SF PLAZA PROGRAM
Background: SF Public Realm Stewardship Successes Through innovative approaches to transforming the public realm, San Francisco has demonstrated nationally-recognized and innovative leadership with new approaches to public spaces. Many of these new approaches rely on a civic participation and a sustainable stewardship model. 2 For example: Planning Department : Pavement to Parks DPW/Parks Alliance: Street Parks Program PUC/Friends of the Urban Forest: Sidewalk Garden Project
3 San Francisco s Pedestrian Plazas The transformation of underutilized public plazas will be instrumental in providing benefits in neighborhoods as our City grows. Plazas create more spaces where residents and visitors can relax and enjoy community supported activities such as art and music events, farmers markets, local food and retail opportunities, and much more. Plaza Criteria: Generally over 2000 sq. ft. City Owned right-of-way or property Outside of RPD jurisdiction Located in active areas of San Francisco, like commercial corridors, transit or bicycle hubs or other naturally active areas Existing community process/temporary intervention complete Need for activation and/or maintenance
4 The Challenge: Plaza Management Some plaza-like spaces emerge from City programs that clearly enhance City livability goals, but their longer-term management plans are not always clear They fall outside of traditional SF Recreation and Parks Department (RPD) jurisdiction and function, are not temporary The City lacks dedication coordination of these spaces, which emerge from: Origin Temporary experiments in public space use Example City effort: Pavement to Parks Plazas Planning Department Area Plans and other development programs Example City effort: Developer in-kind agreements Other City Initiatives Example City effort: Invest in Neighborhoods Initiative
5 Plaza Process Need for activation and/or long-term maintenance solution; no other apparent solution, fits plaza criteria Planning Department Area Plans and other development programs Other City initiatives
6 Coordinate City efforts The Plaza Program Streamline event permitting processes to encourage activation Provide a long-term home for existing plaza projects created through various City programs Involve community-based stewards Support local outreach efforts Potential stewards would submit proposals, Plaza Plans All plazas and potential plaza stewards need Board of Supervisor adoption/approval Network the efforts of the approved City-wide Plazas Stewards Use criteria to evaluate Steward performance outcomes Direct revenue back into plazas Revenue generated by a Steward could only support operations of that plaza Support plaza activation and/or maintenance in increasing sustainability over time
7 The Plaza Program Framework Plazas would be adopted into the Program by the Board of Supervisors and would fall within one of two jurisdictional categories, depending on the unique needs of each plaza: Ex: Plaza Mint 1. Street Plazas City-owned right-of-way, in DPW jurisdiction May have vehicle and/or other access needs A Plaza Encroachment Permit would define Steward obligations Standard term of 5 years Streamlined event permitting available Ex: Hallidie Plaza 2. City Plazas City-owned, non-street property, in RED jurisdiction A license with the Steward would outline obligations Standard term of 5 years Several proposed zoning changes could allow for a range of event activities as principally permitted Streamlined event permitting available
8 Activity Farmer s markets Music/Dance Arts/Technology events Community events Public talks and lectures Exercise classes Movie nights Non-profit events Retail events/vendors Game events/recreation Food Activation Examples Examples Bayview Hunters Point Farmers Market, Castro Farmers Market, Divisadero Farmers Market, Mint Plaza Farmers Market Lindy in the Park, People in the Plazas events, jazz events, DJs, Benefit for Typhoon Yolanda Photo class, craft making events, painting events, drawing classes, Crochet- Jam, chalk party, screen printing class, Build an Inflatable Workspace (Headland Center for the Arts artists-in-residence), Red Umbrella Open Air Art Exhibition, Living Innovation Zones Valencia McCoppin Neighborhood Watch meeting SF Beautiful brown-bag talks Yoga classes, exercise boot camps Kids movies, local-made movies and documentaries Rocket Dog Rescue pet event Holiday Maker Mart, flea market, Urban Air Market, mobile vending carts Ping-Pong, Scrabble-a-Thon, RPD Mobile Recreation Program La Cocina SF Street Food Festival, McCoppin Hub and Fort Mason Off the Grid food truck markets
9 Plaza and Steward Adoption Process City Plaza RED/Plaza Program Issues RFP to identify City Plaza Steward Prospective City Plaza Stewards Submit Proposals Community Outreach (on-going) City Plaza Steward Identified for recommendation to BoS; negotiate license agreement Board of Supervisors (BoS) Approval of City Plaza Steward Implementation: Steward Manages Programming and/or Maintenance Plaza Emerges from Existing City Program Street Plaza DPW/Plaza Program Announces Open Permit Period to Identify Street Plaza Steward (permitee) Prospective Street Plaza Stewards Submit Applications (3 months open window) Community Outreach (on-going) Street Plaza Steward (applicant) Identified for recommendation to BoS ; permit processing Board of Supervisors (BoS) Approval of Street Plaza Steward Implementation: Steward Manages Programming and/or Maintenance
10 Plaza Program Legislative Summary Main Element Admin Code Chapter 94: Establishes a Plaza Program that coordinates City activities in some Cityowned plazas on public property and public right-of-way Supporting Elements Planning Code Allows activation in City Plazas Public Works Code Establishes a permit program for program plazas on the public right-ofway Police Code Includes program plazas as a type of limited live performance locale
11 Overview - Outreach OEWD conducted outreach for input and feedback. Further local outreach would occur for each proposed plaza. OEWD met or shared information with during program development: People in the Plazas Parks Alliance WalkSF SPUR North of Market Tenderloin Community CBD SF Beautiful Trust for Public Land Castro CBD Senior Disability Action Bayview Opera House Union Square CBD Excelsior Action Group Denia Dance Off the Grid SF Safe Yerba Buena CBD MJM Market Street Association Activate McCoppin La Cocina Economic Development Partners Group Sunday Streets Alonzo Kings Lines Ballet Friends of Mint Plaza Center for New Music Recording Academy: SF Chapter SF Conservatory of Music Red Umbrella Urban Air Market Proxy Pacific Coast Farmer s Market Freespace Portola Neighborhood Association Mission Community Market SF Bike Coalition Urban Table Livable City Rebar CBD Consortium Group
12 City Coordination The Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD) spearheaded a intensive collaboration process of various City agencies. OEWD is partnering with the Real Estate Division (RED) and Department of Public Works (DPW) on this project OEWD also formed a Plaza Working Group which includes: The Entertainment Commission The Recreation and Parks Department (RPD) SFMTA Division of Sustainable Streets and Interdepartmental Staff Committee on Traffic and Transportation (ISCOTT) The Planning Department RED and DPW
13 Comments/Concerns Does this include RPD-owned land? How is this program not promoting privatization? Why wouldn t the City just maintain and activate these spaces itself? Would private events be permitted? What about formula retail in approved plazas? How will communities know about this process in their neighborhoods? Clarifications/Changes Clarifications and/or Legislative Changes No. The legislation already excludes RPD-owned land, but we propose to amend the legislation with additional language that makes that fact more clear. The City would not turn over control of approved plazas; plazas would remain City-owned, public spaces. Steward could provide programming coordination and day-to-day maintenance. The Plaza Program supports communities that would like to facilitate maintenance levels that are above the City s existing services. Additional programming that supports activation may also require additional day-to-day maintenance. Stewards could propose no more than eight of these event days per year, pending Board of Supervisors approval. We propose to amend the legislation to further clarify this definition and require that events be spread throughout the calendar year. We propose to amend the legislation with additional language that would require Conditional Use approval for formula retail in approved program plazas. We propose to amend the legislation with language that would require the City to do additional noticing. Potential plaza stewards are required to conduct and document additional local outreach for their proposals.
14 Conclusion: The Plaza Program Support local stewardship efforts Support long-term operation, maintenance and activation sustainability Support innovative approaches to transforming the public realm Enhance coordination and collaboration: Coordinate principles and practices in Plazas designated under the Plaza Program with other public agencies operating similar public realm initiatives and projects in the City. Leverage existing City, private, nonprofit and local stakeholder efforts Continue to strengthen San Francisco s vibrant communities: Support vibrant communities of activators: artists, musicians, innovators Improve the City s ability to support more safe, clean, and active Cityowned open space than are currently possible with existing City resources
15 Thank You For more information on the Plaza Program: http://oewd.org/neighborhoods-sf-plaza-program.aspx Union Square