Planning commission approves UCSF outpatient clinic at Hilltop Mall site

The Richmond Planning Commission voted 5–0 to approve PLN26-073, a conditional use permit for a proposed University of California, San Francisco outpatient clinic in the Hilltop Mall commercial corridor.

Staff said the tenant would occupy about 5,000 square feet on the ground floor of a two-story, 20,000-square-foot building, operate weekdays approximately 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and employ about 15 staff. Assistant planner Pete Severom told the commission that the site meets CM5 zoning requirements for clinics and that required on-site parking demand was calculated at 10 vehicle spaces with five short-term and five long-term bicycle spaces required by code. "The project meets all criteria requirements for approval in the zoning ordinance," Severom said, but he added that landscaping along parking strips is currently out of compliance and must be corrected before a certificate of occupancy is issued.

Why it matters: Staff argued the clinic would increase local access to outpatient medical services and support economic revitalization in a long-stagnant commercial corridor. The commission’s approval adopts the staff-recommended resolution with conditions including a revised landscaping plan, required to be completed before building-division clearance for occupancy.

Public comment and safety concerns: Richmond resident Cordell Hendler said he supports the clinic in principle but urged facility security and neighborhood engagement, referencing a prior Chevron-related concern over alcohol sales near schools. "I do support the idea of a clinic, but the only thing I would like to add is having security on-site," Hendler said. Staff said the Hilltop District Neighborhood Council had been notified per procedure and that staff had not received written comments from the council; staff also said they would follow up on security questions and invite applicant representatives to provide details.

Applicant responses: The building’s property manager, Matthias, said the site currently has tenant-accessible cameras and that ownership is willing to discuss additional security features if needed. Architect John Walter said any medical waste would follow standard locked storage and disposal protocols and that clinic spaces would meet applicable medical-disposal standards.

Next steps: Landscaping corrections and any required plan adjustments must be completed and approved during plan review and before the building division issues a certificate of occupancy. The commission approved the resolution by voice vote and recorded the motion as carrying 5–0.