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SEC. 291.  MISSION ROCK HEIGHT AND BULK DISTRICT.
   (a)   Purpose. The purpose of the Mission Rock Height and Bulk District is to enable development of Mission Rock as a mixed use, transit-oriented neighborhood, with significant open space, public access and affordable housing. The property within the District is divided into a number of separate blocks and varying height limits shall apply within such blocks as provided below. Design controls shall be adopted for the District to guide the design of improvements within the established height limits.
      In approving the “Mission Rock Affordable Housing, Park, Jobs and Historic Preservation Initiative” (“Proposition D”) on November 3, 2015, the voters of the City and County of San Francisco established certain limits and parameters for the height and bulk of buildings at Mission Rock. These parameters are laid out in subsections (a)(1) through (5) below. The detailed height and bulk controls contained in subsections (b) through (g), adopted subsequent to approval of Proposition D, as described in the Mission Rock Special Use District in Section 249.80, are consistent with and implement these voter-established limitations and requirements. Mission Rock Design Controls (Design Controls), adopted by the Planning Commission and the Port Commission subsequent to approval of Proposition D, are incorporated by reference in Section 249.80.
      The boundaries of the blocks and the height limits applicable within such blocks as shown in the graphic in subsection (b) below may only be modified in a manner consistent with all of the requirements set forth in the following subsections (a)(1) through (5), which requirements may not be amended without voter approval:
      (1)   Open Space. Approximately 8 acres of open space shall be provided within the District, and in these open space areas any buildings shall be limited in height to a single story, consistent with the height and bulk designation of OS (Open Space) in effect prior to the adoption of this Section 291 and the provisions of Planning Code Section 916.
      (2)   Pier 48. Pier 48, totaling approximately 5 acres (exclusive of the apron which shall remain as open space), shall be subject to a height limit of 40 feet and bulk designation of 40-X. No height limit in excess of 40 feet shall be established in the District within 100 feet landward of the shoreline of San Francisco Bay, measured from the mean high tide line as of the adoption of this Section 291.
      (3)   Lots Fronting Terry A. Francois Boulevard. Building frontages along the west side of the reconfigured Terry A. Francois Boulevard shall be no more than 40 feet in height, with height in excess of 40 feet stepping back from the street in accordance with the Design Controls. The maximum height of buildings on blocks fronting on the west side of reconfigured Terry A. Francois Boulevard shall be 120 feet, provided that floor area above 90 feet shall be used exclusively for residential uses and uses accessory thereto and/or restaurant uses.
      (4)   Elsewhere in the District. Three buildings within the District shall be permitted to exceed a height of 190 feet; provided that (i) occupied floor area above 190 feet shall be used exclusively for residential uses and uses accessory thereto and/or restaurant uses, (ii) the maximum height of such buildings shall be 240 feet, and (iii) the Design Controls are in effect to ensure slender towers, including a requirement that typical floors above a height of 190 feet do not exceed 12,000 square feet of gross floor area, with minor variation permitted for articulation. Consequently, the typical floors above 190 feet in the three buildings combined shall comprise no more than about 3% of the approximately 28 acre area of the Mission Rock Height and Bulk District. The height limit on all other blocks within the Mission Rock Height and Bulk District shall not exceed 190 feet or such lower height limit as may be required in accordance with the provisions of paragraphs (1) through (3) above.
      (5)   Maximum Area Subject to Increased Height Limit. As compared to the height limits in effect prior to the adoption of this Section 291, the height limit shall be increased on a maximum of 10 acres of the approximately 28 acre Mission Rock Height and Bulk District. The 18 acres on which the height limit is not increased shall include: (i) areas to be devoted to open space (approximately 8 acres), (ii) the circulation network for pedestrians, bicycles and vehicles (approximately 5 acres), and (iii) Pier 48 (approximately 5 acres).
   (b)   Height Limits. The height limits applicable to the blocks within the Mission Rock Height and Bulk District are as shown on the graphic below.
Figure 291-MR1, Maximum Height and Bulk Plan
 
   (c)   Height and Bulk Measurement. Maximum building heights shall be measured from the highest point of the finished grade (as referenced in the Design Controls) along the property line, up to the highest point of the uppermost structural slab in the case of a flat roof, and up to the average height of the rise in the case of a pitched or stepped roof, or similarly sculptured roof form. Maximum Base Building heights shall be measured from the highest point of the finished grade (as referenced in the Design Controls of the finished grade (as referenced in the Design Controls)1 along the property line up to the highest point on the uppermost structural slab of the Base Building in the case of a flat roof, and the average height of the rise in the case of a pitched or stepped roof, or similarly sculptured roof form of the Base Building.
   (d)   Building Envelopes. Building envelopes shall consist of the Base Building and the Upper Building, as illustrated in Figure 291-MR2, Components of the Building Envelope. Upper building massing must be located within the hatched zones and stepbacks are required above Base Buildings, both as indicated on Figure 291-MR1, Maximum Height and Bulk Plan.
Figure 291-MR2. Components of the Building Envelope
   (e)   Upper Building Tops. The tops of Upper Buildings may extend up to 20 feet vertically above the maximum permitted building height, except on Block F, where the building may extend up to 40 feet vertically above the maximum permitted building height. In both cases, the extension is allowed only for non-occupied architectural features.
   (f)   Rooftop Elements. The following rooftop elements may extend beyond the maximum permitted building height as specified below, provided that in no event shall the maximum height in subsection (e) be exceeded: mechanical enclosures, and sustainable infrastructure such as photovoltaic panels, windmills, fog catchers and Greenhouses (up to 20 feet in height). On the Base Building, rooftop elements must step back at a minimum ratio of 1.2 feet horizontally from the streetwall for every foot that they exceed the maximum permitted height limit. Common use structures are permitted on the Base Building up to 20 feet in height, provided that they are limited to 25% of the roof area for each Base Building. On the Upper Building, rooftop elements must be screened or enclosed within the building top. Railings, planters and visually permeable building elements no greater than 42 inches above the roof are exempt from step-back requirements.
   (g)   Upper Building Floorplate Reduction and Bulk Controls. For buildings taller than 160 feet, bulk floorplate reduction and controls shall be required in accordance with Figure 291-MR3 and Table 291-MR1 as follows:
Figure 291-MR3. Floorplate Reduction
 
Table 291-MR1 – Upper Building Bulk Controls
Block
Primary Land Use
Upper Building Max Plan Dimension
Upper Building Max Diagonal Dimension
Height of Building Top
Upper Building Max Average Floorplate
% Reduction of Max Average Floorplate
Height of Stepback
Table 291-MR1 – Upper Building Bulk Controls
Block
Primary Land Use
Upper Building Max Plan Dimension
Upper Building Max Diagonal Dimension
Height of Building Top
Upper Building Max Average Floorplate
% Reduction of Max Average Floorplate
Height of Stepback
Block A
Residential
140 feet
160 feet
20 feet
11,001 - 12,000
25%
Uppermost 5 floors
11,000 square feet or less
None Required
Not Applicable
Block B
Commercial
NA
NA
20 feet
25,000 square feet
None Required
Not Applicable
Block C
Commercial
NA
NA
20 feet
20,000 square feet
10%
Uppermost 2 floors
Block D
Residential
140 feet
160 feet
20 feet
12,000 square feet
None Required
Not Applicable
Block E
Commercial
NA
NA
20 feet
NA
None Required
Not Applicable
Block F
Residential
140 feet
160 feet
40 feet
11,001 - 12,000 square feet
25%
Uppermost 5 floors
11,000 square feet or less
None Required
Not Applicable
Block G
Commercial
NA
NA
20 feet
20,000 square feet
10%
Uppermost 2 floors
Block H (flex)
If Residential
115 feet
150 feet
20 feet
10,000 square feet
None Required
Not Applicable
If Commercial
NA
NA
20 feet
20,000 square feet
None Required
Not Applicable
Block I (flex)
If Residential
115 feet
150 feet
20 feet
10,000 square feet
None Required
Not Applicable
If Commercial
NA
NA
20 feet
20,000 square feet
None Required
Not Applicable
Block J (flex)
If Residential
115 feet
150 feet
20 feet
10,000 square feet
None Required
Not Applicable
If Commercial
NA
NA
20 feet
20,000 square feet
None Required
Not Applicable
Block K
Residential
115 feet
150 feet
20 feet
10,000 square feet
None Required
Not Applicable
 
(Added by Prop. D, App. 11/3/2015; amended by Ord. 31-18, File No. 170940, App. 3/6/2018, Eff. 4/6/2018)
AMENDMENT HISTORY
Division (a) amended and second paragraph added; first paragraph of former division (b) and graphic deleted; second paragraph of former division (b) moved to division (a) and amended; former divisions (b)(1)-(5) redesignated as (a)(1)-(5) and divisions (a)(2)-(4) amended; divisions (b)-(g) added; Figures 291-MR1, 291-MR2, and 291-MR3 added; Table 291-MR1 added; Ord. 31-18, Eff. 4/6/2018.
CODIFICATION NOTE
1.   So in Ord. 31-18.