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Commission approves three‑building redevelopment at North Point and Larkin after years of negotiation
Summary
After years of negotiations and a late discretionary review request from neighbors, the Planning Commission approved a three‑building infill project at 889 North Point/2998 Larkin on Aug. 3, granting small variances and finding the project consistent with the revised design package negotiated with immediate neighbors.
The Planning Commission denied a discretionary review appeal and approved a three‑building housing infill scheme at 889 North Point/2998 Larkin Street on Aug. 3, following lengthy neighborhood engagement and changes to the design.
The sponsor revised the plan from an earlier five‑unit wraparound design to three separate buildings, including townhouse‑style entries and rear yard courtyards. Planning staff recommended approval, noting the revised project kept rear‑yard open space, matched surrounding scale and addressed earlier soil‑remediation concerns on the former gas‑station site. The zoning administrator considered three modest variances — a minor corner‑lot area shortfall and a rear‑yard height allowance at limited depth — and staff recommended their approval in the context of the design changes.
Neighbors were divided in testimony: some immediate adjacent property owners and the neighborhood association supported the revised three‑building approach and the added rear‑yard breezeway; other neighbors who live a few blocks away opposed the height/bulk and asked that the commission require a tighter step‑down and additional design revisions. The opponents cited Residential Design Guidelines for context and compatibility.
The commission concluded public comment, denied discretionary review (i.e., declined to accept the appeal), approved the project and granted the limited variances requested, and directed standard permit routing including required soil‑management and health‑safety plans before building permits would be issued.
Next steps: Project sponsor to provide soils‑management and dust/runoff controls to Department of Public Health and to complete routing for building permits and variances with the zoning administrator; construction permitting will proceed after those conditions are satisfied.
