City and County of San Francisco Scoping Meeting Environmental Impact Report (EIR) PURPOSE To solicit participation in determining the scope of the EIR from the public and agencies. August 25, pm Bessie Carmichael Elementary School Western SoMa Community Plan Environmental Impact Report

City and County of San Francisco EIR Scoping Meeting Agenda I. Introduction  Purpose of this meeting  Meeting format II.Brief Overview of Proposed Project III. Summary of California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Process IV.Public Comment  Environmental issues raised by speakers who fill out a speaker card  Three minutes per speaker V. Final Reminders

City and County of San Francisco Western SoMa Community Plan

City and County of San Francisco Western SoMa Community Plan The Planning Area includes just over 200 acres and is generally bound by 4 th Street to 13 th Street from Mission Street to Townsend Street.

City and County of San Francisco  Community representatives appointed by the Board of Supervisors comprise the Western SoMa Citizens Planning Task Force  Monthly meetings have been held since 2005  Guidance by Planning Department staff on key policy issues related to Community Plan Elements  Review and Public Comment on Draft Community Plan since 2008  For Draft Community Plan information go to: Western SoMa Community Plan

City and County of San Francisco Proposed Western SoMa Community Plan Highlights The Western SoMa Community Plan proposes a progression of land uses northwards from high-tech office corridor on Townsend Street with an 85 foot height limits, blending into a 55 foot height Service, Arts, Light Industrial district allowing a wide range of production, distribution and repair, retail and arts uses and no residential uses up to the south side of Harrison Street and the freeway. South of Harrison there are also three newly designated Residential Enclave districts allowing 40 to 45 foot building heights. North of Harrison Street, an intensified residential neighborhood character features a “mix of uses” and new mixed-used developments in 40 to 65 foot height districts is the identified development goal surrounding the 65 foot height limits on 7 th Streets and Folsom Street - where enhanced transit services are proposed by the Community Plan to support a ceremonial boulevard and neighborhood shopping district.

City and County of San Francisco  Monthly meetings of the Western SoMa Task Force will be held through June 2010— additional meetings may be held if needed  The Western SoMa Community Plan process began at the end of 2004, and is scheduled to conclude in Western SoMa Community Plan

City and County of San Francisco Other Project Components  The EIR also will analyze a proposed mixed-use residential, commercial, and light industrial/artist development proposed at 350 8th Street, between Folsom and Harrison Streets. The proposal is for a 634,000-square-foot mixed-use development with approximately 131,000 square feet of below-grade garage parking for about 409 cars. The site would be redeveloped with about 420 dwelling units, 50,000 square feet of commercial/retail space, 9,840 square feet of light industrial/artist space, 3,500 square feet of community space, and 43,200 square feet of open space, and  The rezoning of 47 parcels proximate to the Draft Plan boundary along South side of Mission Street between 7 th and 11 th Streets in order to reconcile their use districts with those of the neighboring properties.

City and County of San Francisco CEQA process for an EIR EIR Process  Notice Preparation (NOP)  Scoping Meeting  Draft EIR (45-day public review period, Planning Commission hearing, Historic Preservation Commission hearing)  Comment and Response Document (14-day review)  Final EIR (Planning Commission hearing)  Notice of Determination (NOD)

City and County of San Francisco Western SoMa Community Plan EIR Cost Analysis NOP Public Scoping Analysis Publish Draft EIR Comment and Response Publish Final EIR Certify EIR APRIL 2009 MAY 2009 JUNE 2009 AUG JAN 2010 FEB 2010 MARCH 2010 APRIL 2010 MAY 2010 JUNE 2010 JULY 2010 SEPT 2010

City and County of San Francisco What CEQA does  Provides public disclosure of the environmental effects of a proposed project, plan and infrastructure improvements  Allows for public and agency input in the environmental review process

City and County of San Francisco What CEQA does not do  Does not recommend whether the project should be approved or denied  Does not require project or Plan denial because of significant effects to the environment—permits overrides of significant effects  Does not address economic or social concerns that do not involve a physical impact on the environment. (If economic or social concerns lead to physical change, they can be addressed)

City and County of San Francisco What is an EIR  An EIR is an informational document used to inform decision makers and the public regarding: –The significant environmental effects of a project –Methods of mitigating the significant effects, and –Alternatives to the project to avoid significant effects

City and County of San Francisco Scoping Meeting  A Scoping Meeting is a forum to raise potential environmental issues that should be examined in the EIR  CEQA requires a lead agency to hold at least one scoping meeting for significant projects  The Western SoMa Community Plan public scoping process includes opportunities for participation from members of the public and public agencies

City and County of San Francisco Western SoMa Community Plan EIR The EIR is:  Prepared to analyze the proposed Community Plan in a greater neighborhood context, and  A program document which examines impacts at a general level of detail, and  Analyzing a number of City-sponsored transportation projects while others will be required to prepare subsequent detailed analysis, and  Evaluating a proposed private development project for significant impacts.

City and County of San Francisco Environmental Analysis  Analyze build out of proposed Community Plan land uses against baseline (current physical) conditions and in the context of cumulative changes anticipated in the surrounding area  Analysis will take into account changes the Community Plan proposes in light of existing South of Market policies and Zoning

City and County of San Francisco Mitigation Measures  Some impacts may not be fully mitigated through Community Plan policies  Mitigation measures determined to be necessary will be programmatic and written as policies or implementation measures that can be incorporated into a Community Plan update

City and County of San Francisco Alternatives Alternatives may include policies, implementation measures, or land uses that are different from the draft Community Plan –“No Project” alternative will address: continuation of the existing General Plan –Alternatives similar to other Eastern Neighborhoods will be considered –Alternatives must be reasonable and designed to avoid or substantially reduce significant impacts

City and County of San Francisco Draft EIR  Circulated for a 45-day public review period to allow the public and interested agencies to provide written comments  City will hold public meetings prior to City Planning and Historic Preservation Commission hearings to receive comments on the Draft EIR

City and County of San Francisco Comments and Responses  Lists persons, groups and public agencies that commented on the Draft EIR  Documents comments received from agencies and public during Draft EIR and EIR comment periods  Responses to comments regarding the environmental analysis in the Draft EIR  Suggests revisions to the Draft EIR (Errata)

City and County of San Francisco Environmental Issues addressed in the EIR  Aesthetics  Agricultural Resources  Air Quality  Biological Resources  Cultural and Paleontological Resources  Geology and Soils  Hazards/Hazardous Materials  Hydrology and Water Quality  Land Use  Mineral/Energy Resources  Noise  Population and Housing  Public Services  Recreation  Utilities and Service Systems  Transportation and Circulation  Wind and Shadow  Mandatory Findings of Significance

City and County of San Francisco How to comment on the Scope of the EIR  Provide testimony at the scoping meeting, or  Hand in your written comments at the scoping meeting, or  Mail your comments to: Bill Wycko – Environmental Review Officer Planning Department City and County of San Francisco 1650 Mission Street, #400 San Francisco CA  Comment period ends 5 PM on September 11, 2009