SF Planning Commission Rejects Presidio Development Proposals
California Desk
November 03, 2008
SF Planning Commission Rejects Presidio Proposals as Nov. 13 Public Comment Meeting Nears.
The San Francisco Planning Commission has expressed serious concerns about controversial new development alternatives, including a contemporary art museum sponsored by Gap stores founder Don Fisher, for the Presidio of San Francisco, a national park.
In a letter sent last Thursday to San Francisco Deputy City Attorney Andrea Ruis-Esquide, Planning Commission President Christina Olague cites numerous problems the Commission has with the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (DSEIS) issued by the Presidio Trust, the federal agency which manages the Presidio´s real estate. The City Attorney´s office is gathering comments on the DSEIS from various City and County entities for submission to the Trust.
The Presidio Trust will hold a public comment meeting on the DSEIS on Thursday, November 13th at 6:30 pm at the St. Mary´s Conference Center, 1111 Gough St. near Geary Blvd., San Francisco. Hundreds of members of the public were turned away from a public comment meeting held July 14th by fire marshals because the room was filled to capacity, prompting the Trust to schedule a second meeting in a larger facility.
The Commission´s letter notes its members find none of the options identified in the Trust´s DSEIS presents a reasonable alternative to the proposed project. The letter details other concerns with the Presidio Trust´s preferred and alternative proposals, including the Commission´s conclusion that the art museum design and surrounding landscape plan are "too stark of a contrast" to adjacent historic buildings.
Olague also notes that the majority of the Planning Commission finds the DSEIS inadequate due to its failure to fully evaluate new construction proposals´ impacts upon the Presidio´s Main Post status as a National Historic Landmark District (NHLD). The Main Post is the Presidio´s most historically significant site, dating back to its founding as a Spanish garrison in 1776.
The Commission´s letter asks the Presidio Trust to complete its analysis of alternative proposals and their impact upon the historic landmark designation prior to proceeding with the projects discussed in the DSEIS.
The letter notes that two potential land use conflicts are not identified in the DSEIS, including the impact upon nearby high volume roadways and threats to the nature and character of the Presidio. The letter questions the proposal´s impact upon San Francisco´s Fire and Police Departments.
Commissioner Olague expresses "regrets" that the Presidio Trust´s planning process for the art museum and associated projects on the Presidio´s historic Main Post "were developed without the benefit of a public planning process."
Because the Presidio is a national park under federal jurisdiction, the Planning Commission acknowledges that San Francisco´s governmental agencies have no control over its planning and development, but asks the Presidio Trust "to analyze the project´s consistency with local plans and policies,"given the Presidio´s location within the City.
The St. Mary´s Conference Center, located on the southwest corner of Gough St. at Geary Blvd., has 150 free parking spaces. The Center is served by MUNI´s Geary #38, Van Ness #47 and #49, and Sutter St. #3 and #20 bus lines, all of which stop within two blocks of its location at 1111 Gough St. Public parking is also available at Japantown and on Franklin St. between Post and Sutter St. On-street parking near St. Mary´s Center is limited.
Founded in the 1950s, the nonprofit Presidio Historical Association (PHA) has worked in cooperation with the National Park Service and Presidio Trust since 1994 to advocate for preserving the integrity of the Presidio´s National Historic Landmark District, located within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA). PHA created a museum for the Army when it was based at the Presidio. Earlier, PHA helped restore historic Fort Point at the base of the Golden Gate Bridge.
The San Francisco Planning Commission has expressed serious concerns about controversial new development alternatives, including a contemporary art museum sponsored by Gap stores founder Don Fisher, for the Presidio of San Francisco, a national park.
In a letter sent last Thursday to San Francisco Deputy City Attorney Andrea Ruis-Esquide, Planning Commission President Christina Olague cites numerous problems the Commission has with the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (DSEIS) issued by the Presidio Trust, the federal agency which manages the Presidio´s real estate. The City Attorney´s office is gathering comments on the DSEIS from various City and County entities for submission to the Trust.
The Presidio Trust will hold a public comment meeting on the DSEIS on Thursday, November 13th at 6:30 pm at the St. Mary´s Conference Center, 1111 Gough St. near Geary Blvd., San Francisco. Hundreds of members of the public were turned away from a public comment meeting held July 14th by fire marshals because the room was filled to capacity, prompting the Trust to schedule a second meeting in a larger facility.
The Commission´s letter notes its members find none of the options identified in the Trust´s DSEIS presents a reasonable alternative to the proposed project. The letter details other concerns with the Presidio Trust´s preferred and alternative proposals, including the Commission´s conclusion that the art museum design and surrounding landscape plan are "too stark of a contrast" to adjacent historic buildings.
Olague also notes that the majority of the Planning Commission finds the DSEIS inadequate due to its failure to fully evaluate new construction proposals´ impacts upon the Presidio´s Main Post status as a National Historic Landmark District (NHLD). The Main Post is the Presidio´s most historically significant site, dating back to its founding as a Spanish garrison in 1776.
The Commission´s letter asks the Presidio Trust to complete its analysis of alternative proposals and their impact upon the historic landmark designation prior to proceeding with the projects discussed in the DSEIS.
The letter notes that two potential land use conflicts are not identified in the DSEIS, including the impact upon nearby high volume roadways and threats to the nature and character of the Presidio. The letter questions the proposal´s impact upon San Francisco´s Fire and Police Departments.
Commissioner Olague expresses "regrets" that the Presidio Trust´s planning process for the art museum and associated projects on the Presidio´s historic Main Post "were developed without the benefit of a public planning process."
Because the Presidio is a national park under federal jurisdiction, the Planning Commission acknowledges that San Francisco´s governmental agencies have no control over its planning and development, but asks the Presidio Trust "to analyze the project´s consistency with local plans and policies,"given the Presidio´s location within the City.
The St. Mary´s Conference Center, located on the southwest corner of Gough St. at Geary Blvd., has 150 free parking spaces. The Center is served by MUNI´s Geary #38, Van Ness #47 and #49, and Sutter St. #3 and #20 bus lines, all of which stop within two blocks of its location at 1111 Gough St. Public parking is also available at Japantown and on Franklin St. between Post and Sutter St. On-street parking near St. Mary´s Center is limited.
Founded in the 1950s, the nonprofit Presidio Historical Association (PHA) has worked in cooperation with the National Park Service and Presidio Trust since 1994 to advocate for preserving the integrity of the Presidio´s National Historic Landmark District, located within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA). PHA created a museum for the Army when it was based at the Presidio. Earlier, PHA helped restore historic Fort Point at the base of the Golden Gate Bridge.
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