FISHERMAN’S WHARF PUBLIC REALM PLAN DRAFT DOCUMENT-SUBJECT TO CHANGE | MAY 2010 AKNOWLEGEMENTS Fisherman’s Wharf Community Benefi t District Planning Commission David Berbey, Acting President Ron Miguel, President Rodney Fong, Chair of Urban Design Committee Christina Olague, Vice President Nunzio Alioto, Executive Committee Member, Board Secretary Michael J. Antonini Kevin Carroll, Executive Director Gwyneth Borden William L. Lee Kathrin Moore Planning Department Hisashi Sugaya John Rahaim, Planning Director David Alumbaugh, Chief of Comprehensive Planning Neil Hrushowy, Project Manager and Lead Planner Port Commission Nicholas Perry, Urban Designer Rodney Fong, President Gary Chen, Graphic Designer Stephanie Shakofsky, Vice President Tim Frye, Historic Preservation Kimberly Brandon Michael Hardeman Ann Lazarus Port of San Francisco Monique A Moyer, Executive Director Diane Oshima, Assistant Deputy Director, Waterfront Planning Dan Hodapp, Lead Urban Designer for Port Kanya Dorland, Port Urban Designer DRAFT DOCUMENT-SUBJECT TO CHANGE | MAY 2010 Contents Chapter 1: Introduction 1 Chapter 3: Jefferson Street 25 Fisherman’s Wharf Community Vision 2 3.1 Proposed Jefferson Street Design 27 The Process 2 3.2 Policy Recommendations 30 Document Overview 2 3.3 Next Steps for the Design 30 Chapter 2: Existing Conditions 5 Chapter 4: Street Design Guidelines 35 2.1 Natural Systems 5 4.1 Vision 35 2.2 Historic Landscape 6 4.2 Beach Street (Between Hyde Street and The Embarcadero) 36 2.3 Identity 8 4.3 Beach Street (Between Polk Street and Hyde Street) 37 2.4 Connection to the Water 9 4.4 North Point Street (Between Columbus Ave and Powell Street) 38 2.5 Streets and the Public Realm 10 4.5 North Point Street (Between Polk St. & Columbus Ave...) 39 Pedestrian Character 11 4.6 Bay Street (Between Columbus Ave and Powell Street) 40 2.6 Space for People in the Wharf 15 4.7 Powell, Mason, Taylor, Jones and Leavenworth Streets 41 2.7 Commercial Signage 20 4.8 Hyde Street (Between Beach Street and Bay Street) 42 2.8 Transportation Choices 20 4.9 Hyde Street (Between Jefferson Street and Beach Street) 43 2.9 Built Form and Character 20 4.10 Larkin Street (Between Beach Street and Bay Street) 44 Summary of Challenges 22 4.11 Polk Street (Between Beach Street and Bay Street) 45 Beach Street Design 1 (Neighborhood Commercial) 46 Chapter 6: Urban Design Guidelines 71 Beach Street Design 2 (Park Edge) 48 1. Site Design and Orientation 72 North Point Street Design 1 (Neighborhood Residential) 50 2. Building Massing and Articulation 73 North Point Street Design 2 (Neighborhood Commercial) 52 3. Ground Floor Design 75 Bay Street (Residential and Commercial Throughway) 54 4 Façade Treatment 78 Columbus Avenue and North Point Street 58 5. Parking and Access 79 Taylor Street (Neighborhood Commercial) 60 6. Open Space in New Development 81 Chapter 5: Parking & Circulation 65 Chapter 7: Public Open Space 83 5.1 Underlying City Policies 66 7.1 Pier 39 83 5.2 Parking Management Policies 66 7.2 Jefferson Street Area 85 5.3 Circulation Policies 68 7.3 Other Priorities 87 5.4 Historic Streetcar Extension 69 Chapter 8: Next Steps 91 vi FISHERMAN’S WHARF PUBLIC REALM PLAN Chapter 1 CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION 1 Introduction Th e Planning Department initiated the Fisherman’s for public and private development. Th ere were to Wharf Public Realm Plan at the request of Supervisor be minor zoning adjustments, but not a wholesale Aaron Peskin. Th e Fisherman’s Wharf Community rezoning. It was anticipated that the plan would take Benefi t District (CBD). had recently completed a a 12 to 18 months to complete. comprehensive community vision plan and wished To augment its work on the plan, the Planning to build upon the momentum by formalizing their Department, with the assistance of a grant from vision in an offi cial City plan. Goals and long-term the San Francisco Bay Trail Program, hired Gehl outcomes were defi ned in the community vision plan, Architects to conduct a study of pedestrian activity but specifi c interventions were not. Because of this in the Fisherman’s Wharf area and to prepare recom- demonstrated community consensus for improving mendations for a series of interventions that would the Fisherman’s Wharf area, Supervisor Peskin and the improve the quality of the pedestrian and bicycle Department agreed that it was timely to prepare this environment in Fisherman’s Wharf. Fisherman’s public realm plan for Fisherman’s Wharf. Wharf remains San Francisco’s most popular destina- Work on the plan began in December 2007. Th e plan tion, but insuffi cient investment over a number of was to contain fi ve elements, including: 1) Redesign years has left the area in great need of upgrades and for Jeff erson Street; 2) Streetscape Plan for the improvement. remaining streets; 3) Parking and Circulation Plan; 4) Open Space Plan; and 5) Urban Design Guidelines 2 FISHERMAN’S WHARF PUBLIC REALM PLAN FISHERMAN’S WHARF COMMUNITY A redesigned Jeff erson Street plays the central role in discussions at the CBD’s offi ce and elsewhere. For VISION the reinvigorated Fisherman’s Wharf. Th e community awhile, even, the Department moved into an offi ce vision prioritized better management of automobile off ered to the Department in the Cannery complex. Th is plan benefi ted from a strong community traffi c, including occasional street closures, fewer cars, It was only through such eff orts, in addition to the commitment to the planning process and involvement widened sidewalks, and a safe two-way bicycle route strong partnership with the CBD and a number of key in developing the plan itself. As part of its community through the area along the Bay. To reconnect the stakeholders, that the Department was able to achieve visioning process, the CBD had convened a two-day Wharf to the water, the community plan envisions a substantial level of support for the plan it developed charrette with merchants, property owners, residents, streets and open spaces that orient towards the Bay with the community. City agencies and other stakeholders to articulate a and provide new opportunities for visitors to stop and vision for the Wharf area in general, and Jeff erson enjoy the views of the water. DOCUMENT OVERVIEW Street in particular. Planning has built upon this vision and its associated goals as it forumulated the THE PROCESS Chapter 1 is this introduction. Chapter 2 provides a Public Realm Plan and its recommendations. summary of existing conditions. Chapter 3 discusses Fisherman’s Wharf is a community of longstand- the neighborhood vision for the public realm, includ- Th e community’s vision for Fisherman’s Wharf states ing traditions and family-owned businesses with ing a design framework to assist in future decisions the desire to provide a world-class experience to rich histories in the wharf. Th e numerous plans regarding street improvements and new development. visitors and locals alike by reinvigorating connections attempted, but never adopted, in Fisherman’s Wharf Chapter 4 lays out the preferred design for Jeff erson to, and providing authentic interactions with the Bay are a testament to the diffi culty of reaching broad Street and presents the policies and guidelines that and the working waterfront. Th e community vision support for improving the Wharf. In undertaking the will help the community achieve its desired goal for expresses a strong desire to make Fisherman’s Wharf Fisherman’s Wharf Public Realm Plan, the Planning a renewed street environment. Chapter 5 provides a favorite destination of San Franciscans. Th is would Department believed that for any plan to be successful the street design guidelines for the remainder of the entail an improved pedestrian environment, new and it would have to establish and then maintain a strong streets in the plan area, using guidelines established revitalized open spaces, better connections to the sur- and long-term presence in the community, and would in the City’s Better Streets Plan. Complimenting rounding neighborhoods, and a richer interpretation have to work closely with individuals, key stakeholder the streetscape design guidelines, Chapter 6 presents of the Wharf’s historic context. groups and the community at large. It also believed the urban design guidelines for public and private that the outreach process would need to be more development. Chapter 7 presents the parking and intensive and personal than traditional outreach circulation plan that will underpin many of the public eff orts; the resulting process was one marked both space improvements. Chapter 8 discusses plans for by large community events and by numerous small specifi c improvements, as well as policies for area’s meetings that took place in individual businesses, in open space network in general. Finally, Chapter 9 walks through the neighborhood, and a great many discusses implementation strategies, funding and fi rst steps. CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION 3 4 FISHERMAN’S WHARF PUBLIC REALM PLAN Chapter 2 CHAPTER 2. EXISTING CONDITIONS 5 Existing Conditions INTRODUCTION 2.1 NATURAL SYSTEMS Improving the condition of the streets, buildings Fisherman’s Wharf occupies one of the most dramatic and open spaces in Fisherman’s Wharf is the most landscapes in the city. At the terminus of the valley important motivating factor for completing the between Telegraph and Russian hills, Fisherman’s Fisherman’s Wharf Public Realm Plan. For a variety of Wharf enjoys views both back to the city and its reasons, from the spontaneous development of much northern hills, and also out to San Francisco Bay, of the area in the 1950s, to its historic and continued Alcatraz and the North and East bays. Built almost use as an industrial and commercial area on the entirely on fi ll, – the original shoreline extended waterfront, to the extended period of little improve- inland nearly to Chestnut Street– today’s Wharf bears ment, Fisherman’s Wharf generally looks in ill-repair little resemblance to its earlier state.