Meeting Information

CIVIC DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE
Monday, January 22,  2007
3:00 p.m.
25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 70

Minutes

Commissioners Present: Andrea Cochran, Leonard Hunter, Jeannene Przyblyski, Beverly Prior, John Kriken
 
Commissioners Absent:  none

Staff Present: Richard Newirth,  Rommel Taylor

Call To Order: 3:10 p.m.

1. Van Ness Avenue Streetscape Improvement Project-Phase 1 & 2
   
   
   Kris Opbroek, Project Manager, DPW, explained that this proposal was part of the Great Streets Program. An informational presentation was given to the Arts Commission on June 19, 2006. Ms. Opbroek stated that the proposal had been presented in the spring of 2006 to a number of stakeholder groups including the Hayes Valley Neighborhood Association, the War Memorial Board and the Landmarks Board.
   
   Ms. Opbroek said that the general scope of work for Van Ness would include the planting of new trees, installation of new planter boxes and sidewalk improvements. Ms. Opbroek introduced Martha Ketterer, Landscape Architect, DPW BOE Landscape Division, to present the design ideas for the project.
   
   Ms. Ketterer explained that the improvements are proposed for four blocks along Van Ness from Market Street to McAllister Street. The improvements are based on precedents set in the street design guidelines for Chicago. Ms. Ketterer said that the scope of work included new raised planters along the sidewalk, new plantings along the medians, new unit pavers to replace concrete sidewalk. She further explained that the new tree planting will be either sycamore or tristania. Ms. Ketterer explained that there are approximately 200 spaces available for new tree planting.
   
   Commissioner Cochran opened the floor to public comment.
   
   Commissioner Cochran closed the floor to public comment.
   
   Commissioner Hunter asked why there wasn't more significant planting and improvements along the median.
   
   Ms. Ketterer stated that the work was limited to the sidewalks because of the proposed new light rail project.
   
   Commissioner Kriken asked if the street improvements could extend beyond City Hall.
   
   Ms. Ketterer said that current funding only allowed the four-block project. The project could potentially extend beyond McAllister pending additional funding.
   
   Commissioner Prior asked if the Chicago guidelines took into account the volume of pedestrian traffic in determining the sidewalk widths. She commented that Van Ness was a very busy street.
   
   Ms. Ketterer stated that 9 feet to 12 feet was standard for accommodating sidewalks with heavy pedestrian traffic.
   
   Commissioner Przyblyski asked why the sycamore was not being planted in every location. She also asked if the fence around the raised planters would match the opera blue fences in front of City Hall. Ms. Przyblyski felt that they should match. Also, she commented that she was very much in support of removing the concrete and replacing it with unit pavers, both for aesthetic and historic reasons.
   
   Ms. Ketterer stated that on certain blocks where the wind was more intense, the tristania would perform much better than the sycamore. She said that the color of the fence was proposed to be black but that was not a final decision.
   
   Commissioner Kriken asked if the plants in the planter boxes would rotate seasonally as in Chicago. He also asked why the tree planting could not extend all the way to Market Street.
   
   Ms. Ketterer stated that the trees and raised planters could not extend to Market Street because of the existing Muni loading zones. The planter boxes species would not be rotated seasonally because there isn't a budget for that process.
   
   Commissioner Cochran stated that the basic design concept was good, but she could not support a Phase 2 approval at this point. Ms. Cochran stated that for a Phase 2 approval, the team would need to present larger scale drawings of the sidewalk improvements in plan and section. She would also like to see actual designs for the raised planter boxes, not examples of other designs, and samples of unit paver material.
   
   Commissioner Cochran asked if there was enough clearance provided for people getting out of parked cars to access the sidewalk. She also asked how far a person would have to walk before they could access the sidewalk.
   
   Ms. Ketterer stated that the dimensions were based on the Chicago guidelines, which seemed to be adequate. She said that there would be breaks in the planter boxes to allow for people getting out of their cars to access the sidewalk safely.
   
   Commissioner Cochran said that the team should provide a drawing that clearly showed the location of these breaks in the planter boxes as well as indicating what is existing and what is new. A line drawing without color might be more useful.
   
   Commissioner Kriken commented that he would support more of the project funding going toward granite for the raised planter boxes in front of City Hall. This is the most special place in the Civic Center and the finishes should reflect that.
   
   Commissioner Przyblyski agreed with Commissioner Kriken that a higher level of finishes should be used in the Civic Center area.
   
   
   Motion to approve Van Ness Avenue Streetscape Improvement Project Phase 1 contingent upon clarification of the dimensions of the median strips, feasibility study of upgrading planter box and paver finishes to granite, more detailed drawings: Hunter
   Vote: Unanimously approved
   
   
2. SFPUC City Distribution Operations Center-Phase 2
   
   
   Rommel Taylor, Arts Commission staff, reported that this item would not be heard at the request of the project sponsor.
   
   
   
3. Hamilton Pool and Recreation CenterPhase 2
   
   
   Will Kwan, Architect, DPW BOA, briefly reviewed the scope and history of the project. Mr. Kwan said that the design had been modified in response to comments from the Civic Design Committee on September 18, 2006. He said that the canopy at the entry at the south façade had been removed as well as the horizontal louvers. The entry was now recessed and the window pattern along the façade had been simplified. He also stated that the area above the window up to the parapet would be a site for a mosaic tile art piece. Mr. Kwan said that the entry at the north façade was also recessed and windows were added to give more prominence from the street. Additional windows were added to the north façade to allow more natural light and visual interest.
   
   Jasmine Ko, landscape architect, DPW BOE Landscape Division, explained some of the revisions to the proposed landscape. Ms. Ko said that they expanded the perimeter fence to further enclose the school age and preschool play areas. She explained that the crash surfaces under the prefabricated play structures would be recycled rubber.
   
   Commissioner Cochran opened the floor to public comment.
   
   Commissioner Cochran closed the floor to public comment.
   
   Commissioner Hunter stated that the design changes were vast improvements from the previously presented design. Mr. Hunter commented that the south façade was particularly enhanced by the modifications.
   
   Commissioner Kriken asked if there were any sustainable strategies being employed in the landscape design, particularly in areas with extensive hardscape.
   
   Ms. Ko stated that due to cost restrictions, the team was limited in what could be done. The recycled rubber covers a substantial portion of the landscape area and allows for more percolation of rainfall into the ground instead of to the storm drains.
   
   Commissioner Prior commented that although the design is generally better, the north façade still does not work well. She stated that the window patterns seemed awkward and didn't really enhance the presence of the building. She asked if the window patterns could be simplified.
   
   Commissioner Kriken agreed that the south elevation did not relate to the north elevation in any way.
   
   Commissioner Cochran commented that the design of the south elevation seemed inconsistent in terms of the window pattern.
   
   Commissioner Przyblyski agreed that a more regular window pattern would improve the overall look of the south façade.
   
   Motion to approve Hamiltion Pool and Recreation Center Phase 2: Cochran
   Vote: Unanimously approved
   
   
4. Palo Alto Pump Station Upgrade Project-Phase 3 Administrative Review
   
   
   Rommel Taylor, Arts Commission staff, stated that no changes had been made to the previously approved Phase 2 design. Phase 2 approval was granted without contingencies on October 16, 2006. Mr. Taylor recommended that the Commission grant a Phase 3 Administrative approval for this project.
   
   Motion to approve Palo Alto Pump Station Upgrade Phase 3 Administrative Review: Cochran
   Vote: Unanimously approved
   
   
   
5. New Business
   
   
6. Adjournment: 5:15 p.m.
   

Revision Date 02/02/07