MEETING OF THE CIVIC DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE
OF THE SAN FRANCISCO ARTS COMMISSION
Monday, May 18, 2015
2:30 p.m.
25 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 70

Minutes
 

Committee Chair Cass Calder Smith called the meeting to order at 2:35 p.m.

1. Roll Call
   Commissioners Present
   Cass Calder Smith, Chair
   Dorka Keehn
   Roberto Ordeñana
   Kimberlee Stryker
    
   Commissioners Absent
   Paul Woolford
   Kathrin Moore, ex officio
    
   Staff Present
   Jill Manton, Director of Public Art Trust and Special Initiatives
   Sharon Page Ritchie, Commission Secretary
    
    
2. Public Comment
   There was no public comment.
    
3. Consent Calendar
   There was no public comment, and the Consent Calendar was unanimously approved as follows.
    
   1. Motion to approve Phase 3 of the Alameda Creek Diversion Dam Passage—Electrical Control Building Project.
       
   2. Motion to approve Phases 1, 2 and 3 of the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department Kimbell Playground Clubhouse Security Gate Project.
       
   3. Motion to approve Phase 3 of the Southeast Plant Building 522 (521A) Electrical/HPU Building Project.
       
   4. Motion to approve Phase 3 of the Oceanside 930 Awning Replacement Project.
       
4. Treasure Island Ferry Shelter and Bus Shelters: Phase 1
   Bob Beck, TIDA Director, Treasure Island Development Authority
   Julian Pancoast, Treasure Island Community Development Project Manager, Lennar
   Amy Eliot, Architect, Dilworth Eliot Studios, Inc.
   Blake Sanborn, Landscape Architect, AECOM
    
   Commissioner Ordeñana explained that because Lennar, the developer on this project, is a donor to his employer, the San Francisco Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Community Center, he would recuse himself from consideration of this project. Commissioner Ordeñana left the room at 2:36 p.m.
    
   The design team presented the project, reviewing the context and site conditions, including wind, salt and moisture, as well as the scope and design goals of the project. The team discussed materials, lighting, signage and planting.
    
   The Committee was concerned about the relationship between the shelter and the pier, which is being designed by Moffatt & Nichol; Ms. Manton explained that the pier is under the jurisdiction of the Port of San Francisco. The Committee praised the overall design, and discussed the project in detail, including the signage and lighting.
    
   There was no public comment, and the motion was unanimously approved as follows, with the recusal of Commissioner Ordeñana.
    
   Motion to approve Phase 1 of the Treasure Island Ferry Shelter and Bus Shelters project.
    
5. Alamo Square Restroom Replacement: Phase 3
   Mary Hobson, Project Manager, Recreation and Park Department
   Alejandro Pimental, Project Designer, Bureau of Design and Construction, Department of Public Works
   Jasmine Kaw, Landscape Architect, Bureau of Design and Construction, Department of Public Works
    
   The team presented the project, describing changes made since the Committee’s Phase 2 review, including color changes and changes in the plant palette. The team also reported that they have received approval from the Historic Preservation Commission.
    
   The Committee discussed the project, expressing approval of the changes, including the new plantings.
    
   There was no public comment, and the motion was approved unanimously as follows.
    
   Motion to approve Phase 3 of the Alamo Square Restroom Replacement project.
    
6. Alameda Creek Recapture Project: Phase 1
   Kent Ford, Project Designer and Architect, Bureau of Design and Construction, Department of Public Works
   Ravi Krishnaiah, Project Manager, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
    
   Commissioner Ordeñana returned to the meeting room at 3:20 p.m.
    
   The team presented the project, describing the site and seven project goals.
    
   The Committee discussed the project in detail, including building design, materials and plantings. They encouraged the team to consider alternatives to air conditioning, including passive cooling and strategic plantings.
    
   There was no public comment, and the motion was approved unanimously as follows.
    
   Motion to approve Phase 1 of the Alameda Creek Recapture project contingent upon (1) simplifying the end of the building by centering the doorway and eliminating the canopy over the door, maintaining the recess and eliminating the horizontal line on the truss frame; (2) reducing the amount of paving around the building and increasing the number of shade trees on the south and west sides near the building, including both oaks and some fast-growing trees; (3) working with engineers to replace air conditioning with passive cooling, eliminating unnecessary skylights; (4) using wide Galvalume panels rather than corrugated for both the walls and the roof, and bringing material samples to the Committee for Phase 2 review.
    
7. Moccasin Corporation Yard Improvement Project, Building 76, Shops/Office Building: Phase 2
   Karyn Shore, Project Manager, Bureau of Design and Construction, Department of Public Works
   Janet Ng, Project Manager, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission—Infrastructure
   Paul Travis, Architect, Bureau of Design and Construction, Department of Public Works
   Edward Chin, Landscape Architect, Bureau of Design and Construction, Department of Public Works
    
   The team presented the project in detail, reviewing the site conditions and project goals, and explaining changes made in response to the Committee’s comments at its prior review. They presented material samples, noting that they were still studying the glazing; they also discussed the landscape design, including the bioswale.
    
   The Committee discussed the project in detail, including the choice and location of trees and other plantings, and the relationship between the columns and the roof. They praised the project and the evident thoughtfulness of the design.
    
   There was no public comment, and the motion was approved unanimously as follows.
    
   Motion to approve Phase 2 of the Moccasin Corporation Yard Improvement Project, Building 76, Shops/Office Building project, contingent upon: (1) modifying the roof so that rafters are flush with the columns, decreasing the overhang; (2) revising the landscape design at the west end of the building (outside the breakrooms) to add more mass, and presenting a drawing of the revised landscape.
    
8. Balboa Pool Renovation: Phase 2
   Toks Ajike, Project Manager, Recreation and Park Department
   ELS/Kuth Ranieri JV, Project Architect, ELS Architecture
    
   The team presented the project, describing the scope and goals of the renovation, and describing changes made in response to the Committee’s comments in its prior review. They presented a model and material samples, and discussed the landscape plan.
    
   The Committee discussed the project and the changes, including the treatment of the roof and its articulation with the wall, and the design of the steps, terrace and curved planting area. The Committee praised the revised design.
    
   There was no public comment, and the motion was approved unanimously as follows.
    
   Motion to approve Phase 2 of the Balboa Pool Renovation project, contingent upon: (1) further developing the articulation of the roof and wall, with informal review before Phase 3 review.
    
   Commissioner Ordeñana left the meeting at 4:30 p.m.
    
9. Van Ness Avenue Bus Rapid Transit (Van Ness BRT): Phase 2
   Konstantin Zlatev, Project Designer, Bureau of Design and Construction, Department of Public Works
   Peter Gabancho, Project Manager, San Francisco Metropolitan Transit Authority
   Will Kwan, Architect, Bureau of Design and Construction, Department of Public Works
   Martha Ketterer, Landscape Architect, Bureau of Design and Construction, Department of Public Works
    
   The team presented the project, describing changes made since the Committee’s prior review, and reminding the Committee of the Caltrans requirements for the project. They discussed materials, lighting, paving, signage and public art sites.
    
   Commissioner Keehn added that the Visual Arts Committee would discuss the public art for the project at its next meeting two days hence, and she would report to the Civic Design Review Committee in June.
    
   The design team also discussed the plant palette and landscape design, as well as the trees expected to be retained, removed, replaced or added. They also discussed the sidewalk and paving.
    
   The Committee discussed the project in detail, including the lighting; they requested a full-size twelve-foot, seven-inch mockup of the railing before finally approving the design. The Committee expressed concern about the durability of the finish on the panels.
    
   The Committee also discussed the sidewalks, including the special paving and plans for the existing Victorian-inspired planters and the potential addition of new planters in the same style. The Committee requested that staff clarify jurisdiction for the sidewalk planters and whether new planters should come to this Committee for review.
    
   There was no public comment, and the motion was approved unanimously as follows.
    
   Motion to approve Phase 2 of the Van Ness Bus Rapid Transit (Van Ness BRT) project, contingent upon: (1) presenting a full-size twelve-foot mockup of the railing with the proposed color and lighting; (2) reviewing the existing planters and fencing on the sidewalk; (3) submission of renderings of the special paving on the sidewalk.
    
10. New Business and Announcements
    The Committee discussed whether the 2:30 starting time would allow for longer meetings, or whether they should plan for meetings to end earlier as well as beginning earlier.
     
    There was no public comment.
     
11. Adjournment
    There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:02 p.m.
     

    posted 5/29/15, 12:15 p.m., spr
    approved 6/1/15
     

    ---

    Language Accessibility

    Translated written materials and interpretation services are available to you at no cost. For assistance, please notify Director of Special Projects and Civic Design Review Program Manager Jill Manton, 415-252-2585, jill.manton@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，Director of Special Projects and Civic Design Review Program Manager Jill Manton, 415-252-2585, jill.manton@sfgov.org.
    
    Materiales traducidos y servicios de interpretación están disponibles para usted de manera gratuita. Para asistencia, notifique a Director of Special Projects and Civic Design Review Program Manager Jill Manton, 415-252-2585, jill.manton@sfgov.org.
    
    Ang mga materyales na nakasalin sa ibang wika at ang mga serbisyong tagapagsalin sa wika ay walang bayad. Para sa tulong, maaring i-contact si Director of Special Projects and Civic Design Review Program Manager Jill Manton, 415-252-2585, jill.manton@sfgov.org.