(a) Intent. This Section 304.6 establishes a comprehensive and consolidated public review process through which the Planning Commission shall review proposals involving Post-Secondary Educational Institutions that meet prescribed criteria and would otherwise be subject to multiple approval processes and hearings.
(b) Applicability. This Section 304.6 applies to all properties owned, occupied, or operated, in any capacity, by a Large Noncontiguous Post-Secondary Educational Institution. For purposes of this Section, a Large Noncontiguous Post-Secondary Educational Institution is an organization or entity that, regardless of certification by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges or primary course of study, meets all other requirements for a Post-Secondary Educational Institution, and satisfies all of the following conditions:
(1) is subject to the Institutional Master Plan requirements of Section 304.5 of this Code;
(2) is a for-profit institution; and
(3) owns, occupies, or operates, in any capacity, 10 or more properties that are located in three or more non-overlapping Clusters anywhere in the City. For purposes of this subsection (b)(3), a Cluster is a circular area with a ¼-mile diameter that encompasses one or more properties. Clusters shall be drawn so that the fewest number of Clusters are required to encompass all such properties, without any one Cluster overlapping with any other.
(c) Master Conditional Use Authorization. Any number of individual Conditional Use Authorizations or building permits sought by a Large Noncontiguous Post-Secondary Educational Institution under this Section 304.6 may be sought under a single application for Conditional Use Authorization, also referred to as a “Master Conditional Use Authorization,” and may be acted on in a single action of the Planning Commission, regardless of the number of distinct properties involved. Determination on such Master Conditional Use Authorization shall be made pursuant to the criteria in Section 303(c) of this Code. In considering such Master Conditional Use Authorization, the Commission may consider such exceptions to the Planning Code as may be necessary to implement the Master Conditional Use Authorization.
(d) Master Certificate of Appropriateness. Any number of individual Certificates of Appropriateness may be sought by a Large Noncontiguous Post-Secondary Educational Institution under a single application for a Certificate of Appropriateness, also referred to as a “Master Certificate of Appropriateness,” and acted on by single action of the Historic Preservation Commission, regardless of the number of distinct properties involved. Determination on such Master Certificate of Appropriateness shall be made as set forth in Section 1006.6 of this Code and in other provisions of the Municipal Code, as applicable. Additionally, no application made under this Section 304.6 shall be considered a Minor Alteration under Section 1006.2 of this Code.
(e) Master Permit to Alter. Any number of individual Permits to Alter may be sought by a Large Noncontiguous Post-Secondary Educational Institution under a single application for a Permit to Alter, also referred to as a “Master Permit to Alter,” and acted on by single action of the Historic Preservation Commission, regardless of the number of distinct properties involved. Determination on such Master Permit to Alter shall be made as set forth in Section 1111 of this Code and in other provisions of the Municipal Code, as applicable. Additionally, no application made under this Section 304.6 shall be considered a Minor Alteration under Section 1111.1 of this Code.
(f) No Discretionary Review. No requests for Discretionary Review shall be accepted by the Planning Department or heard by the Planning Commission for any permits or other applications subject to this Section 304.6(c).
(g) Sunset. This Section 304.6 shall remain in effect until the later of: (1) the date on which all work has been completed as required pursuant to the Schedule of Performance (Exhibit E) of the Development Agreement by and among the City and County of San Francisco and the Stephens Institute, dba Academy of Art University and the LLC Parties, and (2) January 1, 2025.
(Added by Ord. 5-20, File No. 191125, App. 1/17/2020, Eff. 2/17/2020)