SAN FRANCISCO ARTS COMMISSION
MEETING OF THE CIVIC DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE

Monday, November 16, 2020
2:00 p.m.
Remote Meeting via video and teleconferencing

MINUTES
 

Commissioner Stryker called the meeting to order at 2:01 p.m.

1. Roll Call
   
   Commissioners Present
   Kimberlee Stryker, Chair
   Yakuh Askew
   Mary Jung
   Abby Sadin Schnair
   
   Commissioners Absent
   Dorka Keehn
   Debra Walker
   Paul Woolford
    
2. General Public Comment
   
   There was no public comment.
    

Commissioner Keehn joined the meeting at 2:04 p.m.
Commissioner Stryker announced that there would be a change of sequence on the agenda and that Item 7 would present before Item 6.
 

3. Bayview Gateway Project: Single Phase Review
   Nate Watson, Project Designer, Bayview Hill Neighborhood Association
   Michelle Woo, Project Manager, SFDPW
   Roana Tirado, Architect, Hok
   Andrea Alfonso, Landscape Architect, SFDPW
   
   The project team shared that the Bayview Gateway project was to serve as a symbol of the Bayview community as well as a welcoming entryway to people entering the southeast part of San Francisco. The project location is at southeast corner of 3rd and Meade Streets. The project itself consists of 8-foot-tall concrete letters, decorated with mosaic tiles, that spell out the name of the neighborhood--Bayview. The project partners are the Bayview Hill Neighborhood Association, Department of Public Works, and HOK and funding has been secured through a community challenge grant and supervisor addback funding. The landscaping scope will include the removal of 13 trees that are in very poor condition and the planting of Oak, Bay, and Redbud trees. The letters will be fabricated out of concrete and the mosaic element will be created from items such as dishes vases, pottery, and glass collected from community members. The mosaic design and color palette is inspired by African and Native American textile work. The Bayview Hill Neighborhood Association has partnered with Public Glass to manage all aspects of the mosaic work including hosting mosaic workshops with community members, design, and setting the mosaics.
   
   The project garnered high praise from the Commissioners for its close collaboration with the community and its creative use of an underused space in the city. Commissioners asked a number of clarifying questions regarding the teams plan for graffiti abatement and who will ultimately maintain the project once installed. There was further clarification needed around the decision making process for the mosaic work and a request to be sure to differentiate the project from the nearby Arelious Walker stair. Commissioners also inquired about lighting and irrigation as the new plantings and particularly the Bay trees would require regular watering.
   
   There was no public comment.
   
   Commissioner Askew, seconded by Commissioner Schnair moved to approve a single review of the Bayview Gateway Project as presented.
   
   The motion unanimously carried by the following vote:
   Ayes: Stryker, Askew, Jung, Keehn, Schnair, Walker
    

Commissioner Walker joined the meeting at 2:23 p.m.
Commissioner Woolford joined the meeting at 2:34 p.m.
 

4. San Francisco Botanical Garden Nursery Replacement Project: Phase 2
   Susi Marzuola, Project Designer and Architect, Siegel & Strain Architects
   Ben Golvin, Project Manager, Equity Community Builders
   Lauren Freels, Landscape Architect, Bay Tree Design
   
   The team presented the project location as the south, middle section of the SF Botanical Garden in Golden Gate Park. They also stated that the goals of the project are to create an efficient, functional, and safe site; to consolidate the nursery into one location; and to have clear public spaces separate from staff work area. The design drivers are to improve the visitor experience by moving the path of travel out of the heart of the growing areas and to consider the environmental attributes to the site such as the sun path, precipitation, and topography. They stated that since they last presented at CDR in February 2020, they have worked to address the suggestion made by commissioners to make the greenhouse more prominent not only for staff and volunteers but also for visitors. In addition to that change, the team has also been charged to save an existing Torrey Pine on the site. In the new design, the team presented a layout that is more cohesive and efficient with the Torrey Pine central to the site and the grow area and greenhouse more visible to visitors. The Headhouse will be a metal container that will be shade of green that is similar to the foliage on the hillside. The Greehouse will be made of thermoplastic selectra and clear in color. The team presented their planting palette which consisted of native California plants placed to compliment the areas around the site.
   
   The commissioners congratulated the team on a beautiful project and thanked them for taking their previous suggestions to heart. They commented that the new design is simpler and cleaner and that the layout takes full advantage of the different aspects of the site.
   
   There was no public comment.
   
   Commissioner Schnair, seconded by Commissioner Askew moved to approve Phase 2 of the San Francisco Botanical Garden Nursery Replacement Project as presented.
   
   The motion unanimously carried by the following vote:
   Ayes: Stryker, Askew, Jung, Keehn, Schnair, Walker, Woolford
    
5. Golden Gate Park Golf Course Clubhouse Project: Phase 3
   Paul De Freitas, Project Designer, SFDPW
   Noah Levy, Project Manager, SF Rec and Park
   Eoanna Goodwin, Architect, SFDPW
   Lizzy Hirsch, Landscape Architect, SFDPW
   
   The project team stated that the project location is in Golden Gate Park at the western edge of San Francisco nestled among a cypress grove. Commissioners were informed that the previous clubhouse was destroyed by fire in 2018 and the clubhouse has since been functioning out of a trailer. The team stated that they have construction start date for late spring 2021 and also expressed that the project has robust community support after numerous planning meetings involving community members. The team addressed contingencies presented during the March 2020 CDR meeting including providing specifics around patio furnishings and reviewing the general edging concept. The team also presented their landscape scope as containing primarily grasses and perennials along with a Buckeye tree.
   
   The commissioners thanked the team for addressing the contingencies set forth in the previous review and commented that they have presented a great looking design that is simple and elegant. The commissioners asked about the Buckeye tree in the landscape scope and specifically stated that they are known to bloom early and then lose their leave in August leaving the tree bare for a large part of the year. The team responded by saying they are aware of this but feel that the Buckeye would be dramatic and sculptural even without leaves and stated that it is preferred as a native plant to the region.
   
   There was no public comment.
   
   Commissioner Askew, seconded by Commissioner Schnair moved to approve Phase 3 of the Golden Gate Park Golf Course Clubhouse Project as presented.
   
   The motion unanimously carried by the following vote:
   Ayes: Stryker, Askew, Jung, Keehn, Schnair, Walker, Woolford
    
6. Treasure Island Stage 2 Utility Enclosure Project: Phase 1
   Levi Conover, Project Manager, Treasure Island Development Group
   Corbett Belcher, Landscape Architect, CMG
   
   The team started their presentation by asking the commissioners to consider combining Phase 1 and 2 in this presentation.
   
   The project team gave an overview of the larger Treasure Island Stage 2 elements within which their project sits. The team informed the commissioners that the project is located between building 2 and 3 along California Ave. and set within a grove of Ginkgo trees. This particular enclosure serves as the sewer pump station on the island. The team stated that they are using the same vocabulary as the other pump stations on the island. The materials being used for this enclosure, as with the others, is cast-in-place concrete and a perforated metal panel system. The concrete wall elements will be planted with vines.
   
   The Commissioners commended the team on developing a vocabulary for these enclosures and providing continuity in placement and also keeping the proportions equal on the west and north elevations. They commented that they project was well done and with great sensibility. Commissioners asked if the project team has considered the migration of geese that pass through the area and the droppings they inevitably leave behind. There was also a request for clarification around the work truck fitting within the enclosure itself.
   
   There was no public comment.
   
   Commissioner Walker, seconded by Commissioner Schnair moved to approve Phase 1 and 2 of the Treasure Island Stage 2 Utility Enclosure Project as presented.
   
   The motion unanimously carried by the following vote:
   Ayes: Stryker, Askew, Jung, Keehn, Schnair, Walker, Woolford
    
7. Treasure Island Stage 2 MTA Restrooms Project - Conceptual
   Levi Conover, Project Manager, Treasure Island Development Group
   Corbett Belcher, Landscape Architect, CMG
   
   The team started their presentation by asking the commissioners to consider combining Phases 1 and 2 in this presentation.
   
   The team presented an overview of the location of the bus layover and transit system and stated that the project location is at the intersection of California Ave and Avenue C at the southern end of the Job Corps campus where there is an existing large grove of trees. In siting the restroom, the team worked closely with MTA and AC Transit to identify a location that met their needs and was accessible. The design intent was to produce a restroom that was simple and straight forward, context appropriate, well detailed, durable and easy to maintain. They stated that they structure is a cold form metal stud building with a concrete floor and that the building will primarily be clad in fiber cement panels that are both highly durable and have an anti-graffiti coating. The color pallet was selected for day and night and is neutral to the surrounding landscape.
   
   The project was reviewed for Conceptual Phase however, given the amount of information presented and the scale of the project, commissioners asked staff to provide an Administrative Review for Phases 1 and 2.
    
8. CDR Guidelines: Proposed Changes to Informal Work Sessions, Administrative Review, Small Project Review, and Exempt Projects
   Action
   
   Deputy Director of Programs Joanne Lee presented updates to the CDR Guidelines. Under Administrative Review, she incorporated ADA improvements and recommended that the fee be $750. Under Small Project Review, Deputy Director Lee stated that the update was in delineating the entrance and pathway improvements and that the fee would be $6400. Under Exempt Projects, Deputy Director Lee worked with staff from the Rec and Park Department to identify the types of projects that would be exempt from Civic Design Review. Examples included stormwater/drainage improvements, fencing repairs, irrigation upgrades, and security upgrades. Under Informal Work Sessions, Deputy Director Lee stated that the recommendations made were intended to provide more guidance to project teams presenting at these meetings.
   
   Commissioners commended Deputy Director Lee for her hard work on these guidelines and stated that they should help expedite projects and also protect commissioners time.
   
   There was no public comment.
   
   Commissioner Woolford, seconded by Commissioner Schnair moved to adopt proposed changes to the Civic Design Guidelines under the following sections: Informal Work Sessions, Administrative Review, Small Project Review, and Exempt Projects as presented.
   
   The motion unanimously carried by the following vote:
   Ayes: Stryker, Askew, Jung, Keehn, Schnair, Walker, Woolford
    
9. Visual Arts Committee Update
   
   Commissioner Keehn presented a mosaic work by Emily Fromm recently installed at SFO T1. She also presented sculptural work by Gay Outlaw installed at the entryway of SFO T1.
   
   The Commissioners commented that the works were beautiful and that it was exciting to see the works installed after following the process from the beginning.
   
   There was no public comment.
    
10. Staff Report
    
    Deputy Director Joanne Lee gave a quick update that there would now be a regularly scheduled Informal Work Session scheduled for the first Wednesday of the month from 4:30-5:30p.m.
    
    Commissioners suggested that staff check in with commissioners 1 to 2 weeks prior to confirm participation. They also stated that it is important that there is at least one architect or landscape architect in these meetings.
    
    There was no public comment.
     
11. New Business and Announcements
    
    There was no new business or announcements.
    
    There was no public comment.
     
12. Adjournment
    There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:05 p.m.

posted 11/30 at 12:38 p.m. MW
approved 12/7

Archives Available
A recording of this meeting will be available online after the meeting at the following address: https://sfgov.org/arts/civic-design-review-committee-audio-archive

Translated written materials and interpretation services are available to you at no cost. For assistance, please notify Maysoun Wazwaz, maysoun.wazwaz@sfgov.org.
我們將為閣下提供免費的書面翻譯資料和口譯服務。如需協助 Maysoun Wazwaz, maysoun.wazwaz@sfgov.org.
Materiales traducidos y servicios de interpretación están disponibles para usted de manera gratuita. Para asistencia, notifique a Maysoun Wazwaz, maysoun.wazwaz@sfgov.org.