Remarks by Elizabeth Macdonald
35 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 1 of 2
- Play at 55:30
“Yes, I just have a question for clarification of Monica. So if this office allocation is approved, what does that mean for the long term? Will these ground floor spaces remain office in perpetuity?”
Planning Commission · Sep 17, 2026
- Play at 56:08
“So is it right to then assume that that means that probably they will remain office in perpetuity?”
Planning Commission · Sep 17, 2026
- Play at 1:11:28
“Hi. Yeah, so I second what President Campbell said about thank you for the thorough report. It's really helpful in terms of understanding the context very much so. And I just had a couple of additional questions really I guess for the sponsor. So is there actually a commitment to the size and location of that community space?”
Planning Commission · Sep 17, 2026
- Play at 1:11:59
“I was just curious whether that community space will occur on the plaza or whether it's one of the streets.”
Planning Commission · Sep 17, 2026
- Play at 1:12:18
“I'm just curious as to whether it is something that will help to activate the plaza and signify that as a public space for people.”
Planning Commission · Sep 17, 2026
- Play at 1:13:19
“Great. Thank you for that clarification. Oh, and for the reasons that my fellow commissioners have said and the current context, I am also supportive of this motion that's been put forward with the amendment.”
Planning Commission · Sep 17, 2026
- Play at 1:59:10
“OK. And I'm in agreement with what my fellow commissioners have said. And this is the type of a lot and site that on the steep slope really needs a lot of attention to it. I happen to live on a steep slope myself. I understand some of these issues. So I want to speak to an additional thing that hasn't been spoken to in depth, which has to do with the tree. I have had the experience, frankly, of having”
Planning Commission · Sep 17, 2026
- Play at 1:59:46
“Sorry about that. So I would like to speak specifically to the tree, that very, very large eucalyptus tree specifically, just from my own experience of having had a 120-foot tree fall on my house in 2023. I understand the concerns. And one of the concerns I have is that if this project goes forward, is how that tree is removed and when it is removed. Because, for instance, if the demolition of the house happens first and then the demolition of the tree happens, well, there could be destabilization of the roots of that tree. And there could also be different winds that would happen against…”
Planning Commission · Sep 17, 2026
- Play at 2:31:42
“OK. So thank you for some of the clarifications, Director Dennis-Phillips. And I just have a question. Beyond the idea that's been brought to the table about having the community liaison, are there any other things, language that can be put into a conditional proof like this that speak to the robust nature of the process to come, which will be looking at all of these issues that have been raised. But is there any just language within this that helps give some of that assurance as this document goes forward. I don't know if that's completely not within the bounds of what's possible for a…”
Planning Commission · Sep 17, 2026
- Play at 13:56
“Commissioner McDonald. So thank you, Tate, and others for working on this. And it seems to me like this is a really straightforward proposal to align disparate elements of the codes that people have to deal with. And it seems to me that The proposed modification that staff is making makes a lot of sense because it aligns it better than the original proposal did. So I don't have any questions for you, but just to thank you for your thoughtful analysis of it and providing us with this modification. Thank you.”
Planning Commission · Sep 10, 2026
- Play at 40:32
“Hi. Thank you for this presentation. I appreciate the efforts that have gone into this project and the work between the developer and the designer and the staff to craft a project that I think is really well considered. And I appreciate the presentation that you gave today because it added a bit more to my understanding of the project. So I did have a few questions for the architect. So the block of Ecker Street that this project is going to design and manage, that's such a key link all the way from Market Street to the Salesforce Park. And obviously, it's a link that has been pretty rough…”
Planning Commission · Sep 10, 2026
- Play at 44:48
“OK, thank you. I appreciate that answer. I do have another question, but I think it's very appropriate to be using the landscaping in this case to help introduce that human scale. So I'm glad that that's what you were talking about. And my other question, if I may, has to do with Jessie Street and the pedestrian realm along Jessie Street. So that long row of the roll-up doors at the loading docks is unfortunate for the public realm. It's the only way I can think to say it. So I understand that the mid-block location of the site and the narrowness of Jesse Street creates some really big…”
Planning Commission · Sep 10, 2026
- Play at 47:46
“Yes, I appreciate those constraints, and thank you, and I hope that whatever efforts can be made as you continue to do the design development to make it even more pedestrian-friendly would be, I think, very welcome for the”
Planning Commission · Sep 10, 2026
- Play at 1:18:42
“Yes, I just wanted to discuss one more thing. It's really for the record. So I want to make sure that my understanding about Ecker Street is correct, that this is not a street vacation. And even though it's called a popos, in fact, so that's privately owned public open space. That's what that stands for. In fact, it's really a... PMPOS, which is a privately managed public open space that the developer will manage for the life of the project. So I wanted to verify that my understanding is correct, and then also to ask the question, will Ecker remain open 24 hours, even though it's considered…”
Planning Commission · Sep 10, 2026
- Play at 1:28:57
“Hi. Thank you, President Campbell. Okay. There's been a lot that's been going on here. I have some specific things I want to add and some questions. So, first of all, I want to say that I really appreciate the efforts that the staff and department have made with Board President Mendelman to address this issue in, I think, a very thoughtful way and to come up with what I think are some pretty straightforward approaches to streamlining things and I have read your arguments and rationales for things that are in the packet here and it seems pretty straightforward and that a lot of things are…”
Planning Commission · Sep 3, 2026
- Play at 1:32:24
“So you were just trying to telegraph or clarify for these organizations that, yeah, you're included in this, too. So to my thinking, sure, I understand streamlining language when possible, but it doesn't make a lot of difference maybe one way or the other if it's just meant to telegraph to them. And then my other question about additive time that might come with what's been discussed here.”
Planning Commission · Sep 3, 2026
- Play at 1:34:25
“And then on this, oh, did you? So it's basically a part of your process already?”
Planning Commission · Sep 3, 2026
- Play at 1:39:04
“Right. I'm sorry, but I don't know exactly how the process works. So is it possible now for me to second the original motion? You could second the original motion. I would like to second the original motion.”
Planning Commission · Sep 3, 2026
- Play at 1:56:36
“I'm sorry, I just need to know something procedural. Is all I can do right now vote?”
Planning Commission · Sep 3, 2026
- Play at 1:56:41
“Is all I can do right now vote one way or the other, or can I ask a question?”
Planning Commission · Sep 3, 2026
- Play at 1:56:49
“I have a clarifying question because the language that's been put into it regarding how much information needs to be provided by staff for you know, the development capacity of the site, I'm unclear whether that is a small amount of information that's being asked for or if it gets into the whole big issue of all of the different possibilities. Yeah.”
Planning Commission · Sep 3, 2026
- Play at 2:05:33
“So I guess it all hinges on what the definition of baseline information is, if that's what's going into what it is that we are proposing here. I mean, it's still very”
Planning Commission · Sep 3, 2026
- Play at 2:06:05
“All right. Well. Sorry, this is a tricky situation because I feel like... Go with your gut. What's that?”
Planning Commission · Sep 3, 2026
- Play at 2:16:31
“Okay. So the part of the motion that has been before us about making sure that the property owner is in agreement with any designation, I've just been trying to read through the text of the planning code as it is related to all of this. And what I see in here, and excuse me if I've missed something, but there is a notice of hearing, right, where Amongst other things, notice shall also be mailed not less than 10 days prior to the date of hearing to the owners of all property included in the proposed designation. Using for this purpose the names and addresses of the last known owners as shown…”
Planning Commission · Sep 3, 2026
- Play at 2:20:06
“Sorry, my thing is still up there. Well, I guess if there, regarding the property owner, if there is language about endeavoring or, you know, to the best of the abilities, I mean, to obtain the consent of a property owner as opposed to absolutely have to, I might feel more comfortable with that. I mean, I think we want to keep it within the realm of, what is possible to do, especially if it's going to be something that's actually in the planning code. So on that one, I feel that way, the part about opening up GOING DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE.”
Planning Commission · Sep 3, 2026