Votes at a glance: Sept. 20 San Francisco Historic Preservation Commission

The San Francisco Historic Preservation Commission took several formal actions at its Sept. 20, 2023 hearing. Key votes and outcomes are listed below.

Votes at a glance

- Adoption of draft minutes (09/06/2023): Motion passed unanimously, 5–0.

- Continuances (items proposed for continuance including the Alexandria Theater at 5400 Gary Boulevard): Motion to continue the listed items (including Alexandria Theater continued to Nov. 1, 2023) passed unanimously, 5–0. Kelly Groth, representing Supervisor Chan's office, read a letter asking for continuance so the city and Timespace Group LLC can negotiate a development agreement for a 76-unit residential project with on‑site affordable units.

- Re-adoption of delegated scopes of work (Item 7): Staff updated the delegated scopes of work used for staff-level entitlements, adding three new scopes (temporary art installations up to 60 days in the C‑3‑R Downtown district; exterior utilities such as gas meters; and signage clarifications including simulated neon mockups). The commission adopted the amendments unanimously, 5–0. Staff noted appeals windows (15 days for members of the public; 20 days for commissioners).

- Landmark recommendations forwarded to Board of Supervisors: The commission voted 5–0 to forward landmark recommendations for the Sacred Heart Parish Complex (as amended by staff: interior features and the connector/bridge removed from the ordinance) and to forward recommendations for two Mission District murals (Carnaval/Golden Dreams and Chata Gutierrez/La Rumba No Para).

- 335 Powell Street (Item 12): The commission approved a permit-to-alter proposal with conditions to modify the trellis/pergola and align railings with an alternate design. Specific conditions required shortening the trellis so it does not extend farther than a defined plane (direction given: no further than the left edge of the forward-facing window or a refined dimension between the face of the column and the window edge) and allowing staff to work with the sponsor to refine post locations. Motion to approve with conditions passed 4–0 (Commissioner Foley absent).

- 67 Potomac Street (Item 13): The commission approved a certificate of appropriateness for a Queen Anne house in the DeBose Park Historic District that includes front-step replacement, a 9-inch garage opening expansion, a rear addition not visible from the street, and replacement of the driveway with permeable pavers. Motion passed 4–0; some elements will proceed to Planning Commission for required conditional-use authorization (hearing scheduled 10/18/2023).

Procedural notes: Several items were board‑initiated and will next be considered by the Board of Supervisors. Staff committed to providing additional enforcement and process information in future staff packets where helpful, and reminded commissioners and the public about appeals procedures for delegated staff decisions.