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SEC. 242. BERNAL HEIGHTS SPECIAL USE DISTRICT. (See Interpretations related to this Section.) (a) General. A Special Use District entitled the Bernal Heights Special Use District, the boundaries of which are shown on Sectional Map. Nos. 7SU, 8SU, and 11SU of the Zoning Map, is hereby established for the purposes set forth below. (b) Purposes. In order to reflect the special characteristics and hillside topography of an area of the City that has a collection of older buildings situated on lots generally smaller than the lot patterns in other low-density areas of the City, and to encourage development in context and scale with the established character, there shall be a Bernal Heights Special Use District. (c) The provisions of this Section 242 shall not apply to building permit applications or amendments thereto, or to conditional use, variance or environmental evaluation applications filed on or before January 7, 1991. Such applications shall be governed by the ordinances in effect on January 7, 1991, unless the applicant requests in writing that an application be governed by the provisions of this Section 242. (d) Definitions. For purposes of this Section 242, the following definitions apply: (1) "Adjacent building" shall mean a building on a lot adjoining the subject lot along a side lot line. Where the lot constituting the subject property is separated from the lot containing the nearest building by an undeveloped lot or lots for a distance of 50 feet or less parallel to the street or alley, such nearest building shall be deemed to be an "adjacent building," but a building on a lot so separated for a greater distance shall not be deemed to be an "adjacent building." A corner lot shall have only one adjacent building located along its side lot line. (2) "Usable floor area" is the sum of the gross areas of the several floors of a building, measured from the exterior walls or from the center lines of common walls separating two buildings. "Usable floor area" shall not include that floor area devoted to off-street parking or any space or area which is not readily accessible and which has not more than five feet vertical clearance at any point. (e) Controls. All provisions of the Planning Code applicable to an RH-1, RH-1(S), RH-2, and RH-3 District shall apply to applicable portions of the Special Use District except as otherwise provided in this Section 242. (1) Height Limits. No portion of a dwelling in any portion of this district shall exceed a height of 30 feet except as provided below. Notwithstanding the prior sentence, the heights limits in this subsection (e)(1) shall not apply to building permits for structures erected on Lots 055, 056, and 057 in Block 5526 approved before January 8, 2020.

(A) The height of a dwelling on a downslope lot shall not exceed 30 feet above grade, subject to averaging or offset by an equal height reduction. Any portion of a dwelling exceeding a height of 30 feet must be offset by at least an equal amount of dwelling having a height of less than 30 feet, provided that the maximum height above grade at any point cannot exceed 40 feet, and the rearmost eight feet of length cannot exceed 32 feet above grade. (B) The height of a dwelling on an upslope lot shall not exceed 30 feet above grade, with no averaging or stepping over the 30 feet limit, and no part of the dwelling, unless otherwise permitted by this Section, may be higher than 38 feet above curb level, except if the rear of the lot is 30 feet or more higher than the front grade, the rear half of the dwelling may go up to 43 feet above curb level. (C) The height of a dwelling in an RH-2 or RH-3 lot may exceed the limits described above based upon the average height of the adjacent buildings. (D) Except for vertical-axis wind-powered electrical generators with a horizontal diameter not exceeding three feet, chimneys, and nonparabolic radio and television antennas, nothing otherwise permitted by Section 260(b) of this Code may extend above the additional height limit established in this Code section by more than 42 inches. Furthermore, all such wind-powered electrical generators must avoid significant impacts to wildlife. (E) Wireless Telecommunications Services Facilities on a dwelling may exceed the 30-foot height limitation contained in this Subsection (e)(1). (2) Rear Yards. The requirements applicable to rear yards are as follows: (A) RH-1 and RH-1(S). For lots which have a depth of 70 feet or less, the minimum rear yard depth shall be equal to 35 percent of the total depth of the lot on which the building is located. Buildings on lots which have a depth greater than 70 feet may not be deeper than 45.5 feet measured from the front property line; the remainder of the lot shall be used for rear yard. (B) RH-2 and RH-3. The minimum rear yard depth shall be equal to 45 percent of the total depth of the lot in which the building is located. (C) All Lots. The following provisions relating to rear yards shall apply to all lots in the Special Use District: (i) A building may intrude into the required rear yard up to the extent that an adjacent building intrudes, provided the intrusion is no wider than half of the width of the lot, and 25 percent of the total lot depth is provided as rear yard open space. The intrusion must be placed in a manner that the Zoning Administrator finds will provide optimal light and air to the subject and adjacent properties. The coverage resulting from the intrusion must be offset by otherwise permitted coverage in the rear of the subject property. (ii) Any part of a front setback exceeding five feet may be applied to the amount required for satisfying the rear yard requirements. (iii) No part of any building may be within 25 percent or 15 feet, whichever is greater, of the rear property line. (iv) Those obstructions into rear yards otherwise permitted by Section 136(c)(2), (3), and (25) of this Code shall not be permitted. In addition to the obstructions permitted in Section 136(c), improvements may be constructed underneath a room or deck located in the rear yard area if said room or deck is otherwise permitted pursuant to Section 136(c) and was constructed pursuant to a building permit issued prior to December 11, 1987. In those instances, the Zoning Administrator may place appropriate conditions on the approval of the building permit to protect the light, air and view of the adjacent properties. (3) Mass Reduction Requirement for RH-1 and RH-1(S) Buildings. After calculation of the maximum permissible height and lot coverage in an RH-1 or RH-1(S) District, a total of 650 square feet of usable floor area must be deleted from the exterior of the building, causing a reduction in square footage as well as building volume. On lots that exceed 100 feet in depth, the mass reduction shall be a minimum of 400 square feet of usable floor area. Any area to be deleted must have a minimum clearance of three feet from the side property line. The reduction must be taken from the front, the rear, or the top of the building above grade; however, such reduction along the side of the property line will be allowed under this section so that adjacent properties will benefit from the provision of greater light and air or the reduction of shadows. Where an area to be deleted is along the side property line and is in the form of an inner court, the inner court shall have a minimum area of 90 square feet. (4) Curb Cuts and Garage Door Width. The maximum width of curb cuts allowed for new construction shall be 10 feet; the maximum width of a garage door opening shall be 12 feet. (5) Design. In addition to meeting applicable standards provided in this Section 242 and elsewhere in this Code, residential development subject to this Section 242 shall be subject to the review and notification procedures provided by Section 311(c) of this Code. Requests for Planning Commission review shall be governed by Subsection 311(d) of this Code. In addition to applicable guidelines cited by Section 311, the Elsie Street Plan and the East Slope Building Guidelines shall be used as guidelines to determine neighborhood compatibility of new construction and alterations in the respective areas covered by those guidelines. (6) Demolition. (A) Demolition Generally Prohibited. Other than as specified in this subsection, no demolition permit for structures containing one or more residential units may be approved unless: (i) The Superintendent of the Bureau of Building Inspection or the Chief of the Bureau of Fire Prevention and Public Safety determines, after consultation to the extent feasible with the Department of Planning, that an imminent safety hazard exists and the Superintendent determines that demolition of the structure is the only feasible means to secure the public safety; or (ii) The structure is under an abatement order and the Superintendent of the Bureau of Building Inspection determines, after consultation with the Department of Planning and the San Francisco Fire Department, that repairs rendering the structure safe and habitable as defined in the San Francisco Housing Code would cost 50 percent or more of the cost to replace the structure pursuant to the standards published periodically by the Superintendent. An owner's deliberate damage, in the opinion of the Superintendent of the Bureau of Building Inspection, to the property or failure to maintain it shall not be included in the calculation of replacement costs; or (iii) The Department determines, based on facts presented, that the structure proposed to be demolished retains no substantial remaining value or reasonable use. (B) Demolition of Historic or Architecturally Significant Residential Buildings. Unless demolition is approved pursuant to Subsections (A)(i) or (A)(iii) above, no demolition permit may be approved for a residential building (1) which is a designated landmark or contributing building in an historic district; or (2) which the Landmarks Preservation Advisory Board determines is qualified to be designated as a landmark or contributing building in an historic district under the standards of Article 10 of this Code; or (3) is recommended by the Department of Planning for historic designation under Article 10 of this Code. (C) Replacement Structure Required. Unless demolition is approved pursuant to Subsection (A)(i) or (A)(iii) above, no application authorizing the demolition of a residential building within the scope of this Section shall be approved until the City has finally approved a building permit for construction of the replacement building which meets the requirements of this ordinance. A building permit is finally approved if the Board of Permit Appeals has taken final action on an appeal of the issuance or denial of the permit or if the permit has been issued and the time for filing an appeal with the Board has lapsed with no appeal filed. (i) This Section shall not apply to the demolition of a second structure on a single lot that (1) does not exceed 500 square feet, (2) meets the requirements of Subsection (A)(ii) above, and (3) is not a historic residential building under Subsection (B) above. (f) Additional Controls Applicable to Bernal South Slope. (1) The "Bernal South Slope" shall mean the undeveloped lots within the south slope area of the Bernal Heights Special Use District consisting of: Block 5810, lots 016, 017, and 020 to 023; Block 5811, lots 023 to 028; Block 5825, lots 007 to 015; Block 5826, lots 002, 003, 005 to 011, and 013 to 016; Block 5827, lots 007 to 011 and 016 to 022; and Block 5828, lots 004 to 010. (2) The controls set forth in this subsection (f) shall be in addition to the general requirements of Section 242. (3) All new development in the Bernal South Slope shall require a conditional use authorization pursuant to this subsection and the requirements set forth in Article 3 of the Planning Code. The Planning Commission shall only approve an application for a conditional use authorization if facts are presented to establish that the proposed development would not harm the public health, safety, or welfare of the Bernal South Slope and surrounding areas, considering the following criteria: (A) The applicant has designed the development in accordance with best practices for construction and development on steep slopes, as applicable, including measures to address liquefaction and slope stability issues presented by the steep grades in Bernal South Slope, and as documented in writing by the Department of Building Inspection; (B) The development would not undermine the visual integrity of the Bernal South Slope by, for example, deviating in a substantial manner from the City's established pattern of street-orientation and alignment. Bernal's neighborhood streets typically are not contoured, with streets running parallel to the hillside, but instead are grid-based. Where reasonably possible, new buildings should be accessed from public streets rather than extended private drives; (C) The design of the development would not interfere with the proposed integration of Alemany Public Housing with the South Bernal neighborhood (e.g., through construction of large retaining walls) and, to the extent feasible, promotes connections at the hill base that are consistent with the proposed redesign of Alemany Public Housing; (D) The development and construction-related activities in the Bernal South Slope will not meaningfully hinder impact emergency vehicle access and emergency response times or

weaken fire protection capabilities in the area (e.g., fire hydrant access or water pressure), as determined through applicant consultation with the San Francisco Fire Department, and as documented in writing by the San Francisco Fire Department; (E) The development will not degrade the health and cleanliness of the neighborhood by, for example, providing inadequate access for City sanitation services such as garbage collection and street sweeping, as determined through applicant consultation with the Department of Public Works, and as documented in writing by the Department of Public Works; (F) The development promotes the City's open space policies, and incorporates community input regarding public use of unimproved rights-of-way (e.g., by avoiding or offsetting potential impacts to existing open space such as the Moultrie Street Children's Community Garden); (G) The development will not substantially impact neighborhood parking availability; (H) The development will not substantially contribute to an increase in traffic congestion in Bernal South Slope, including along Crescent Street and the intersection of St. Mary's and Mission Street; and (I) The development will not undermine pedestrian safety or result in dangerous traffic conditions (e.g., increasing double parking and reducing turn around zones) that place residents and pedestrians at risk. (J) The Planning Commission shall evaluate the foregoing criteria with regard to both to a development's individual impacts and the development's impacts in combination with the current and proposed development of the Bernal South Slope. (Added by Ord. 32-91, App. 1/25/91; amended by Ord. 145-00, File No. 000796, App. 6/16/2000; Ord. 247-07, File No. 070947, App. 10/29/2007; Ord. 294-08, File No. 081247 ; Ord. 166-16 , File No. 160477, App. 8/11/2016, Eff. 9/10/2016; Ord. 311-18, File No. 181028, App. 12/21/2018, Eff. 1/21/2019; Ord. 68-24, File No. 240070, App. 4/4/2024, Eff. 5/5/2024) AMENDMENT HISTORY Division (e)(1)(E) added; Ord. 166-16 , Eff. 9/10/2016. Divisions (e)(4)-(e)(4)(B)(ii) deleted; former divisions (e)(5)-(7) redesignated as divisions (e)(4)-(6); current division (e)(5) amended; Ord. 311-18, Eff. 1/21/2019. Divisions (e) -(e)(1) amended; Ord. 68-24, Eff. 5/5/2024. SEC. 243. VAN NESS SPECIAL USE DISTRICT. (See Interpretations related to this Section.) (a) General. A Special Use District entitled the Van Ness Special Use District, the boundaries of which are shown on Sectional Map No. SU02 of the Zoning Map of the City and County of San Francisco, is hereby established for the purposes set forth below. (b) Purposes. In order to implement the objectives and policies of the Van Ness Avenue Area Plan, a part of the General Plan, which includes (1) creation of a mix of residential and commercial uses on the boulevard, (2) preservation and enhancement of the pedestrian environment, (3) encouragement of the retention and appropriate alteration of architecturally and historically significant and contributory buildings, (4) conservation of the existing housing stock, (5) enhancement of the visual and urban design quality of the street, and (6) the establishment of an area appropriate for a medical center use (the "Van Ness Medical Use Subdistrict") to support citywide and regional health care at the transit nexus of Van Ness Avenue and Geary Boulevard, the following controls are imposed in the Van Ness Special Use District. (c) Controls. All provisions of the Planning Code applicable to an RC-4 District shall apply except as otherwise provided in this Section 243. (1) Basic Floor Area Ratio. The basic floor area ratio limit shall be 7.0 to 1 in the 130-foot height district and at the hospital site within the Van Ness Medical Use Subdistrict, and 4.8:1 in the 80-foot height district. These limits shall apply to dwellings notwithstanding Section 124(b) of this Code, including floor space used for nonaccessory off-street parking, driveways, and maneuvering areas. The floor area ratio may be increased to up to 7.5:1 for a medical office building if located within the Van Ness Medical Use Subdistrict. For definitions of Floor Area Ratio and Gross Floor Area, see Section 102. The provisions allowing a floor area premium set forth in Section 125(a) shall not apply in the Van Ness Special Use District. (2) Housing Density. The restrictions on density set forth in the Zoning Control Tables shall not apply. (3) Height and Bulk Restrictions. See Height and Bulk Map No. HT02. See Section 270 of this Code for bulk limits. However, medical centers within the Van Ness Medical Use Subdistrict subject to otherwise applicable standards for bulk limits per Sections 270 and 271(c)(2) shall be permitted to exceed such standards to allow for unique massing and volume required for medical facilities, if authorized as a Conditional Use pursuant to Section 303 of this Code, in lieu of findings otherwise required under Section 271 of this Code. (4) Awnings, Canopies, and Marquees. Medical centers within the Van Ness Medical Use Subdistrict subject to otherwise applicable standards for awnings per Section 136.1 of this Code shall be permitted to exceed such standards to allow for coverage of patient drop-off and entry areas. (5) Medical Centers within the Van Ness Medical Use Subdistrict subject to otherwise applicable standards for obstructions over streets or alleys per Section 136(c)(1)(B) of this Code shall be permitted to exceed such standards for vertical dimensions and horizontal projections for architectural features to provide visual interest, achieve appropriate articulation of building façades, and reduce pedestrian level wind currents. (6) Rear Yards. The requirements of this Code applicable to rear yards may be modified or waived by the Zoning Administrator pursuant to Section 307(g) if all of the following conditions are met: (A) The interior block open space formed by the rear yards of abutting properties will not be adversely affected; and (B) A comparable amount of usable open space is provided elsewhere on the lot or within the development where it is more accessible to residents; and (C) The access of light and air to abutting properties will not be significantly impeded. This provision shall be administered pursuant to the procedures that are applicable to variances, as set forth in Sections 306.1 through 306.5 and 308.2 of this Code. (7) Required Setbacks. Setbacks for buildings exceeding a height of 50 feet shall be regulated as provided in Section 253.2 of this Code. (8) Limitation of Nonresidential Uses. (A) Residential Uses; Ratio Established. In newly constructed structures, nonresidential uses shall only be permitted if the ratio between the amount of net additional occupied floor area for residential uses, as defined in this paragraph below, to the amount of occupied floor area for nonresidential uses in excess of the occupied floor area of structures existing on the site at the time the project is approved is 3 to 1 or greater. In additions to existing structures that exceed 20% of the gross floor area of the existing structure, nonresidential uses shall be permitted in the addition in excess of 20% only if the ratio between the amount of occupied floor area for residential use, as defined in this paragraph below, to the area of occupied floor area for nonresidential use is 3 to 1 or greater. This residential use ratio shall not apply to (i) development sites in the Van Ness Special Use District that have less than 60 feet of street frontage on Van Ness Avenue and have no street frontage other than the Van Ness Avenue frontage, or (ii) development consisting of new construction proposed for an Institutional Community Use at 1750 Van Ness Avenue, Assessor’s Parcel Block 0622, Lot 019. For purposes of this Section, “nonresidential uses” shall mean any use not defined as a Residential Use in Section 102 and principally or conditionally permitted in the Van Ness Special Use District. (B) Reduction of Ratio of Residential Uses for Affordable Housing. The Planning Commission may modify the Van Ness Special Use District residential to nonresidential use ratio between Golden Gate Avenue and California Street as a conditional use in one of the following ways: (i) In-Lieu Fee. By conditional use, the developer may elect to fulfill the obligation to build housing by paying an in-lieu fee to the Affordable Housing Fund as provided in Section 413 of this Code. No more than a 50 percent reduction of the required housing for a specific project can be fulfilled by paying an in-lieu fee. Use of these funds shall provide affordable housing within 2,000 feet of the Van Ness Special Use District. The in-lieu fee shall be determined by the following formula: (1) (Lot Area × FAR)/4) × 3 = Residential SQ. FT. Requirement (2) Residential SQ. FT. Requirement - Residential SQ. FT. Developed = LOSS (3) LOSS × $15 = In-Lieu Fee (ii) Providing Affordable Housing. By conditional use, the developer may reduce up to 50 percent of the required amount of on-site housing by maintaining a portion of that housing as permanently affordable for the life of the project. Affordable units shall be managed by a nonprofit housing agency through a duly executed agreement between the project sponsor, the nonprofit agency, and the Planning Department. The mix of affordable units retained in the project shall conform to the overall dwelling unit size mix of the project. The portion of retained residential that shall be affordable will be determined by calculating the number of market rate units that could be subsidized by the amount of "in-lieu fee" calculated in Paragraph (i) above. The number of square feet of affordable housing shall be calculated in the following manner: