CASTRO PLANNER November 2008
Upper Market Plan Passes Planning Commission
On October 23rd, the San Francisco Planning Commission passed the Upper Market Community Design Plan, which will guide both private development and public improvements in the Market Street corridor from Octavia to Castro Streets. Hundreds of Castro residents took part in crafting the Plan over the past year. The Plan has been endorsed by CAPA as well as other neighborhood groups.
The Plan includes several recommendations that CAPA has endorsed and supported even before the planning process began, including the creation of an expanded plaza at Market and Castro Streets, improvement of sidewalks for more active use as outdoor space, incentives for non-profit and cultural uses within privately developed projects, encouragement to provide a wide range of new housing types in new development, which will occupy higher density infill residential project that will bring people many of the less active parts of Market Street.
Adherence to the design guidelines would be a driving
criterion for approval of new development within the Plan
Area, and developers will have to reach out to community
groups for official support of new projects in the plan area.
Community organizations like CAPA are given a further role
in implementation of the Plan. The Plan charges community
groups with tasks such as raising awareness and support for
the Harvey Milk Plaza redesign and other public
improvements; lobbying local and state officials for funding
for public realm improvements; as well as direct action such as
tree planting, block clean up and sponsorship programs.
Although the global financial crisis will likely slow down interest in new commercial development and limit available funding for new public improvements, planning on specific sites will continue. While the project at the 15th and Market gas station appears dead for now, the sponsors of two projects continue on the design and public approvals process; an 85 unit residential project with a Whole Foods store is proposed at Market and Dolores, and another mixed use project at the current Thai Corner restaurant site is proposed at Sanchez and Market.
To view the entire Upper Market Community Design Plan, go to http://uppermarket.sfplanning, or www.capasf.org for a link.
MTA Board Adopts Transit Effectiveness Project
Muni's governing Board adopted the full Transit Effectiveness Project Plan on October 21. CAPA endorsed the project which is intended to be a comprehensive, coordinated revision of Muni service throughout the city, and will affect several Muni lines in the Castro (See the meeting highlights item at right). The full plan can be seen at www.sftep.com for more information.
Implementation of changes to service could start as early as July 2009.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE GENERAL MEETING
Thursday, September 13, 2008
17th Street Pedestrian Planning: To increase community use of the site, temporary uses are proposed. Demian Quesnel expects that the operators of a possible farmers’ market on Noe Street at Market can offer advice for a temporary closing of 17th Street for other uses. J.D. Petras of Café Flore is also involved in the process. Other resources for advice could be sponsors of PARKing Day, Livable City, and Mayor’s Office (tie into Sunday Streets). Next action for CAPA is to make further contacts, refine list of activities. Joe Curtin and Demian Quesnel, and Rafael Mandelman expressed interest in the working on the project.
4035 18th Street Project: CAPA reviewed a proposal for an existing commercial building at 4035 18th Street near Hartford. The proposal expands ground floor retail space, and adds two residential units (with no parking). The Victorian façade would be saved, but the entire site would be developed. Members supported new residential units without off-street parking, but approval was withheld until the developer meets with other neighborhood groups, notably the EVPA planning committee, which is would like to see a ground floor setback for open space and a higher ceiling for the retail space.
Transit Effectiveness Project Changes: Recommendations for changes to Castro Muni service were reviewed. In general the changes were accepted, including routing of community service provided by lines 35 Eureka and 37 Corbett. The 35 would be extended to Glen Park BART station using van service. The 37 Corbett service to Church and Market from Twin Peaks is preserved, while service to Buena Vista and Cole Valley is provided by a new line, the 32 Roosevelt.
Meeting Space: Joe Curtin has inquired into the availability of the Castro Meeting Room for CAPA meetings in the Bank of America. The space is currently used by the Castro/Upper Market Community Benefits District meeting on the same evenings that CAPA meets (second Thursday of each month). CAPA’s use of the Blue Room at the Eureka Valley Rec. Center appears secure for now, so no action was taken to move the meeting.
AGENDA FOR THE GENERAL MEETING
Thursday, November 13, 2008, 7:30 p.m.
1. Call to Order/Introductions 7:30 p.m.
2. Plaza Programming Workshop: planning update
3. Upper Market Community Design Plan: role for CAPA in implementation (See article at left)
4. New projects update: Market and Dolores (Sand C Ford site),15th and Market (Thai Corner site)
5. Planning Dept. Meetings: Housing Element Stakeholders, New Business
6. Adjournment 9:00 p.m