Noe St. Medical Office Building

2004.0603 · 3615 Cesar Chavez Street

64comments

64in person

0emails

5hearings

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Hearings

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Comments by hearing (64)

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2006-12-14 · 1 comments · no positions recorded

Jeffrey Nelson · spoken · 2006-12-14 · —

Requested that the continuance to January 25, 2007 not change. Richard Magary, Buena Vista Neighborhood Association We have been working as part of a neighborhood task force and have generally achieved some productive results. At the same time, there are a few significant issues that are not satisfactory. I ask that you consider a reasonable time frame, and February 1 seems appropriate. Peter Cohen The process has be… show more

2007-04-12 · 4 comments · 1 / 1

Jonathan Youtt · spoken · 2007-04-12 · —

Requested an extra week for the continuance. The legal representative would be out of town on that date.

Mary Lanier · spoken · 2007-04-12 · —

Requested that this not be continued any longer. It has been delayed three times causing economical jeopardy. Sue Hestor, Attorney for the Appellant I will be out of town and would have only two days to prepare for it. My client would like to meet and prepare the case with me before the hearing. [No name] Requested that the June 7 date for continuance be maintained.

Tai Valla · spoken · 2007-04-12 · oppose

Requested that you keep June 7 for continuance. We offered to meet with the group that requested written response and it was rejected.

Wendy Baker · spoken · 2007-04-12 · support

Asked for continuance to June 14. Peter Cohen, Duboce Triangle Association Staff needs time to prepare for this project as well as the community. It would be better trying to solve those issues before coming to the Commission. Requested June 14 for the continuance.

2007-06-07 · 1 comments · 1 / 0

Martin Brotman · spoken · 2007-06-07 · support

The proposed project is the most important to Davis Campus, neighbors and to the city of San Francisco. Bringing the neuroscience to this campus fits the programs and services already provided at this campus. We already completed our seismic retrofit at the campus and are upgrading our emergency department. We are upgrading the middle hospital tower. We are building a unique theme park to ensure that our disabled per… The proposed project is the most important to Davis Campus, neighbors and to the city of San Francisco. Bringing the neuroscience to this campus fits the programs and services already provided at this campus. We already completed our seismic retrofit at the campus and are upgrading our emergency department. We are upgrading the middle hospital tower. We are building a unique theme park to ensure that our disabled persons have the best rehabilitation care. We are also continuing our acute medical surgical and microsurgery services at Davis Campus, already existing and to continue in the new facilities. This project would greatly help us hold and attract highly specialized positions in neuroscience. It would bring together under one roof two very important linked programs -- neuroscience and rehabilitation. It would create a much better working environment for physicians, nurses and staff. We have worked for several years with the neighborhood task force to ensure that the community's needs are fully understood. Our current design creates a very attractive transition between the existing hospital and the community. We would also be a valuable new resource for the city. San Francisco is a leader of health care and Pacific Medical provides one third of the health care in the city. This project is a result of a collaborative work between the Medical Center, the Planning Department and the Neighborhood Task Force. Ralph Marqueza Our role was to assist in the development process and to coordinate the objectives of all the diverse community interests. Many of this project's features are the result of the partnership with those district's community interests that started five years ago. A Neighborhood Task Force was created and met regularly for that period. Besides meeting with the task force, we also made regular presentations at large neighborhood meetings and included information in its newsletters. We have identified hundreds of supporters of this project including neighbors, family members, patients and medical staff. I would like to submit this binder containing the substantial support that we have documented so far. There would be people not satisfied with the outcome of the planning process. We are extremely proud of the quality of the project we were able to produce with the community help. We have assembled a fully experienced team and they are here to explain the project. Neal Morrison, Noe Neighbors Read and submitted a signed petition opposing this project mainly for its impact on casting shadows, construction, landscaping and parking issues. Jonathan Youtt, Noe Neighbors The neighborhood is mostly residential except this particular block with the project in question. We spoke with over 450 people and the main concern is the green belt running along Duboce to Noe Street. The original construction of the Davis Medical Center, back in the late 60's, there was a condition that construction of four stalls into the interior of the building allowing the green belt to act as a buffer. We feel that it is an important aspect for allowing such a huge commercial venture within the residential confines. We would like this project to be recessed 20 feet. We had to step in because the task force collapsed. Many members resigned. We realized there was a need to file an appeal. We support the project but we need to mitigate some of those issues and have them built into the conditions of approval. The Medical Center would have an entrance and drop off zone on Noe Street. Our proposal is to make an impenetrable edge between housing and the hospital. They could use the other seven entrances of the hospital. The document keeps saying that there are three and four story buildings on Noe Street. There is only one four-story property and there are two three-story properties. We are looking for ways to reduce the impact on the neighborhood. We have a list with proposed mitigations and we would like a dialogue with the hospital in order to get these taken care of. The signatures on the petition are people that live in the neighborhood and would like ways to mitigate our issues. Mary Lanier, California Pacific Medical Center I have been a liaison with the neighborhood groups. Thanked neighborhood task force and neighbors for all the work and hours invested in this project. We have really worked very diligently to have a good relationship with the neighborhood groups. We have been responsive on various issues not necessarily related to this building but just for living in the neighborhood together. We are sharing our resources with our community like providing parking on weekends for special activities. We have been here for over 150 years. We were here during the quake and we intend to provide excellent health care for years to come. We have very highly recognized specialty care in our campus. Our nursing unit and emergency department regularly scores in the top percentile across the country for patient satisfaction. Leo Chow, Project's Architect Looking at the community and the neighborhood, we tried to respond to important characteristics of the site. One is the green corridor on Noe Street that connects it from Market Street to Duboce Park. We are trying to extend that park and continue the green space. Residences across the street are recognized for their variety, changes in scale and the fact that they are primarily built of wood. Early on, the thought was to create a building that would act as a bridge between two different contexts -- between the residences and the hospital. The existing access to the facility has seven vehicle entrances helping Noe Street traffic. Our proposed project engages the street to provide public access to the facility. Geoffrey Nelson We worked with a task force that was established in 2002. We had thousands of hours in meetings with incredible levels of details. When you look at the conditions of approval, there are none that do not have the fingerprints of the members of the Duboce Triangle and the task force. We have made as large an effort as possible to try to get the word out. This diagram shows the mailings, walking in the neighborhoods, etc. In addition, we want a positive solution for Noe Street as well. We have not been able to find a consensus of what the solution is. Robert Miller There have been several factors that have led us to this point. The fulfillment of a dream for us: neurologist and neurosurgeons jointly providing treatment in our institutions. We now have new treatments for neurological disease that is just extremely exciting. We are honored to be the program chosen to make the move and really invest in neuroscience to help people with neurological diseases. Urged to approve this program. Steve Vitka, Noe Duboce Neighbors This process has taken five years and we would not like to go much longer. What we are proposing is some sort of mediated process at this point. We urge you not to approve today and give us time to negotiate the list of issues. I would also like to address the construction management plan. We need to address the parking issue during the construction phase. We have no commitment here. We would like a better arbitration process and negotiate that as well. Robert Miller I am speaking as a patient. This is a very necessary and important program for the community. Dennis Richards, President of the Duboce Triangle Neighborhood Association We represent about 3,000 homes in the area and about 10,000 residents. This project sits directly in the middle of our internal blocks. This is the largest development that the interior block is going to experience since the hospital itself. The task force has narrowed down the issues to three: architectural, traffic and pedestrian affects, size and mass and fourth floor concerns about the roof to reduce shadow impacts on Noe Street. Our Board deliberated dozens of hours recently on these four items. We absolutely support where the Medical Center is going. Unfortunately, we were short on one area and that was the roof. I hope you approve the project and include the chamfering roof as a condition. Richard Magary, Buena Vista Neighborhood Association You have our letter of support for this project in your packet. I hope you give a favorable consideration. Page two of our letter has a full description of the Neighborhood Task Force. The task force included very well publicized and open community meetings with periodic reports to the neighborhood. Joseph Sophie I live two blocks away and have worked at the hospital since 2006. I feel that this project is very important for the community for treatment and follow up services at the same facility. When I started working at the campus, I was advised to use public transportation. Dee Holden Norris We provide quality care for and throughout disease treatments. Our patients would have easy access. We have taken it into consideration and the architect has designed an internal driveway to allow drop-off patients at our doors. We provide financial support for patients and families to park in the garages. Cathy Kennedy I work at Davis Campus in rehabilitation. This new building is going to bring all services together in one place. People with neurological disorders do take public transportation. This new building would provide the access that they need. Jeffrey Phillips, Local 6 [Shared an experience of a coworker's accident that cut off his thumb.] He was taken to the General Hospital and doctors said it could be reattached at Davis Medical Center and he was transferred. The thumb was reattached and he recovered 80 percent of the original strength in a few months. Davis Center has been that kind of resource for us in the building trades and for the city generally. Walter Menzel, Patient [Shared experience of brain surgery and a stroke.] The Medical center has helped me to be a fully productive and functioning citizen I hope you support this project and approve it. Michael Steadman The plaza drop off would be directly across from my residence. We are asking that the drop off take place in a turnaround of one of the existing exits off 14 th Street. It could be designed in a way that the cars would enter, drop off and exit allowing access to the exact same area. The reason we are asking this is because of the potential for double parking increasing the traffic congestion in the area. Wendy Baker Opposes this project mainly because it would be out of neighborhood character. The hospital currently hides behind tall trees and acts as a major landscape buffer against Noe Street's light and glare. It needs to remain that way. All entrances and exits should remain the way it is now. There should be no curbside drop off on Noe Street. Leslie Uptain, Director of The Muscular Dystrophy Association Supports this project for being an asset to our city. It is a leader in the world of neuroscience. This particular clinic is known as one of the top three across the nation and most certainly the best. It is very important to have a place that patients would feel comfortable in - a peaceful place where they can get hope. Wendy Coffee I would like to say that I am not against the construction or the service that would be provided to citizens. I am concerned about the impact of this project on our historic and residential neighborhood. Pedestrian safety and traffic have not been adequately addressed by the current plan. To help mitigate the impacts of the increased traffic, The Medical Center should keep entrances to its Davis Campus on 14 th Street and Duboce Avenue. There should be no curbside drop off on Noe Street. Instead, they should create a continuously landscaped edge to separate it from the sidewalk. Jackie Phan, Clinical Specialty for Stroke I have had the opportunity to work with physician, nurses and other staff to develop, maintain and improve several neuroscience programs. Emergent and aggressive treatment of patients in acute stroke can reduce disability and improve patient recovery if implemented in an extremely quick time frame. Time loss is brain loss. Every minute counts. It is vital to have the stroke team physically connected to Davis Hospital. Ann Bedenk, Stroke Coordinator for California Pacific Medical Center On a daily basis I deal with stroke patients and their family. The common response from them is that we have given back their lives today. One of the concerns is that we do not have all of our care centralized in one location. We are extraordinarily lucky to have our stroke neurologist and neurosurgeons on 24 hours - 7days basis. [Shared experience of husband that suffered a stroke and was attended at Pacific Medical Center.] Gerry Crowley, Neighborhood Network We support this project. I have been a patient of Pacific Medical Center. The neighbors' needs are very modest. Given more time for mediation is a good idea, the two sides could come together. There are two things missing here: No Institutional Master Plan and Institutional Design Guidelines. Rebecca Symmons, Manager for the Davis Campus - Emergency Department This Emergency Department has been consistently in the top ten percentile for patient's satisfaction of care. The neuroscience center would help support the emergency department to continue to provide excellent care. Paul Wermer I hear that many issues can be solved. The Pacific Medical Center has a great deal of respect from neighbors. The Medical Center knows how to address the facility's issues but not the neighborhood impacts. Urged as a condition of use for this facility two things: a prohibition of passenger/loading zone along Noe Street and requirement for the Medical Center to take steps to inhabit patients on Noe Street. Carol Brownson I live near a similar Pacific Medical Center office building on Webster Street. The neighbors on Webster Street do not get to use that street that much anymore. There is a lovely access to the street and the painting does not show the Victorian neighborhood. Jim Meko, Neighborhood Network We have taken the position of support of the Noe Street neighbors. The requests are so simple: widen sidewalks, safer crosswalks, better landscaping, mitigating shadow impacts and traffic. It is disappointing that the project sponsor has not respond to these requests. The neighbors deserve the courtesy of your consideration and support. Jim Salinas Sr., Carpenters Local Union 22 We are supporting this project sponsor. For the last year and half, they reached out to the labor community. I am very confident that the representatives from California Pacific Medical Center have made a great effort to work with the community and neighbors. Karen Apena Urged the Commission to consider the 13 minimal requests from neighbors. I hope you will not approve unless we have some agreement on those issues. Gregg Wilcox We spent a lot of time with Pacific Medical Center and they compromised with the task force. On the architecture, they agreed that this building fit very well in the neighborhood character. On the issue of the drop off spot - this was a compromise we made because we do not want double parking on the streets. Linda de Mello I live directly across from the Pacific Medical Center on Webster Street. I appreciate the needs of residents in the accommodation for people living near a medical facility. I wish to address the significance of this project from two perspectives. First one is personal. Many people in this room are at risk of heart attacks and strokes. It is a privilege to have access to quality care. Second is my role as a director of the alias chapter in this area. There is an extraordinary need to be able to leverage the international research capacities of neuroscience specialists. It is critical that the Davis project allow our specialists to collaborate and leverage their expertise for all people. Paula Lykins, Manager of Community Relations of California Pacific Medical Center I would like to tell you a little bit about my work with the Medical Center. In my role, I interface with the public on a wide range of topics from sponsorship, tours of the hospital and any impact that might confront the community. We sponsored the Scott Street laberince with friends of Duboce Park. I communicate often with our neighbors via email or direct mail to their homes about impacts that might arise relating to the remodel of the Davis Campus. Peter Weber I am a native San Franciscan and a neurologist. I believe in this neuroscience institute. It would improve patient's care. We have exciting, significant and marvelous new treatments. I did surgery on a patient with epilepsy. I cannot do this alone. It is a team approach by bringing all people together in a neuroscience center like this. Greg Monardo, Former President/CEO of Medical Center I was the leader of getting the approval on the project in 1991. This project is similar to the one proposed in 1991. This is a very needed project that would fulfill a lot of things for the Medical Center. The drop off point on Noe Street used to be the main entrance to the facilities prior to the construction in 1965 Ken Howard, Project Manager for Davis Campus The streetscape -- we are improving the sidewalk. Landscaping is currently a 15-foot wide sidewalk and it would be 22 feet. Massing -- we have set back the upper floor to reduce shadows and the height of the building. On traffic mitigation -- we are adding no new curb cuts to the street along the campus. There would be no new curb cuts along Noe Street. Peter Cohen, Duboce Triangle Association I was the only member of the task force that was neighbor of the project. You can see that the Duboce Triangle is essentially a Victorian small-scale neighborhood. The California Pacific Medical Campus is a giant square in the middle. The small square is the Medical Office building. It might seem small in the context of San Francisco but is big in terms of the neighborhood. One of the criteria for granting conditional use is that it is necessary or desirable and compatible with the neighborhood character. The older project remained within the campus confines behind trees and had internal circulation. All of the issues raised are very minor and they have to do with the fact that this building comes off from the campus. Sue Hestor, Attorney for Noe Neighbors The staff report does not really give you guidance on the issues that the neighbors are here talking about. The noise, glare and scale were a very important part of the analysis from prior Planning Commissions. They do not discuss the historic survey under way right now. That is a major omission because it does not matter that this project is outside the boundaries. Its relationship to the fine scale Victorians should be part of the staff analysis. There is no analysis of the traffic coming on Duboce Triangle. What the neighbors are asking is for traffic calming and adding a street wall down to Noe Street with no buffering. We need some relief from traffic. Your staff should have guided you through this analysis. If you are not ready to impose these mitigations today, continue it and make the staff be the mediator. Things have fallen apart and they need your resolution. Tay Via There is no consensus in the neighborhood and that has put CPMC [California Pacific Medical Center] in a difficult position. Buena Vista and Duboce Triangle had one outstanding issue and now they are bringing a list of 13 issues. The difficulty is that in some cases they are mutually exclusive. Some of the things proposed as simple solutions, actually undue understandings that have been negotiated over the years. The traffic drop off is the perfect example. Many people agreed to it and others in the near vicinity have disagreed. At this point, CPMC is really asking you to rule on the project and to rely in large part on livable street which would address almost everyone's issues raised tonight. If there were anything simple, there would be an agreement.show more

2013-05-23 · 58 comments · no positions recorded

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