Uptown Planners, June 3, 2008 Uptown Planners ask St. Paul’s project for EIR

Over 100 interested residents and parishioners packed Joyce Beers Community Center yesterday evening for the presentation of St. Paul Cathedral’s proposed towers. The current project would result in: (1.) The construction of the tallest structure ever built in the Uptown area — 30′ over the zoning limit; (2.) The granting of some of the largest setback deviations ever allowed in Uptown; (3.) A project being processed through the “affordable housing expedite program” that provides no new affordable housing; and in fact results in a net loss of over 20 affordable housing units; (4.) The approval of a project with potential adverse impacts upon airport safety; and (5.) Substantial impacts to two adjacent historic structures; St. Paul’s Cathedral and the historically designated La Moderne Apartments.
Also of note are the excessive setback deviations for the St. Paul’s Cathedral development which create a project whose mass and bulk are out of scale with the community; and should not be approved unless redesigned. Only small portion of the project does not deviate — otherwise, all the street sides of both buildings indicate substantial setback deviations: (1.) Along Fifth Avenue, the Nutmeg building encroaches up to 13-8′ into the required setback; (2.) Along Nutmeg Street, the building encroaches up to 13-10′ into the required setback, with balconies at the north east corner extending 18′ beyond the required setback and 3′ beyond the street wall below; (3.) Along Fifth Avenue, the Olive Street building encroaches up to 8′ into the required setback, with balconies extending 15′ beyond the required setback; and (4.) Along Olive Street, the other tower encroaches up to 12′ into the required setback.
The Uptown Planners unanimously agreed that the height, mass and its location in the airport zone were of a concern for the community, and they requested that the developers return after having an Environmental Impact Report (EIR). Many were also concerned about shadows cast over Balboa Park and suggested a redesign.