Board denies appeal of zoning determination for 65 Oak Grove, invites clarified refiling for union training/dispatch use

The San Francisco Board of Appeals on July 6 denied an appeal of a zoning administrator’s letter of determination that classified the legal use of 65 Oak Grove Street as a trade shop under the SALI (Service, Arts and Light Industrial) zoning district and found general office use would not be permitted.

Applicant Galen Grant and representatives from District Council 16 told the board the site will function primarily as a union dispatch and apprenticeship training facility with occasional hands-on instruction, tool storage and vehicle circulation, and that the office functions would be incidental to vocational training and dispatch.

Corey Teague, zoning administrator for the Planning Department, advised that the initial determination was based on the material presented in the record and that the letter answered the question posed; Teague said the filing submitted with the appeal did not fully describe the vocational/training aspects and recommended the applicant either refile a more specific request or pursue a separate determination that identifies the combined assembly, training and dispatch functions.

The board acknowledged the publicly stated vocational intent but concluded the Zoning Administrator did not abuse discretion in issuing the letter based on the materials he received. President Rick Swig moved to deny the appeal and invited the applicant to refile with an expanded and clarified description of intended uses so Planning can assess which specific land-use definition applies; the motion passed 3-0.

Planning staff explained SALI is intended to preserve production, distribution and repair uses and to limit uses that would drive up land values; staff said the combination of dispatch, training classrooms and hands-on vocational work may map to different land-use categories and merits a fresh, detailed request so staff can determine whether the proposal is permitted.