Planning commission forwards Trinity Plaza height amendment to supervisors with community-benefit amendment

SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Planning Commission voted Jan. 25 to forward a general plan amendment for Trinity Plaza, a long‑running redevelopment at 1167 Market Street, to the Board of Supervisors with an amendment urging the board and staff to pursue additional community benefits such as transportation and open space mitigations.

Craig Nikitas of planning staff opened the hearing by describing the item as “the reconsideration of a general plan amendment for Trinity Plaza to increase the height limit shown on map 5 of the downtown area plan.” He walked commissioners through graphics showing the project’s existing 120‑, 150‑ and 240‑foot height bands and the proposed clarifying changes that would adjust portions of the parcel to 160 and 180 feet in places.

The item drew a sustained public-comment period. Speakers included tenant representatives and neighborhood advocates who urged stronger protections for existing residents and questioned condo mapping and the proposed increases in parking. Jassy Collins, a neighborhood resident, told commissioners that “the condo mapping need to be dropped,” arguing the mapping would expose rent‑controlled units to future condominium conversion.

Ken Warner, chair of the Trinity Plaza Tenants Association, urged the commission to let the project proceed, saying many tenants want the revitalization and that the plan would help preserve on‑site rental housing. Project counsel Jim Rubin noted that an environmental impact report certified earlier in 2006 included a wind study and cumulative impacts analysis and urged commissioners to send the referral on to the Board of Supervisors: “We urge you to vote yes. Send us to the board of supervisors where many of the issues that you just heard about like parking, mapping, number of units will be decided,” he said.

Concerns about wind and shadow impacts were a central part of the public record and commissioners’ questions. Speaker Sue Hester urged staff to require a cumulative wind analysis for the Market Street corridor, saying observed wind conditions there were hazardous. Staff and the sponsor responded that the certified EIR examined 1,900 units and contained wind tunnel tests and repeatability checks; staff told commissioners the pedestrian comfort level of 11 miles per hour had been modeled.

Commissioners debated process and planning principles. Several said they were frustrated that negotiated deal points across the hallway appeared to shape code and map amendments rather than the commission’s urban design framework. Commissioner Christina Olague proposed, and the commission adopted, an amendment urging the Board of Supervisors and staff to consider further ways to address community burdens and identify potential additional public benefits such as transportation and open space.

On the motion to approve the referral to the Board of Supervisors with that amendment, the commission recorded a 6–1 vote, with Commissioner Catherine Moore voting no. The commission’s action forwards the proposed amendment and the commission’s recommendation and amended language to the Board of Supervisors for final action.

Next steps: The Planning Department will transmit the commission’s resolution and the hearing record to the Board of Supervisors. The Board may schedule public hearings and decide whether to adopt, modify or reject the general plan amendment and the commission’s accompanying recommendation.