SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1223W07661 6169 ISCO P> LII «A• INIf INI 1 IV/ NG DEPARTMENT To ResponsibleAgencies, Trustee Agencies, and Interested Parties: September 15, 2007 1650MissionSI Suite400 SanFrancisco, RE: CASE NO. 2006.0144E: 651 Dolores Street(Second Church ofChrist, Scientist) Project CA94103-2479 NOTICE OF PREPARATION OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT Reception: A Notice of Preparation (NOP) of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the above-referenced project has been 415.558.6378 issued by the Planning Department. An Initial Study has also been prepared to provide more detailed information Fax: regarding the proposed project and the environmental issues to be considered in the Draft EIR. The NOP/lnitial Study 415.558.6409 is either attached or is available upon requestfrom Brett Bollinger, at (415) 575-9024 or at the above address. It is also available online at http://www.sfqov.org/site/planning. This notice is being sent to you because you have been Planning identified as potentially having an interest in the projectorthe projectarea. Information: 415.558.6377 Project Description: The project vsitwe is a single, approximately 14,819-square-foot parcel at 651 Dolores Street /A„ ~r.~r'o DU^I, QCnC I ~l OQ\ k, 3n 20th and Cumberland Streets, across Dolores Street from Dolores Park in ie Second Church of Christ, Scientist, the project sponsor, proposes the sting church structure, an unreinforced masonry building (National Register 5/S resource survey) on the site. The project sponsor proposes to construct rch building area, 13,400 square feet of residential use (8 units) and 12,200 a total area of approximately 34,600 square feet. The project's residential ries, reaching a height of 40 feet above grade. The two-story church would eet high atop a double-heightworship areaon the second story. Including the )1 feet in height above grade. About 4,200 square feet of open space in the San Francisco PublicLibrary d serve the project. The proposed project also includes a lot split which would 3-square-foot lot into two residential lots of approximately 4,000 square feet, Government InformationCenter nately 6,800 squarefeetforthe newchurch building. The projectsite is within SanFranciscoPublicLibrary mily) district, and within a 40-X Height and Bulk District. The project sponsor orization from the San Francisco Planning Commission to allow a subdivision 100LarkinStreet, 5th Floor SanFrancisco, CA 94102 ur-dwelling-unit buildings on two lots that are within the RH-3 (Residential, plits. A C.U. Authorization would also be required for constructing a church REFERENCE BOOK Duld require a variance for rear yard depth. The project would need to be in Advisory Board (LPAB) since the existing church structure is considered a Not to be taken from the Library epartment has determined that an EIR must be prepared for the proposed ling project approval. The purpose ofthe EIR is to provide information about ntal effects ofthe proposed project, to identify possible ways to minimize the analyze possible alternatives to the proposed project. Preparation ofan NOP or hIR does not indicate a decision by the City to approve orto disapprove the project. However, priorto making any such decision, the decision makers must reviewand considerthe information contained in the EIR. Written comments on the scope of the EIR are welcome. Please submit comments by the close of business on October 15, 2007. Written comments should be sent to Bill Wycko, Acting Environmental Review Officer, San Francisco Planning Department, 1650 Mission Street, Suite400, San Francisco, CA94103. Ifyou workforan agencythat is a Responsible ora TrusteeAgency, we need to knowtheviews ofyouragency as to the scope and content of the environmental information that is relevant to your agency's statutory responsibilities in connection with the proposed project. Your agency may need to use the EIR when considering a permit or other forthis project. We will also need the nameofthecontact personforyouragency. D REF ve questions concerning environmental review of the proposed project, please contact Brett Bollinger at 711.56 DOCUMENTS DEPT. •9024. Si99n SEP 1 7 2007 www.sfplanning.org SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC LIBRARY SAN FRANCISCO PLANNING DEPARTMENT To ResponsibleAgencies, TrusteeAgencies, and Interested Parties: September 15, 2007 1650Missions) Suite400 SanFrancisco, RE: CASE NO. 2006.0144E: 651 Dolores Street(Second Church ofChrist, Scientist) Project CA94103-2479 NOTICE OF PREPARATION OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT Reception: A Notice of Preparation (NOP) of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the above-referenced project has been 415.558.6378 issued by the Planning Department. An Initial Study has also been prepared to provide more detailed information Fax: regarding the proposed project and the environmental issues to be considered in the Draft EIR. The NOP/lnitial Study 415.558.6409 is either attached or is available upon request from Brett Bollinger, at (415) 575-9024 or at the above address. It is also available online at http://www.sfqov.org/site/planninq. This notice is being sent to you because you have been Planning Information: identified as potentially having an interest in the projectorthe projectarea. 415.558.6377 Project Description: The project site is a single, approximately 14,819-square-foot parcel at 651 Dolores Street (Assessor's Block 3595, Lot 28), between 20th and Cumberland Streets, across Dolores Street from Dolores Park in the Dolores Heights neighborhood. The Second Church of Christ, Scientist, the project sponsor, proposes the demolition and replacement of the existing church structure, an unreinforced masonry building (National Register Status Code 3S, Here Today historic resource survey) on the site. The project sponsor proposes to construct approximately 9,000 square feet of church building area, 13,400 square feet of residential use (8 units) and 12,200 square feet of parking (31 spaces) for a total area of approximately 34,600 square feet. The project's residential structures would be three- and four-stories, reaching a height of 40 feet above grade. The two-story church would include a cupola ofapproximately 10.5 feet high atop a double-height worship areaon the second story. Including the cupola, the church would reach about 51 feet in height above grade. About 4,200 square feet of open space in the form ofa courtyard and rearyards would serve the project. The proposed project also includes a lot split which would divide the existing approximately 15,000-square-foot lot into two residential lots of approximately 4,000 square feet, each, and a single, cornerlot ofapproximately 6,800 squarefeetforthe newchurch building. The project site is within an RH-3 (Residential, House, Three-Family) district, and within a 40-X Height and Bulk District. The project sponsor would seek Conditional Use (C.U.) Authorization from the San Francisco Planning Commission to allow a subdivision of the existing lot into three lots for four-dwelling-unit buildings on two lots that are within the RH-3 (Residential, House, Three-Family) District with lot splits. A C.U. Authorization would also be required for constructing a church within an RH-3 District. The project would require a variance for rear yard depth. The project would need to be reviewed by the Landmarks Preservation Advisory Board (LPAB) since the existing church structure is considered a historical architectural resource. As stated in the NOP, the Planning Department has determined that an EIR must be prepared for the proposed project prior to any final decision regarding project approval. The purpose of the EIR is to provide information about potential significant physical environmental effects of the proposed project, to identify possible ways to minimize the significant effects, and to describe and analyze possible alternatives to the proposed project. Preparation of an NOP or EIR does not indicate a decision by the Cityto approve orto disapprove the project. However, priorto making any such decision, the decision makers must reviewand considerthe information contained inthe EIR. Written comments on the scope of the EIR are welcome. Please submit comments by the close of business on October 15, 2007. Written comments should be sent to Bill Wycko, Acting Environmental Review Officer, San Francisco Planning Department, 1650 Mission Street, Suite400, San Francisco, CA94103. Ifyou workforan agencythat is a Responsible ora Trustee Agency, we need to knowthe views ofyouragency asto the scope and content of the environmental information that is relevant to your agency's statutory responsibilities in connection with the proposed project. Your agency may need to use the EIR when considering a permit or other approvalforthis project. We will also need the nameofthecontact personforyouragency. If you have questions concerning environmental review of the proposed project, please contact Brett Bollinger at (415)575-9024. DOCUMENTS DEPT. SEP 1 7 2007 www.sfplanning.org SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC LIBRARY NOTICE OF PREPARATION OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT DateofthisNotice: September 15,2007 Lead Agency: SanFranciscoPlanningDepartment 1650Mission Street, 4thFloor, SanFrancisco, CA 94103 Agency ContactPerson: BrettBollinger Telephone: (415)575-9024 Project Title: 2006.0144E: 651 Dolores Street ProjectSponsor: SecondChurchofChrist, Scientist(Congregation) ContactPerson: BillBellezer Telephone: (415) 647-0521 ProjectAddress: 651 Dolores Street Assessor's Blockand Lot: Assessor's Block3595;Lot28 City and County: SanFrancisco ProjectDescription: Theprojectsite is a single, approximately 14,819-square-footparcel at 651 Dolores Street (Assessor's Block 3595, Lot 28), between 20th andCumberland Streets, across Dolores Street fromDolores Park in the Dolores Heights neighborhood. The Second Church ofChrist, Scientist, the project sponsor, proposes the demolition and replacementoftheexistingchurch structure, an unreinforced masonry building (National Register Status Code 3S, HereToday historicresource survey) on the site. Theprojectsponsorproposes toconstruct approximately 9,000 square feet ofchurchbuilding area, 13,400 square feet ofresidential use (8 units) and 12,200 square feet ofparking (31 spaces) foratotal area ofapproximately 34,600square feet. Theproject's residential structures wouldbe three- and four-stories, reaching a height of40 feet above grade. The two-story church would include a cupola ofapproximately 10.5 feet high atop a double-height worship area on thesecondstory. Including the cupola, thechurch wouldreach about 51 feet in height above grade. About4,200 square feet ofopen space in the formofacourtyard andrearyards would serve theproject. The proposedproject alsoincludes a lot split which woulddividetheexisting approximately 15,000-square-foot lot into two residential lots ofapproximately 4,000 square feet, each, and a single, corner lotofapproximately 6,800 square feet forthe new church building. Theprojectsiteis within anRH-3 (Residential,House,Three-Family) district, and within a40-XHeightandBulk District. Theproject sponsorwould seekConditional Use(C.U.) Authorizationfromthe SanFranciscoPlanning Commission to allowa subdivision oftheexistinglotinto threelots forfour-dwelling-unit buildingson twolots thatare withintheRH-3 (Residential, House,Three-Family) Districtwith lotsplits. AC.U. Authorization would alsobe required forconstructingachurch within anRH-3 District. The project wouldrequirea variance forrearyarddepth. Theprojectwould needtobe reviewedby theLandmarksPreservation AdvisoryBoard (LPAB) since theexisting church structureisconsidered ahistorical architectural resource. THIS PROJECTMAY HAVEA SIGNIFICANTEFFECTON THE ENVIRONMENT.AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTREPORTISREQUIRED. Thisdeterminationis based upon thecriteriaofthe GuidelinesoftheStateSecretary forResources, Sections 15063 (Initial Study), 15064 (DeterminingSignificantEffect), 15065 (Mandatory FindingsofSignificance), andthefollowing reasons, asdocumented in theEnvironmental Evaluation (Initial Study) fortheproject, whichis attached. Writtencomments onthescopeoftheEIR will be accepteduntil thecloseofbusiness on October 15,2007. Written comments shouldbesenttoBillWycko,SanFranciscoPlanningDepartment, 1650MissionStreet, Suite400, SanFrancisco, CA94103. StateAgencies: Weneedtoknowtheviewsofyouragency as to the scopeandcontentoftheenvironmental informationthatisgermaneto youragency'sstatutoryresponsibilities inconnection with theproposedproject. Your agency may needtousetheEIR whenconsideringapermit orotherapproval forthis project. Pleaseincludethe name ofacontactpersoninyour agency. Thankyou. ^/2^6] Z&J-? /JT Date' BillWycko, ActingEnvironmerffalReview Officer SECOND CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST Study Initial (Case No. 2006.01 44E - 651 Dolores Street) A. Project Description Summary The Second Church ofChrist, Scientist (SCCS), the project sponsor, proposes to replacethe existing unreinforced masonry church structure, on the southeast cornerofDolores and Cumberland streets in San Francisco, with anew smallerthree-storychurch, and two four-story four-unit residential buildings and associatedparking forthe churchand theresidential uses. The 14,819 square-foot project site (Assessors Block 3598, Lot 28) is located on a singleparcel at 651 Dolores Street between Cumberland and 20th streets, across Dolores Street from Dolores Park in San Francisco's Dolores Heights neighborhood. The project sponsorproposes approximately 9,000 square feet ofchurch building area, 13,400 square feet ofresidential use and 12,200 square feet ofparking for a total area ofroughly 34,600 square feet. The project's residential structures would be three- and four-stories reaching aheight of40 feet above grade.1 The two-story church would include a cupola ofapproximately 10.5 feet high atop a double- height worship area on the second story. Includingthe cupola, the church would reach about 51 feet in height above grade. The project wouldprovide on-siteparking for23 automobiles, including one handicap accessible and one handicap van accessibleparking space in apartially below-grade garage, foruse by the new church. Eight additionalparking stalls wouldbe provided for the eight residential units, for a total of31 on-site parking spaces. About 4,200 square feet of open space in the formofa courtyard and rearyards would servetheproject. Currently, the site is occupied by the churchbuilding ofthe SCCS whichwouldbe demolished as part ofthe project. This two-and-one-halfstory unreinforcedmasonry building includes a floor area ofalmost 9,000 square feet. The church was designedby architect William H. Crim Jr. and was built in 1917. Although not officially listed in any national, state, orlocal historical register, the Second Church ofChrist, Scientist structure was assigned aNational Register Status Code of "3S" (on a scale of 1 to 7, in which 1 is the highest) in 1993, indicating it "appears eligible forthe National Register as an individual propertythrough survey evaluation." Buildingsheightsherearemeasuredatthemidpointoftheprojectbuildings' slopingroofs. Gradeismeasuredat thecurbatthemidpointofeachproposed lot. Case No. 2006.0144E 1 651 DoloresStreet Preliminary-SubjecttoRevision(9/13/2007) InitialStudy Project Purpose and Need The church structure is classified as an unreinforced masonry building (UMB) whichposes a life- safety hazard in the event ofa major earthquake. As such, theproperty is subject to the City's UMB 1992 Ordinance2 which gives owners ofsuch structures three options: 1) upgradethe building to meet current seismic codes, 2) vacate the building, or 3) demolish the building. As part ofits efforts to meet the UMB Ordinance, the SCCS congregation obtained a construction estimate in 1999 to seismically upgrade the building. Dueto inflation and current construction UMB costs, upgrading thebuilding to meet current codes would cost over $5 million today, far exceeding the congregation's financial resources. In addition to making the required seismic upgrades, any constructionworkofthis scale would require that the church also bebrought up to current building and accessibility codes, which would further increase the overall project costs. In 2003, the SCCS congregation considered selling theproperty, and an informal offer was received from another congregation. However, the low offerreceived would have made it impossible forthe congregationto purchase a comparable building in San Francisco. As the UMB congregation cannot afford to bring the building into compliance with the Ordinance and other applicable codes, theironly feasible option is to demolish the church and build a new church structure that would comply with the applicable building, seismic and life safety codes. The SCCS congregation is currently aparty to a stipulated injunction and settlement agreement withthe SanFrancisco City Attorney's Office which restricts the congregation from maintaining, operating, oroccupying the church building until it obtains all permits necessary to comply with UMB the City's Ordinance.3 Ifthe congregation fails to meet the requirements ofthe injunction by May 20, 2008, theproperty will fall into receivership. UMB The congregation acknowledges that the property is currently in violation ofthe Ordinance, and since 2005 the congregation has been working with the City Attorney's Office to meet the requirements ofthe injunction. As noted in the injunction, the SCCS has applied fora lot split and all permits necessary to demolishthe churchbuilding andto erect improvements consisting ofa new church building and two multi-family residential buildings, eachofthe applications being subject to compliance with UMB local municipal codes, including but not limited to the Ordinance, as determined by the San AdoptedbytheBoardofSupervisorsin 1992, UMB OrdinanceNo. 225-92requirestheCitytonotifyallownersof UMBsandrequiresallpropertyownerstoretain alicensedcivil structural engineerorarchitecttofileaBuilding InventoryFormwiththeCitytoidentifythe"hazardclass"ofaparticularUMBbuilding. Theordinancealso requiresall ownersofUMBstoseismicallyupgradebuildingsbyFebruary 15, 2006 CityandCountyofSanFrancisco vs. TheSecondChurchofChrist, Scientist. StipulatedInjunction andSettlement Agreement(November20, 2006), whichcopyispartoftheprojectfile, CaseNo. 2006.0144E, andmaybe reviewedbyappointmentattheSanFranciscoPlanning Department, 1650Mission Street, Suite400,oratthe CCSFAssessor-RecorderOffice,CityHall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. GoodlettPlace, Room 190, underDocument2006- 1289866-00, ReelJ275,Image0717. Case No. 2006.0144E 651 DoloresStreet 3 1223 07661 6169 InitialStudy Francisco Department ofBuilding Inspection, Planning Department, and otherpublic agencies, as applicable.4 Project Location The approximately 15,000-square-foot project site (Assessor's Block 3598, Lot 28) is on the block bounded by Dolores Street to thewest, Cumberland Street to the north, Guerrero Street to the east and 20th Street to the south. The project site consists ofa single parcel at 651 Dolores Street in San Francisco's Dolores Heights neighborhood. Across Dolores Street from the project site is Dolores Park, which is bounded by Dolores Street to the east, Church Street to the west, 18th Street to thenorth and 20th Street to the south. The approximately 14-acre Dolores Park has a terraced downward slope from south to north. Theproject site is surrounded bythe Mission District to the east, Noe Valley to the southwest, the Liberty Hill Historic District to the southeast, Castro/Eureka Valley to the west and Duboce Triangle to the north (see Figure 1). Theproject site is within an RH-3 (Residential, House, Three-Family) District and a 40-X Height and Bulk District (40-foot height limit; no bulk limit). The RH-3 District is designated to accommodate areas characterized by oneto three dwelling units per lot. Surrounding existing uses are predominantly residential with a mix ofsingle- and multi-family uses in two- and three- story structures as well as some institutional/religious uses and small scale neighborhood serving commercial uses approximately one block away. Mission Dolores High School is nearly two blocks northwest from the project site, across 18th Street from Dolores Park. The project site is served by the J Church MUNI streetcaron Church Street, the 33 MUNI crosstown bus on 18th Street and the Castro Shuttle (S-line) duringpeak a.m. andp.m. hours. The project site is about fiveblocks from the major transit node at Castro and Market Streets where pedestrians have access to the F MUNI streetcar, MUNI underground lines K, L and M and MUNI buses 22, 24, 33, 35, and 37. Proposed Project The SCCS congregation proposes to demolishthe Second Church ofChrist, Scientistbuilding, the single existing church structure on the site, and construct a smallertwo-story churchand eight residential units above a partially below-gradeparking structure. Theproposed project also includes a lot split which would divide the existing approximately 15,000-square-foot lot into three lots. Two lots would be approximately 4,000 square feet, each, and thethird wouldbe a corner lot ofapproximately 6,800 square feet forthe proposed new church (see Figures 2-7). Each ofthe proposed uses onthese three proposed lots, as well as the proposed on-siteparking, is described below. 4 ibid Case No. 2006.0144E 3 651 DoloresStreet 19th Street Mission Dolores Cumberland Street Park AB3598 20th Street CO CO o o LibertyStreet J200 F3X\] Project Site Assessor's Block3598: Lot28 Feet SOURCE: ESA;CaliforniaStateAutomobileAssociation SecondChurchofChrist, Scientist. 206073 Figure 1 Project Location 4