Dr. Diana Taylor, Chair
Waterfront Action Committee
Waterfront Action Committee
Recently, Barbary Coast Neighborhood Association sent a letter (see below) to the Planning Commission regarding our concerns over the Commission’s support for the developer of the 55 Francisco project. Currently the Commission supports the developer’s request to go ahead with his development without a full environment impact review (EIR) in spite of the Commission’s own “Better Neighborhood” program.
IMPORTANT!
Planning Commission meeting rescheduled to July 13, 2006.
Four major issues concern Barbary Coast Neighborhood Association:- PARKING – TRAFFIC: Both of these challenges carry great importance considering that the Northern Waterfront is facing other projects that will also impact parking and traffic: Piers 27-31 plus, possibly, the Exploratorium moving into the area. This proposed project removes up to 100 public parking spaces and provides no underground parking.
- OPEN SPACE: We’re already one of the most densely populated areas of San Francisco, and this project will add 100-plus more residents in addition to 50 to 75 more automobiles. Because of its height, the project causes sunlight and airflow to be greatly diminished.
- DEMOLITION: Consider the negative effect of demolition upon the immediate neighborhood, most especially the 300 senior, low-income and disabled residents of Wharf Plaza I/II.
- LACK OF COMMUNICATION WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD: Although required by the City’s Better Neighborhood Program, the developer has not held meetings with the neighbors who must live near this proposed project.
For more information: STOP 55
Planning Commission
1660 Mission Street, Suite 500
San Francisco, CA 94103 Via Fax: 558-6409
I write on behalf of the newly created Barbary Coast Neighborhood—approximately 8,000 people who live and work in the neighborhoods adjacent to the proposed development at 55 Francisco Street.
We oppose the mitigated negative declaration (MND) for the proposed development at 55 Francisco Street and support the MND appeal by our neighbors who reside in the area surrounding the proposed project. We urge the Planning Commission to require the developer to undertake a full Environmental Impact Report.
We support the need for a full EIR for the following reasons:
1660 Mission Street, Suite 500
San Francisco, CA 94103 Via Fax: 558-6409
RE: Appeal of Mitigated Negative Declaration
for Project 2003.1183E: 55 Francisco St. (aka 1789 Montgomery St.)
for Project 2003.1183E: 55 Francisco St. (aka 1789 Montgomery St.)
I write on behalf of the newly created Barbary Coast Neighborhood—approximately 8,000 people who live and work in the neighborhoods adjacent to the proposed development at 55 Francisco Street.
We oppose the mitigated negative declaration (MND) for the proposed development at 55 Francisco Street and support the MND appeal by our neighbors who reside in the area surrounding the proposed project. We urge the Planning Commission to require the developer to undertake a full Environmental Impact Report.
We support the need for a full EIR for the following reasons:
- The MND fails to take the total effect on parking, traffic and density of surrounding projects into account, such as the Port developments that are in the initial planning phase in the northern waterfront (e.g., the Exploratorium, Piers 27-311/2).
- The MND does not consider the impact on open space. Our neighborhood is one of the densest areas of the city and has the least amount of open space. An EIR would assess the burden on the limited, existing open space.
- The MND does not consider the impact of the demolition and construction period on local residents and businesses.
- Most importantly, the MND does not address the lack of a community planning process for this project in spite of attempts by the neighborhood to engage the developer. Clearly, this project will directly and indirectly cause serious adverse effects on the senior, low-income and disabled residents of Wharf Plaza I/II. Mitigation measures have not been discussed adequately with the community and neighborhood residents most impacted by this project.
The Planning Department’s own “Better Neighborhood” Program proposes to “refine citywide goals to the needs of neighborhoods” through an intensive community-based planning process and to create plans that “improves the neighborhood where possible while supporting what’s already working well.” We commend the Planning Department for these efforts to improve our neighborhoods. However, a MND for the 55 Francisco development is counter to the Planning Department’s own principles.
The Barbary Coast Neighborhood Association is not opposed to development on this site. However, we are opposed to developments that do not consider the full impact on the surrounding neighborhood.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Fred Allardyce, President
Barbary Coast Neighborhood Association
cc: Aaron Peskin, Supervisor, District 3