Board certifies Central SoMa environmental report after daylong appeals hearing; motions to reverse tabled

The Board of Supervisors voted 10—0to—00 on Sept. 25 to affirm the Planning Commission's certification of the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) for the Central SoMa plan, following a multipart appeals hearing that lasted several hours and featured five appellants raising concerns about air quality, traffic and displacement.

The vote was on Item 40, the motion to affirm the commission's certification of the FEIR. The board simultaneously tabled related motions (Items 41 and 42) that would have conditionally reversed the Planning Department's certification or directed the preparation of additional findings.

Why it matters: Central SoMa is one of the city's largest and most consequential area plans. Planning staff and the commission concluded the FEIR adequately analyzed environmental impacts and proposed feasible mitigation. Opponents argued the report underestimates health risks, worsens the jobs-housing imbalance, and fails to protect existing low-income and immigrant communities.

What the appellants said: Richard Drury, representing residents affiliated with SF Blue, told the board the plan "delivers a whole lot of office space" versus housing and warned the plan would worsen the jobs-housing…