Civic_Design_Committee
2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 CIVIC DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE
Monday, August 15, 2005
3:00 p.m.
25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 70
Minutes
Commissioners Present: Andrea Cochran, Leonard Hunter, John Kriken, Beverly Prior
Absent: Jeannene Przyblyski
Staff Present: Richard Newirth, Nancy Gonchar, Rommel Taylor
Call To Order: 3:10 p.m.
- San Francisco Electric Reliability Project
Phase 1 & 2
Russell Step, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission introduced the project. Mr. Step explained that the project was being implemented to improve local air quality and serve local electric reliability needs. The project consists of two outdoor simple cycle natural gas fired combustion turbine plants. Mr. Step stated that there are two sites. The first site will be located in San Francisco between Cesar Chavez and 25th Street near the planned MUNI Metro East Light Rail Vehicle Maintenance and Operations Facility. Three 48.5 megawatt gas turbines and support buildings will be on this site. The second site will be located at the San Francisco International Airport in a an area known as Plot 20. This plot is situated in the northeastern portion of the property adjacent to the airport water treatment plant. Mr. Step stated that this site will have a single 48.5 megawatt gas turbine and support buildings.
Commissioner Kriken asked how the sites were selected.
Mr. Step stated that the sites were selected based on power supply needs for the area as well as adjacencies to existing and future infrastructure.
Commissioner Cochran asked if the community was in support of this project.
Mr. Step explained that there was a single community group called the Community Power Plant Task Force that complies and distributes information to the stakeholders in the area. He stated that during the planning process the task force completed a letter that indicated their support of the project. The proposed new plants are part of the replacement process of the existing old power plants in the southeast sector of the city. The long term goal is to get rid of the large scale plants without impacting required energy production. The turbines have more desirable performance. He explained that unlike older models, the new turbines can be switched on and off as needed. This feature reduces the overall sound transmission and can be ready to use on short notice. The new turbines run on natural gas.
Mr. Step introduced Jane Cee, principal, Cee Architects to present the design.
Ms. Cee explained that the design concept complemented the industrial character of the existing buildings and the proposed new MUNI facility. Both buildings are steel frame construction with coated metal siding and roofs. The steel entry and roll up doors will be painted blue to match MUNI standards. Ms. Cee stated that the building will be surrounded with a painted vertical bar security fence. She explained that the airport site was very similar but smaller since only one turbine will be located at that site. The building form, materials and color will be the same.
Commissioner Cochran opened the floor to public comment
Commissioner Cochran closed the floor to public comment.
Commissioner Cochran stated that she would like to see a more developed site plan.
Commissioner Prior expressed concern about the visual impact on residential areas. She asked if measures had been taken to mitigate sound transmission to the nearby residential areas.
Barry Pearl, project manager, SFPUC stated that at this point the immediately adjacent sites areall industrial facilities. He said that plans for future residential developments are not guaranteed at this time.He explained that exhaust silencers were part of the scope of work. Mr. Pearl pointed out that the noise from the future MUNI trains will be louder than the noise coming from this turbines at the facility.
Commissioner Cochran stated that community support was the single most important factor regarding this project and that the project sponsors were being taken at their word regarding commuity support. She said that written evidence should be provided. Ms. Cochran asked if any consideration had been given to the color and design of the stacks since it is the most prominent feature on each site.
Mr. Pearl stated that the form of the stacks can not be altered but color options can be explored.
Commissioner Hunter asked why all of the turbines aren’t located at the airport site.
Mr. Step explained that the bottle neck of power needs happen around the central waterfront area. Also in terms of infrastructure and efficiency the majority of the facility needs to be located in San Francisco. Mr. Step said that locating one of the turbines out of the city was a concession that was reluctantly supported by the Independent Systems Operators (ISO) since the power needs are in the city proper.
Commissioner Kriken asked if any consideration had been given to landscaping along 25th street to offer a more refined edge to the site.
Mr. Step stated that due to safety and maintenance concerns they could not provide any planting near the facility.
Commissioner Cochran stated that the committee would like to see further exploration of color schemes for the stacks at the Phase 3 review.
Motion to approve San Francisco Electric Reliability Project
Phase 1 & 2: Hunter
Vote: Unanimously approved
- Summit Pump Station
Phase 3
Stanley So, architect, DPW BOA stated that there hadn’t been any changes to the previously approved Phase 2 design.
Commissioner Cochran opened the floor to public comment.
Commissioner Cochran closed the floor to public comment
Motion to approve Summit Pump Station
Phase 3: Cochran
Vote: Unanimously approved
- Forrest Knolls Pump Station
Phase 3
Edmund Shum, architect, DPW BOA stated that there had been some minor changes to the design since the Phase 2 approval. Mr. Shum explained that the perimeter fence does not step vertically to match the retaining wall. The new configuration is a constant slope analogous to the retaining wall on the sides of the building.
Commissioner Cochran opened the floor to public comment.
Commissioner Cochran closed the floor to public comment.
Commissioner Hunter asked if the fence could be more opaque.
Commissioner Cochran expressed concern that the ground cover selected at the front of the building was a high water use plant. She asked if the design team had considered other options.
John Thomas, landscape architect, DPW BOE stated that the dew fall surrounding the pump station was sufficient to keep the plants properly hydrated.
Motion to approve Forrest Knolls Pump Station
Phase 3: Hunter
Vote: Unanimously approved
- Jos A. Bank Clothiers
Administrative Review Phase 1,2 & 3
Staff recommended the approval of the proposed exterior renovation of the Jos A. Bank Clothiers below the city owned garage at 390 Sutter Street.
Commissioner Cochran opened the floor to public comment.<<br />
Commissioner Cochran closed the floor to public comment.
Motion to approve the Jos A. Bank Clothiers
Administrative Review Phase 1,2 & 3: Prior
Vote: unanimously approved
- MUNI Bus Shelters-Golden Gate Park Music Concourse
Administrative Review Phase 1,2& 3
Staff recommended the approval of the proposed installation of two MUNI Bus Shelters in the Golden Gate Park Music Concourse.
Commissioner Cochran opened the floor to public comment.
Commissioner Cochran closed the floor to public comment.
Commissioner Kriken stated that he did not want to see any advertising on the kiosks as shown in one of the examples presented. He stated that the square side panel did not work visually with the arched cantilevered roof.
Commissioner Hunter agreed with commissioner Kriken regarding advertising on the bus shelters.
Motion to approve the MUNI Bus Shelters-Golden Gate Park Music Concourse Phase 1,2 & 3 contingent upon written confirmation from the project sponsors that the advertisement panels will be omitted: Prior
Vote: unanimously approved
- New Business
- Adjournment: 6:20 p.m.
Revision Date 09/01/05
