SEC. 249.71. YERBA BUENA CENTER MIXED-USE SPECIAL USE DISTRICT.
(a) General. A special use district entitled the "Yerba Buena Center Mixed-Use Special Use District," consisting of Assessor's Block 3706, Lots 093 and 275, and portions of Assessor's
Block 3706, Lot 277, is hereby established for the purposes set forth below. The boundaries of the Yerba Buena Center Mixed-Use Special Use District are designated on Sectional Map
No.1 SU of the Zoning Map.
(b) Purpose. The purpose of the special use district is to facilitate the development of a mixed-use project at the corner of Third Street and Mission Street, which will include
cultural/museum, residential, and retail/restaurant. Including a museum component within the project will strengthen the district of cultural institutions that are already established in the
area, including SFMOMA, the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, the Museum of the African Diaspora, the Contemporary Jewish Museum, the Cartoon Art Museum, the Children's
Creativity Museum, and the California Historical Museum.
(c) Use Controls. The following provisions shall apply to the special use district:
(1) Cultural Uses. The special use district shall require the development of at least 35,000 net square feet of cultural, museum, or similar public-serving institutional use with frontage
on Jessie Square as part of the project. Pursuant to the terms of the Purchase and Sale Agreement (the "Purchase Agreement") between the Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency
of the City and County of San Francisco (the "Successor Agency") and the project sponsor, (A) before any other project use may receive a certificate of occupancy, the "core-and-shell" of
the cultural, museum, or similar public-serving institutional use must be constructed; and (B) the project sponsor must contribute to an operating endowment to the museum at the times
specified in the Purchase Agreement.
(2) Permitted Uses. The principally permitted uses in the special use district include (A) the cultural use set forth in Section 249.71(c)(1) above; (B) a residential development with
approximately 4,800 square feet of retail/restaurant space; and (C) all uses that are principally permitted in the C-3-R District. The uses in the special use district shall include, at a minimum
(A) the cultural use set forth in Section 249.71(c)(1) above; (B) no fewer than 145 dwelling units; and (C) ground-floor retail or cultural space in the Aronson Building. All uses which are
conditionally permitted with conditional use authorization in the C-3-R District are conditionally permitted with conditional use authorization in the special use district to the extent such
uses are not otherwise designated as principally permitted uses pursuant to this Section 249.71(c)(2).
(3) Inclusionary Affordable Housing Program. Development within the special use district shall be subject to the Inclusionary Affordable Housing Program, as set forth in Sections
415 through 415.9, through the payment of an in-lieu fee, which is currently equal to 20% of the total number of residential units in the principal project. Additional affordable housing
requirements are expected to be imposed through negotiations with the Successor Agency to the Redevelopment Agency above and beyond the requirements of Sections 415 through 415.9.
(4) Floor Area Ratio. The floor area ratio limits set forth in Sections 123 and 124 for C-3-R Districts shall not apply within the special use district.
(5) Dwelling Unit Exposure. The dwelling unit exposure requirements of Section 140 shall not apply within the special use district.
(6) Rooftop Screening. Section 260(b)(1)(F) shall apply within the special use district, except that the rooftop form created by any additional building volume shall not exceed 30 feet
in height, measured as provided in Section 260(a), and shall not exceed a total volume, including the volume of the features being enclosed, equal to three-fourths of the horizontal area of
all upper tower roof areas of the building measured before the addition of any exempt features times 30.
(7) Bulk. The bulk limits for new construction in the special use district at heights above 160 feet shall be as set forth in Table 1 below:
Table 1: Bulk Limits for New Construction At Heights Above 160 Feet
Max Floor Plate
13,000 gsf
Max Plan Length
124 feet
Max Diagonal
157 feet
(8) Protected Street Frontages.
(A) Section 155(r)(4)(A)-(B) shall not apply within the special use district.
(B) For the purposes of Section 155(r)(4)(C), the project does not have alternative frontage to Third Street and Mission Street, and therefore curb cuts accessing off-street parking or
loading off Third Street and Mission Street may be permitted as an exception pursuant to Section 309 and Section 155(r)(4)(C).
(9) Dwelling Unit Density. No conditional use authorization pursuant to Section 303(c) is required for a dwelling unit density which exceeds the density ratios specified in Section
215 for the C-3-R District.
(d) Interpretation. In the event of inconsistency or conflict between any provision of this Section 249.71 and any other provision of the Planning Code, this Section 249.71 shall prevail.
(e) Sunset Provision. This Section 249.71 shall be repealed 5 years after its initial effective date unless the Project has received a first construction document or the Board of
Supervisors, on or before that date, extends or re-enacts it.
(Added by Ord. 177-13 , File No. 130570, App. 8/2/2013, Eff. 9/1/2013; amended by Ord. 245-25, File No. 250701, App. 12/12/2025, Eff. 1/12/2026, Oper. 1/12/2026)
AMENDMENT HISTORY
Divisions (c)(8)(A)-(B) amended; Ord. 245-25, Eff. 1/12/2026.
SEC. 249.73. JEWISH HOME OF SAN FRANCISCO SPECIAL USE DISTRICT.
A Special Use District entitled the Jewish Home of San Francisco Special Use District (“District”), the boundaries of which are shown on Special Use District Map SU11 of the Zoning
Map of the City and County of San Francisco, is hereby established for the purposes set out below.
(a) Purpose. The purpose of the District is to facilitate the provision of a Residential Care Facility for the elderly, accomplished by augmenting existing residential care facilities with
additional residential care facility and supportive uses, beyond those typically permitted within a Residential Care Facility, as defined in Planning Code Section 102, that will provide a
comprehensive array of programs, services, and levels of housing and care to reach a broader spectrum of the senior population, including both resident and non-resident seniors. The
District will facilitate an institutional development pattern appropriate for a Residential Care Facility for the elderly, while also respecting the surrounding neighborhood context. To
achieve this purpose, this District will:
(1) Provide skilled nursing facilities and licensed residential care facilities for the elderly, and
(2) Provide a range of uses and services to residents, visitors, employees, and the general public. Such uses may be accessory to the Residential Care Facility, or may be principal uses,
when permitted. These uses may include Health Service Uses (including but not limited to medical office, laboratories and outpatient clinics); acute care psychiatric hospital uses; other
Institutional Uses (including but not limited to religious facilities, adult day care, assembly and social services); Personal Services; administrative office space; and Retail Uses.
(b) Controls. Applicable provisions of the Planning Code shall apply except as otherwise provided in this Section 249.73. In the event of a conflict between other provisions of the
Planning Code and this District, this Section 249.73 shall control.
(1) Accessory Uses. In this District, exceptions from otherwise applicable requirements of the Planning Code may be appropriate to further the goals set forth in this Section 249.73.
Accessory uses within this District shall be governed by Planning Code Section 703(d). Outpatient services, acute care psychiatric hospital uses, and all other uses listed in Section
249.73(a)(2) shall be permitted as Accessory Uses and may be made available to non-resident seniors.
(2) Non-Residential Uses. In this District, exceptions from otherwise applicable requirements of the Planning Code may be appropriate to further the goals set forth in this Section
249.73 to provide care for the elderly. In addition to the uses that are otherwise permitted as principal or conditional uses in the RH-2 Zoning District, Non-Residential uses permitted
within the Excelsior Outer Mission Street Neighborhood Commercial District shall also be permitted as a Planned Unit Development modification pursuant to Planning Code Section
304(d)(5), provided, however, that such uses shall not be limited to serving only residents of the immediate vicinity.
(3) Floor Area Ratio. The permitted floor area ratio for any individual lot within the District shall not exceed 2.1:1; provided, however, the cumulative floor area ratio for the entire
District shall not exceed 1.8:1.
(4) Rear Yards. The rear yard requirements of Planning Code Section 134 shall not apply to any Non-Residential use within this District.
(5) Off-Street Automobile Parking. No more than a total of 224 off-street accessory parking spaces may be permitted within this Special Use District, provided that any parking
proposed above the 224 parking space maximum shall not be considered accessory parking but as a principal use that shall require conditional use authorization. In considering an
application for a conditional use for any such parking, the Planning Commission shall consider the criteria set forth in Section 157 of this Code.
(6) Signs. Signage shall be regulated as provided in Section 607.1 of this Code for an NC-3 District, except that up to four identifying signs within the District shall be permitted, and
the height of wall signs shall not exceed 30 feet on the wall to which the sign is attached.
(Added by Ord. 187-15, File No. 150846, App. 11/4/2015, Eff. 12/4/2015; amended by Ord. 202-18, File No. 180557, App. 8/10/2018, Eff. 9/10/2018)
AMENDMENT HISTORY
Undesignated introductory paragraph and division (b)(1) amended; Ord. 202-18, Eff. 9/10/2018.
Editor's Note:
See also Ord. 186-15, File No. 150845, App. 11/4/2015, Eff. 12/4/2015, regarding General Plan amendments relating to this Special Use District.
SEC. 249.74. FIFTH AND MISSION SPECIAL USE DISTRICT.
(a) General. A Special Use District entitled the Fifth and Mission Special Use District ("District"), the boundaries of which are shown on Sectional Map SU01 of the Zoning Maps of
the City and County of San Francisco, is hereby established for the purpose set out below.
(b) Purpose. The purpose of the District is to give effect to the Development Agreement for the Fifth and Mission Project as approved by the Board of Supervisors in Ordinance No.
206-15, The District will facilitate the reuse of underutilized lands in downtown San Francisco, including the San Francisco Chronicle, Camelline and Dempster Buildings; unify zoning of
the lots included in the District; to encourage mixed-use development of the District as an integrated whole; and provide benefits to the City such as open space, cultural, arts, residential
and commercial uses proximate to major transit routes, affordable housing, job opportunities and streetscape improvements.
The District expands existing residential density provisions to require at least 40% 2-bedroom units in residential buildings and permits cultural, centralized open space, retail, office and
related uses, as well as child care, affordable housing, a first source hiring program, affordable housing fees, transit and transportation fees, art and school fees, bicycle parking, and
streetscape improvements.
In addition, at build-out, under a Development Agreement, which will take effect only if the District takes effect, the developer would provide a broad array of community benefits in
excess of existing City requirements and without displacing residents: 40% of the total 600 units of market rate housing as affordable housing; more than one acre of public open space in
place of parking lots and on the historic Chronicle Building rooftop; earlier affordable housing fees dedicated to the area surrounding the project, as well as land for affordable senior
housing; support for youth development programs in the immediate project area; a workforce program funding job readiness, barrier removal, job resources for disadvantaged adults and
information and communication internships and training, as well as specialized construction training and a local business utilization program; anticipated annual average of approximately
1,200 construction jobs during construction, approximately 3,150 new permanent jobs, and an approximately $12,100,000 annual increase in general fund revenues; a transportation
program providing for specific sidewalk and pedestrian improvements; a transportation management program; a transit fee for specific area improvements to enhance bicycle and pedestrian
safety; a contribution of the existing historic Dempster Building to non-profit cultural, arts and other uses and funding for its rehabilitation; funds for capital improvements and studies for
the historic Old Mint Building; and funding for the establishment of the Filipino Cultural Heritage District.
(c) Relationship to Design for Development. The Fifth and Mission Design for Development dated September 3, 2015 adopted by the Planning Commission (Resolution No. 19465)
and Board of Supervisors as part of this Special Use District (the "Design for Development") sets forth design Standards and Guidelines (as defined therein) for implementing the
development controls applicable to the District. A copy of the Fifth and Mission Design for Development is on file with the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors in File No. 150787 and is
incorporated herein by reference, and as may be amended from time to time by the Planning Commission upon application by the property owner.
(d) Development Controls. Applicable provisions of the Planning Code shall control except as otherwise provided in this Section and the Design for Development. In the event of a
conflict between other provisions of the Planning Code, the Design for Development, or this District, the provisions of this District shall control.
(1) Additional Permitted Uses.
(A) Active Ground Floor Uses. In addition to ground floor uses permitted within the C-3-S district, any retail, office, education or cultural use is permitted at the ground floor level
of an existing historic building, or of a new building with frontage on Howard Street if: (i) the use does not require non-transparent walls facing the street; (ii) no less than 60% of the linear
street-facing frontages of each such use are fenestrated with a minimum of 70% transparency; and (iii) for office uses, internal partitions are set back from street frontages by at least 20 feet
from street-facing windows. The area of glazing that counts to-ward the transparency requirement must be unobstructed by solid window coverings, window signs, or other features or
characteristics that impede visibility from the public realm into the interior of the ground floor of the building as further depicted in the Design for Development.