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Board moves forward on Park Merced street and utility‑easement vacations; ordinance passes first reading
Summary
The Board of Supervisors held a committee of the whole on the Park Merced development’s proposed vacation of certain streets and SFPUC easements and passed an ordinance on first reading to allow the reconfigured streets and easement changes necessary for phase 1C with conditions and protections for interim utility access.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors on Sept. 20 heard a presentation from the Office of Economic and Workforce Development on the Park Merced development and passed, on first reading, an ordinance ordering the conditional vacation of several street segments and certain San Francisco Public Utilities Commission easements to implement the project’s Phase 1C and 1D reconfiguration.
Jonathan Cherry, project manager at the Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD), told the board the street‑and‑easement vacations are required for the approved redevelopment plan and that the city will receive newly configured public right‑of‑way in exchange for the conveyed areas. The legislation includes conditions recommended by the Department of Public Works and the SFPUC, including interim non‑exclusive easements for active utilities until the city formally accepts new public utilities following construction.
Public comment and concerns
A small number of public commenters called in to express concerns about housing vacancies and city priorities. Lehi Rogers, a landscape architect and writer, warned that new market‑rate housing could increase the city’s vacancy rate and argued the project would not address affordability concerns. One remote caller accused the board of favoring developers over residents. OEWD and the project team said the action is necessary to obtain construction financing and begin phase 1 subphases.
What the ordinance does
- Conditionally vacates specified street segments and certain SFPUC sewer and water easements within the Park Merced project area to allow reconfigured public right‑of‑way as approved in the development agreement. - Reserves non‑exclusive easement rights for active utility lines during construction; those interim easements will terminate after acceptance of new public utilities by the city. - Reflects prior approvals for earlier subphases and enables final maps for subphases 1C and 1D to proceed toward construction financing.
Board action and vote
Following the presentation and public comment, the board voted by roll call to pass the ordinance on first reading unanimously (11 ayes). The ordinance must still return for final actions associated with subdivision final maps and any subsequent approvals required to start construction.
Why this matters
The action advances Park Merced phase 1 toward construction by clearing the street and easement obstacles the project sponsor and the SFPUC identified as necessary to reconfigure a 52‑acre site in the Lake Merced area. The approval preserves city utility protections during construction and places conditions intended to ensure that new public streets and utilities meet city acceptance standards before interim easements terminate.
