Civic_Design_Committee
2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 CIVIC DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE
Monday, February 27, 2006
3:00 p.m.
25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 70
Minutes
Commissioners Present: Andrea Cochran, Leonard Hunter, Jeannene Przyblyski, John Kriken, Beverly Prior
Staff Present: Richard Newirth, Nancy Gonchar, Rommel Taylor
Call To Order: 3:10 p.m.
- Skyview Aquavista Pump Station
Phase 3
Brian Gatter, Landscape Architect, DPW BOE—Landscape Division, presented the landscape design concepts for the pump station. Mr. Gatter stated that only minimal planting would be done at the front of the site in order to maximize visual access into the site from the street. He stated that native plant species would be used around the perimeter of the site.
Commissioner Kriken asked how tall the trees would be at the front of the site.
Mr. Gatter responded that the oak trees would get very tall at full maturity.
Commissioner Cochran asked why visual transparency was required at the front of the site.
Mr. Gatter stated that the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission required effective visual access from the street as part of their security program.
Commissioner Cochran opened the floor to public comment.
Charles Hermann spoke in opposition to the project. He stated that he represented 50 community stakeholders. Mr. Hermann expressed concern that the project team had not explored design options that would cover the tank from view, that proper setbacks were not addressed and that only one informal community meeting had been held. Mr. Hermann also stated that the proposed chain link fence was in violation of the design guidelines established by the neighborhood association.
Commissioner Cochran closed the floor to public comment.
Commissioner Przyblyski asked if it was within the jurisdiction of the Civic Design Review to comment on issues regarding the technical operation of the facility or whether the Committee’s jurisdiction was limited to review of the aesthetic design of the building and site plan.
Nancy Gonchar, Deputy Director, Arts Commission, stated that the Civic Design Review jurisdiction was limited to the aesthetic design of the building and site plan.
Commissioner Prior asked the design team to address the issues raised by the community.
Mr. Gatter stated that there are meeting notes from the community meetings.
Commissioner Cochran said that a record of any meeting minutes including dates and attendance should be submitted to the Arts Commission for review.
Gigi Lam, Project Manager, SFPUC, stated that she would forward meeting minutes.
Commissioner Kriken asked the project team to discuss the square footage requirements for the new tanks and their configuration on the site.
Mike Pierron, Architect, SFPUC, explained that the square footage requirements were set by SFPUC operational guidelines and OSHA requirements. Mr. Pierron said that the geometry of the tanks was designed to minimize excavation into the hillside and to reduce the proximity to the adjacent neighbors. He said that the design maintains a planted green zone between the two adjacent neighbors. Mr. Pierron said that the San Francisco Planning Code does allow for zero setbacks for any new construction.
Commissioner Hunter asked if cutouts in a more dense planting scheme at the front of the site would satisfy the security requirements.
Mr. Pierron answered that that was an option.
Commissioner Cochran asked if the design team had explored options of covering the tanks.
Mr. Pierron stated that the height required to achieve the proper clearances on top of the tanks would be enormous, and that a covered solution would actually make the new construction more visible to the public.
Commissioner Cochran stated that two design issues needed to be addressed: materials used for the perimeter fence, and the planting selection. Ms. Cochran added that the Committee needed to see evidence of the community meetings that were held.
Commissioner Przyblyski also stated that she wanted confirmation of the viability of the planting scheme for the site.
Commissioner Cochran said that she would review the planting schemes to determine whether the proposed selections were appropriate to the climatic and topographic conditions of the site.
- San Francisco Airport Secure Connector
Phase 2
Irene Aquino, Architectural Assistant, DPW BOA presented a scale model of the project as well as computer renderings of the proposed design. Ms. Aquino presented the color and material palette for the project.
Commissioner Cochran opened the floor to public comment.
Commissioner Cochran closed the floor to public comment.
Commissioner Kriken said that the overall design was good. Mr. Kriken stated that the shape of the atrium seemed out of place since there were no other triangular forms in the design.
Commissioner Przyblyski did not like the relationship of the pattern of the glass to the pattern on the adjacent tower.
Commissioner Prior stated that the random pattern of opaque, semi-opaque and transparent glass was confusing. She stated that the structure and mullions offered a clear rhythm to the causeway.
Commissioner Kriken agreed that the random pattern did not enhance the design and seemed unnecessary.
Motion to approve San Francisco Airport Secure Connector Phase 2 contingent upon review of further studies of the mullion patterns along the causeway and at the triangular atrium space prior to the March Full Commission meeting: Hunter
Vote: Unanimously approved
- Moscone Center Clubhouse
Phase 2
Andrew Maloney, Architect, DPW BOA, presented the updated design scheme.
Motion to approve Moscone Center Clubhouse
Phase 2: Przyblyski
Vote: Unanimously approved
- James Rolph Clubhouse and Playground Renovation
Phase 1
Nicholas Ansel, Landscape Architect, DPW BOE Landscape Division, presented the landscape design. He stated that the primary goal was to remove as much asphalt as possible and increase the planted area of the site. Mr. Ansel said that the existing perimeter fence would be replaced with a new decorative fence at the bottom half and a chain link fence along the upper half.
Nelson Szeto, Architect, DPW BOA, presented the design concepts for the renovated clubhouse. Mr. Szeto stated that two new multi-purpose rooms were being added at the west end of the building, and the existing restrooms were being upgraded to meet ADA requirements.
Commissioner Cochran opened the floor to public comment.
Commissioner Cochran closed the floor to public comment.
Commissioner Hunter asked about the area in front of the new French doors.
Mr. Ansel stated that the doors opened onto a small garden courtyard.
Commissioner Prior stated that she would like to see additional color studies. Ms. Prior felt that more vibrant colors would enhance the presence of the building. She also stated that the form of the roof should be studied further.
Commissioner Kriken stated that more attention should be given to the design of the western façade facing Hampshire Street. Mr. Kriken stated that the current design did not convey a welcoming or civic quality, and that it doesn’t look like a recreation center.
Commissioner Hunter stated that the building design had a residential scale and quality.
Commissioner Cochran agreed that the design presented does not have a civic quality and that the designers should study further how the western façade addresses the street.
Commissioner Kriken stated that further design studies should convey the use of the building. The building should not mimic the scale of the adjacent residential buildings but stand on its own as a civic structure.
- New Business
- Adjournment: 5:40 p.m.
Revision Date 03/16/05
