Planning Commission approves conditional‑use authorization at 1268 Seventeenth Avenue over community objections

The Planning Commission voted 5–2 on Dec. 2 to grant conditional‑use authorization for a project at 1268 Seventeenth Avenue that would demolish a rear single‑family dwelling and add two new dwelling units while expanding the front dwelling.

Planning staff presented the project and said it required conditional‑use authorization under interim zoning controls for large residential projects because it increases building area and changes unit configuration. Staff said the project would bring the property into code compliance, increase density, and not change the total number of dwelling units subject to price controls, after consultation with the Rent Board. Matt Ditto said the front unit would retain roughly the same size and the department had confirmed rent‑control status with the Rent Board.

Public commenters, including representatives of the Westside Community Coalition and tenant organizations, urged denial, saying the project would enable the loss of rent‑controlled units and contribute to gentrification. They argued the scope of demolition and potential field changes could lead to losing price‑controlled units.

Owner Jack Yu told the commission the rear building is structurally compromised and the rear unit’s foundation is failing, which is the rationale for demolition. Commissioners asked about fire‑department review for a proposed rear fire escape and whether demolition calculations triggered stricter findings; staff said the project’s alterations did not meet tantamount‑to‑demolition triggers for the front building and that fire‑department review will occur in the permitting stage.

Commissioner Fung moved to grant the conditional use authorization on the basis that the project creates new units, brings the property into compliance and renews older units; the motion passed 5–2 with Commissioners Imperial and Moore voting no.