Zoning Page

San Francisco Board of Supervisors Overturns Historic Preservation Commission, Approves Certificate of Appropriateness for 3400 Laguna Street Project

  • When: 2025/07/22
  • Address: 3400 Laguna Street, San Francisco, California
  • City: San Francisco
  • State: CA
  • Category: Land Use Planning
  • Asset Class: Mixed-Use
  • Property Type: Low-Rise

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors has adopted findings to approve a Certificate of Appropriateness (Planning Case No. 2022-009819COA) and a Conditional Use Authorization (Planning Case No. 2022-009819CUA) for a project located at 3400 Laguna Street. This decision overturns a prior ruling by the Historic Preservation Commission. The project entails the demolition of two noncontributing structures, the Perry Connector and the Health Care Center. In their place, two new buildings, the Bay Building and the Francisco Building, will be constructed. Additionally, the plan includes the renovation of two other existing buildings and improvements to the historic Julia Morgan building, alongside general site alterations. The property is situated within the RM-1 (Residential-Mixed, Low Density) Zoning District and 40-X Height and Bulk Districts. The Planning Commission certified the Final Environmental Impact Report for the project on April 17, 2025, and confirmed its consistency with the General Plan. Following a public hearing on June 17, 2025, the Board voted to conditionally disapprove the Historic Preservation Commission's decision and approved the Certificate of Appropriateness with modified conditions. A key modification was to Condition 1, related to "Final Architectural Details," specifying that department preservation staff review and approval of details must not lead to a reduction in project square footage. The Board argued that the Historic Preservation Commission exceeded its authority by previously requiring the project to return to its Architectural Review Committee for final massing and architectural details.

Source