Committee backs Van Ness zoning exemption to allow expanded San Bao Temple

The Land Use and Transportation Committee voted to forward an ordinance to the full Board that would exempt the San Bao Temple site at 1750 Van Ness Avenue from the Van Ness Special Use District's nonresidential‑use ratio. Planning Department staff said the Planning Commission unanimously recommended the amendment and related conditional use approvals.

Christopher May of the Planning Department summarized the proposal as an amendment to the Van Ness Special Use District to exempt the property at 1750 Van Ness from the required 3:1 ratio of residential to nonresidential uses in association with a project proposing demolition of an existing two‑story religious building and construction of a new six‑story over‑basement institutional building. May said the Planning Commission heard 28 letters in support and 19 in opposition, and that opponents raised concerns about massing, and adverse effects on light and air for neighboring condominium residents.

Project sponsor Melinda Sarjapour said the site has hosted the San Bao Buddhist Temple for more than 30 years and that the amendment affects only this parcel to retain and modernize the temple; the sponsor said the change would not impede Van Ness area housing goals and that a site permit has been filed with the Department of Building Inspection with construction hoped to start in August. Architect Craig Hartman of SOM described the design as modest in scale with a meditation garden between two masses to bring light to St. Luke's Episcopal Church and to provide flexible community spaces, including an art gallery, bookstore and dining hall.

May also described the zoning approvals the Planning Commission recommended: conditional use authorizations to retain a curb cut on Presidio Avenue, to allow a nonresidential use greater than 6,000 square feet, to permit a height greater than 50 feet, and to authorize an institutional use within an RT4 zoning district; the zoning administrator also recommended allowing access to off‑street parking from Clay Street. No members of the public called in to comment during the committee hearing.

Supervisor Aaron Peskin moved to send the ordinance to the full Board with a positive recommendation; Peskin, Vice Chair Dean Preston and Chair Myrna Melgar voted aye and the motion passed. The clerk indicated items acted on today are expected to appear on the Board agenda of March 22 unless otherwise stated.

Next steps: the ordinance and related conditional use authorizations will be scheduled for the full Board's consideration.