seeking to legalize conversion of the Star Motel at 1727 Lombard Street to group housing for the Academy of Art University. Planning staff said the environmental review application had been filed but was not yet complete and that transportation analysis and fee calculations remained outstanding.
Neighbors — including residents and neighborhood associations — described repeated nuisance behavior and property impacts they attribute to the site’s conversion, and several speakers urged denial or suspension of the use. Speakers proposed mitigations such as gating the rear access, eliminating student parking, reducing occupancy, and stronger on-site security. Some speakers requested that the commission revoke or suspend permits rather than allow the building to operate as student housing while legalization proceeds.
Academy representative Michael Burke asked the commission to continue the item so the pending environmental review can proceed and so the academy can continue neighborhood outreach and implement mitigation measures; he described proposed steps including soundproofing, landscaping, a roll-down door to block rear access, no-student-parking, and no-smoking rules for the dorm.
Commissioners debated legal options (denial versus continuance), interim enforcement and whether the city can bar acquisitions. Staff said denying the conditional use would be one legal path but cautioned that CEQA and institutional master-plan questions make the case complicated. The commission voted to continue the matter for one week to allow consultation with the City Attorney and additional neighborhood engagement. The motion carried with recorded ayes from Commissioners Antonini, Soule, Moore and Olague (Bill Lee absent).
