Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Historic Resources Survey topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission and planning staff urge faster citywide historic‑resource survey; committee discusses funding and phasing
Summary
Historic Preservation Commissioner Kate Black and Planning Department staff outlined a proposed multi‑year citywide cultural resources survey, noting roughly 20% of parcels have been surveyed to date; commissioners and supervisors urged compressing the timeline and identifying funding during upcoming budget deliberations.
The committee heard Item 6, a status report and updated work plan for a citywide historic resources (cultural resources) survey. Historic Preservation Commissioner Kate Black, speaking on behalf of the commission, said San Francisco has completed surveys on only about 20% of its parcels and urged accelerated work so developers and property owners gain certainty. Black cited Los Angeles’ comprehensive citywide survey (2010–2017) as a model and stressed the survey’s benefits for preservation, economic development tied to heritage tourism, disaster planning, and streamlined permitting.
Pilar LaValle of the Planning Department described the proposed survey methodology: use of legacy data, preparation of historic context statements, property documentation, creation of records in an Arches geospatial database, and evaluation of properties constructed on or before 1974 (45 years old). The department estimates 80,000–100,000 parcels remain to be surveyed. Under a baseline FY19–20 proposal (3.15 FTE), staff estimated the process would take roughly six years; higher staffing levels would shorten the schedule.
Supervisors pressed staff on adoption of existing neighborhood‑commercial‑district (NCD) surveys and ways to prioritize already completed field work. Chair Aaron Peskin said he has identified some unspent funds and proposed funding the effort at a pace to complete the survey in about 2.5 years (roughly $845,000 for that faster timeline, per his remarks). Planning staff explained some field work exists but final evaluations and methodology alignment remain outstanding tasks, and staff capacity is a principal constraint. Several supervisors and the Historic Preservation Commission asked that the committee and upcoming budget deliberations prioritize dedicated resources so the survey can both protect historic resources and provide development certainty.
Public comment supported speeding the survey and connected the effort to housing production and preservation concerns. Chair Peskin thanked the commission and staff and filed the item.
