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San Francisco planning hearing erupts over kink.com's use of historic Mission Armory
Summary
At a March 8, 2007 Planning Commission special hearing, the zoning administrator said a Jan. 4 letter of determination found film production a permitted use for the 1800 Mission Street Armory; a lengthy public comment period split neighborhood groups between supporters who praised building rehabilitation and opponents who decried notice, alleged social harms and asked for conditional review.
A special March 8, 2007 public hearing of the San Francisco Planning Commission drew a packed room and sharply divided public comment over the use of the historic Mission Armory at 1800 Mission Street after its purchase by kink.com.
Lawrence Badner, the city's zoning administrator, told the commission that he issued a letter of determination on Jan. 4 concluding that film production is an arts activity and a permitted use in the site's commercial/industrial zoning. "A film studio is considered an arts activity. It is a permitted use," Badner said, explaining that the planning code makes no content-based distinction and that a letter of determination answers whether a use is allowed under the code rather than judging appropriateness.
Why the hearing matters: the neighborhood's residents and community organizations said they were not given notice of the sale and the change of occupant and asked whether the city should require conditional use review, seismic and ADA upgrades, or other permitting tied to substantial renovation. Opponents pressed…
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