CASTRO PLANNER                                    October, 2007

Planning Department Has a New Director

After years under the interim leadership of Dean Macris, and a long search, the city’s Planning Department will have a new director starting in January. John Rahaim is currently director of Seattle’s planning department, and will take over the department as San Francisco deals with issues of affordable and sustainable development. Rahaim is openly gay, and said in the Bay Area Reporter that the gay identity and history of Castro “has to be a fundamental part of what we talk about when we talk about the Castro growing and changing." CAPA’s proposal to add a Castro “element” for the city’s General Plan including issues of queer identity has been endorsed by Macris, and Rahaim’s comments suggest continued support under his leadership.

Upper Market Planning Effort Starts with a Bang

With several Upper Market St. sites being considered for new mixed use developments, over 150 Castro area residents attended the first of several Upper Market Planning workshops on Sept. 11 at the Harvey Milk Academy to voice their visions for Upper Market and the Castro. The first workshop organized by the city’s Planning Department and facilitated by the planning consultants MIG, covered topics a wide ranging as appropriate height limits for new buildings on Market St., affordability of new housing, co-development of sites with local cultural and community service organizations such as Theater Rhinoceros and the GLBT Historical Society, and how the new development would relate to improved sidewalks and open spaces including Harvey Milk Plaza.

The next workshop will be held on Saturday Oct. 27 from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm, also at the Harvey Milk Academy at 19th St. and Collingwood in the Castro. To learn more about the Upper Market Planning process, and to review notes from the Sept. 11 workshop, go to http://uppermarket.sfplanning.org.

Market Octavia Plan Goes to Board of Supervisors

The Market Octavia Plan moves closer to final approval this fall as the Board of Supervisors start deliberation of the plan. The Plan was introduced to the full Board by Supervisor Mirkarimi on August 7th and sent to Committee for deliberation. The Land Use Committee held a special hearing on October 3 to consider the plan. Some modifications could be made in committee before the full Board considers the plan later this fall, followed by a vote for passage.

The plan addresses land use, housing, transportation, open space, urban design and community improvements in an area that extends from the Castro to Civic Center. Years of community meetings have shaped the plan and includes provisions for infrastructure in tandem with new development to enable a balanced growth of the neighborhood. Read about the plan at www.sfgov.org/site/uploadedfiles/planning/ Better_Neighborhoods.


HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE GENERAL MEETING

Thursday, September 13, 2007

Harvey Milk Plaza and Castro Street Planning:

CAPA members met to update CAPA’s proposal for Harvey Milk Plaza at Castro and Market St., and streetscape improvements for Castro St. from Market to 19th St.

The plan’s vision includes establishing a focal point for the area that has coherence and meaning, creating outdoor spaces for gatherings and social interaction, improving pedestrian and transit uses while mitigating traffic impacts, and encouraging more uses that will support the LGBT identity of the neighborhood and local businesses.

Elements of the plan for the plaza include acquiring gas station parcels for new plaza spaces (possibly with commercial development on a small part of the site), along with converting adjacent 17th St. to a plaza. West of Castro 17th St. could be rerouted to create a much wider sidewalk at the corner, and curbs extended to shorten pedestrian crossing of Market St. Unused subway portals would be replaced with planted areas to help slow Market St. traffic. Transit and traffic improvements include adding a turn-back track in the subway for better Castro shuttle service, concentrating transit service at the existing south station entry to improve connections, and changing regulations to improve traffic flow. The plan incorporates elements of Heidi Sokolowsky’s design for an interactive Harvey Milk memorial comprising a linear “memory box” east of Castro and a vertical “activity box” marking the end of the Market St. axis.

For Castro St., the plan calls for wider sidewalks with curb bulb-outs for special uses (cafes, bus stops, trees, bike racks), possible angled parking, and coordinated street furniture, trees, and public art.

The nest steps will be to produce a graphic representation with a map and drawings, for use in public outreach, and continue meeting with officials to gain support for the plan.

AGENDA FOR THE GENERAL MEETING

Thursday, October 11, 2007, 7:30 p.m.

Andrea Aiello, the new executive director of the Castro/Upper Market Community Benefits District, will be a guest at the October CAPA meeting to discuss the CBD’s own effort to improve the streetscape on both Castro and Market St., and how CAPA and the CBD can work together to achieve our common goals.

1.    Call to Order/Introductions          7:30 p.m.

2.    Upper Market St. Workshop Update

3.    NCD Zoning Review – Recommendations for changes to commercial zoning codes in Castro and Upper Market

4.    Castro St//Harvey Milk Plaza Planning/CBD Plan

Andrea Aiello

5.    New Business

6.    Adjournment               9:00 p.m.