1111.6
STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR REVIEW OF APPLICATIONS FOR ALTERATIONS
San Francisco Planning Code · SF Planning Code § 1111.6
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SEC. 1111.6. STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR REVIEW OF APPLICATIONS FOR ALTERATIONS. The HPC, the Board of Appeals, the Board of Supervisors, the Planning Commission, and the Department shall be governed by the following standards in the review of applications for Permits to Alter. In the case of conflict with other requirements, including the requirements of Article 10, the more restrictive standards shall apply. (a) The proposed alteration shall be consistent with and appropriate for the effectuation of the purposes of this Article 11. (b) The proposed work shall comply with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties for significant and contributory buildings, as well as any applicable guidelines, local interpretations, bulletins, or other policies. Development of local interpretations and guidelines based on the Secretary of the Interior's Standards shall be led by the Planning Department through a public participation process; such local interpretations and guidelines shall be found in conformance with the General Plan and Planning Code by the Planning Commission and shall be adopted by both the HPC and the Planning Commission. If either body fails to act on any such local interpretation or guideline within 180 days of either body's initial hearing where the matter was considered for approval, such failure to act shall constitute approval by that body. In the case of any apparent inconsistency among the requirements of this Section, compliance with the requirements of the designating ordinance shall prevail. (c) For Significant Buildings - Categories I and II, and for Contributory Buildings - Categories III and IV, proposed alterations of structural elements and exterior features shall be consistent with the architectural character of the building, and shall comply with the following specific requirements: (1) The distinguishing original qualities or character of the building may not be damaged or destroyed. Any distinctive architectural feature which affects the overall appearance of the building shall not be removed or altered unless it is the only feasible means to protect the public safety. (2) The integrity of distinctive stylistic features or examples of skilled craftsmanship that characterize a building shall be preserved. (3) Distinctive architectural features which are to be retained pursuant to Paragraph (1) but which are deteriorated shall be repaired rather than replaced, whenever possible. In the event replacement is necessary, the new material shall match the material being replaced in composition, design, color, texture and other visual qualities. Repair or replacement of missing architectural features shall be based on accurate duplication of features, substantiated by historic, physical or pictorial evidence, if available, rather than on conjectural designs or the availability of different architectural elements from other buildings or structures. Replacement of nonvisible structural elements need not match or duplicate the material being replaced. (4) Contemporary design of alterations is permitted, provided that such alterations do not destroy significant exterior architectural material and that such design is compatible with the size, scale, color, material and character of the building and its surroundings. (5) The degree to which distinctive features need be retained may be less when the alteration is to exterior elements not constituting a part of a principal facade or when it is an alteration of the ground-floor frontage in order to adapt the space for ground-floor uses. (6) In the case of Significant Buildings - Category I, any additions to height of the building (including addition of mechanical equipment) shall be limited to one story above the height of the existing roof, shall be compatible with the scale and character of the building, and shall in no event cover more than 75 percent of the roof area. (7) In the case of Significant Buildings - Category II, a new structure or addition, including one of greater height than the existing building, may be permitted on that portion of the lot not restricted in Appendix B even if such structure or addition will be visible when viewing the principal facades at ground level, provided that the structure or addition does not affect the appearance of the retained portion as a separate structure when so viewing the principal facades and is compatible in form and design with the retained portion. Alteration of the retained portion of the building is permitted as provided in Paragraphs (1) through (6) of this Subsection (c). (d) Within Conservation Districts, all major exterior alterations, of Category V Buildings, shall be compatible in scale and design with the District as set forth in Sections 6 and 7 of the Appendix which describes the District. (e) If TDR have been transferred from any Contributory Building, the building shall be subject to the same restrictions on alterations as a Significant Building. These restrictions may not be removed by the transfer of TDR back to the building. (Added by Ord. 414-85, App. 9/17/85; amended by Ord. 95-12, File No. 120301, App. 5/21/2012, Eff. 6/20/2012) AMENDMENT HISTORY Undesignated introductory paragraph amended; new division (b) added and former divisions (c) and (d) redesignated accordingly; division (e) added; Ord. 95-12, Eff. 6/20/2012.
SEC. 1111.7. STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR REVIEW OF APPLICATIONS FOR DEMOLITION. (a) The HPC, Planning Commission, Board of Appeals, and the Board of Supervisors (each referred to as a "Decisionmaker" for the purposes of this Section) shall apply the following standards in their review of applications for a Permit to Demolish a Significant or Contributory Building or building within a Conservation District. No demolition permit may be approved unless: (1) For Significant Buildings (Categories I and II); and Contributory Buildings (Categories III and IV) from which TDR have been transferred: (A) The Decisionmaker determines and makes written findings based on substantial evidence in the record that the property retains no substantial remaining market value or reasonable use, taking into account the value of any TDR that have been transferred or which may be available to transfer from the property and the cost of rehabilitation to meet the requirements of the Building Code or City, State and federal laws. Costs necessitated by alterations or demolition made in violation of Article 10 or 11, or by failure to maintain the property in violation of Section 1119, may not be included in the calculation of rehabilitation costs; or (B) The Director of the Department of Building Inspection or the Chief of the Bureau of Fire Prevention and Public Safety determines after consultation, to the extent feasible with the HPC and the Planning Department, that an imminent safety hazard exists and that demolition of the structure is the only feasible means to secure the public safety. (2) For Contributory Buildings from which no TDR has been transferred: (A) The Decisionmaker determines and makes written findings based on substantial evidence in the record that the property retains no substantial remaining market value or reasonable use, taking into account the value of any TDR that may be available to transfer from the property and costs of rehabilitation to meet the requirements of the Building Code or City, State and federal laws. Costs necessitated by alterations or demolition made in violation of Article 10 or 11, or by failure to maintain the property in violation of Section 1119, may not be included in the calculation of rehabilitation costs: (B) The Director of the Department of Building Inspection or the Chief of the Bureau of Fire Prevention and Public Safety determines, after consultation to the extent feasible with the HPC and the Planning Department, that an imminent safety hazard exists and that demolition of the structure is the only feasible means to secure the public safety; or (C) The Decisionmaker determines based on substantial evidence in the record that: (i) The rehabilitation and reuse of the building will not meet most of the goals and objectives of the proposed replacement project; (ii) The proposed replacement project is compatible with the Conservation District in which the property is located; and (iii) Specific economic, social, or other benefits of the proposed replacement project significantly outweigh the benefit conferred from the historic preservation of the particular structure or feature. (3) For Category V Buildings (Not Rated) in Conservation Districts: The Decisionmaker determines that: (A) the building has not gained additional historical or architectural significance that may make it eligible for classification as a Category I, II, or IV Building; and (B) the proposed Replacement Building is compatible with the Conservation District in which the property is located. If the Decisionmaker determines based on new documentation presented that a Category V Building has gained significance such that it is eligible for classification as a Category I, II, or IV Building and reclassification of the Category V Building is initiated as provided in Section 1106, the Permit to Demolish shall be reviewed under Subsection (a)(1) or (a)(2) above, and not under this Subsection (a)(3). Additionally, if the building has completed a Compatible Rehabilitation pursuant to Section 1109(c), and has transferred development rights from the property, then the building shall be treated as a Significant Building (Category I or II). Any determination that a Category V Building may be eligible for reclassification shall be void if, within 180 days of such determination, the Board of Supervisors has not re-designated the building to a Category I, II, or IV Building. (b) The cumulative effects on the integrity of the Conservation District associated with demolition of a Contributory Building shall be considered and may be grounds for denial of the Permit to Demolish, if it is found that the demolition would substantially diminish the integrity of the Conservation District. (c) In addition to the above requirements, no demolition permit shall be issued by the Department of Building Inspection or any other agency for any building located in a Conservation District until an application for the new or replacement building has been approved in accordance with the standards for new construction in a Conservation District as provided in this Article, and the building or site permit conforming to such approval has been lawfully issued. (Added by Ord. 414-85, App. 9/17/85; amended by Ord. 140-06, File 052921, App. 6/22/2006; Ord. 95-12, File No. 120301, App. 5/21/2012, Eff. 6/20/2012) AMENDMENT HISTORY Section header amended; section amended in its entirety; Ord. 95-12, Eff. 6/20/2012. SEC. 1112. RESERVED. (Added by Ord. 414-85, App. 9/17/85; deleted by Ord. 95-12, File No. 120301, App. 5/21/2012, Eff. 6/20/2012) SEC. 1113. STANDARDS OF REVIEW FOR NEW AND REPLACEMENT CONSTRUCTION IN CONSERVATION DISTRICTS. (a) The HPC, Planning Commission, Board of Appeals, and Board of Supervisors shall find in their review of applications for any new or replacement structure or for an addition to any existing structure in a Conservation District that such construction is compatible in scale and design with the District as set forth in Sections 6 and 7 of the Appendix that describes the District. (b) Applications for a building or site permit to construct or add to a structure in any Conservation District shall be reviewed and approved, approved with modifications, or disapproved by the HPC before any other Planning approval action that may be required, including review by the Planning Commission pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 309 and shall only be approved pursuant to Section 309 if they meet the standards set forth in this Article. For projects that require Section 309 review, the Planning Commission may modify the decision of the HPC pursuant to Section 1114, provided that the project does not concern a designated Significant (Categories I and II) or a Contributory (Category III) building. (c) If a building or site permit application to construct or add to a structure in any Conservation District is approved by the HPC pursuant to this Article without modification by the Planning Commission and if the building is constructed in accordance with such approval, and if the building is located in a Conservation District for which, pursuant to Section 8 of the Appendix establishing that district, such a transfer is permitted, the building shall be deemed a Compatible Replacement Building, and the lot on which such building is located shall be eligible as a Preservation Lot for the transfer of TDR. (Added by Ord. 414-85, App. 9/17/85; amended by Ord. 95-12, File No. 120301, App. 5/21/2012, Eff. 6/20/2012) AMENDMENT HISTORY Section header amended; formerly undesignated paragraph amended and designated as divisions (a), (b), and (c); Ord. 95-12, Eff. 6/20/2012. SEC. 1114. MODIFICATION OF A DECISION OF THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION. For projects that require multiple planning approvals, the HPC shall review and act on any Permit to Alter or Permit to Demolish before any other Planning approval action. (a) For projects that require a Conditional Use Authorization or Permit Review under Section 309 and do not concern a Significant Building (Categories I & II) or a Contributory Building (Category III only), the Planning Commission may modify any decision on a Permit to Alter or Permit to Demolish by a two-thirds vote, provided that the Planning Commission shall apply all applicable historic resources provisions of this Code. (b) For projects to be located on vacant lots, the Planning Commission may modify any decision on a Permit to Alter by a two-thirds vote, provided that the Planning Commission shall apply all applicable historic resources provisions of this Code. (Added by Ord. 95-12, File No. 120301, App. 5/21/2012, Eff. 6/20/2012) (Former Sec. 1114 added by Ord. 414-85, App. 9/17/85; redesignated as Sec. 1116 by Ord. 95-12, File No. 120301, App. 5/21/2012, Eff. 6/20/2012)