Board affirms categorical exemption for Washington Square water conservation project after appeal

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors on Nov. 13 voted to affirm the Planning Department’s determination that the proposed Washington Square water conservation project is categorically exempt from further environmental review under CEQA.

The vote followed an appeal filed by Save North Beach (appellants Mark Bruno and the North Beach Business Association). Bruno argued the project had been improperly noticed and the timing for appeal was misinterpreted by the Planning Department. He also criticized the project’s scope and cost, saying, “Number 1, it costs $3,050,000,” and questioned why a more modest and far cheaper alternative had not been tried first.

Rec and Park and Planning staff defended the project and the public outreach. Toks Sijike, director of capital and planning for Rec and Park, told the board the project was the result of multi‑year work with the Friends of Washington Square and the SFPUC, and said the improved irrigation and drainage would “be saving over 2,000,000 gallons of water” annually. The department said it had refined the scope in response to community concerns, added ADA‑compliant pathways and subsurface drainage work, and negotiated a Letter of Understanding with neighborhood stakeholders after the initial appeal.

Vote and procedure - Motion: Affirm Planning Department’s categorical exemption (item 58). - Mover: Supervisor Carmen Chu (motion recorded in public record as made by Supervisor Feuer); second: Supervisor Ronan (see transcript roll call and motion record). - Outcome: Motion carried by roll call, 10 ayes, 0 noes; Supervisor Peskin had recused himself for proximity reasons. The board also approved a motion to table related items (59 and 60) pending the board’s action on item 58.

Main points raised in testimony - Appellants: Save North Beach said the public notice for the Historic Preservation Commission hearing implied the HPC action was the approval action, which triggered the 30‑day appeal period; they contended Planning’s later determination that the Recreation & Parks Commission action was the approval action improperly delayed their appeal rights. Bruno said the project’s $3.05 million budget dwarfed an earlier estimate and that closing the park for construction would be avoidable if less invasive measures were tried first. - Rec & Park and Planning: Staff said they had followed Chapter 31 notice procedures and that the Recreation & Parks Commission’s approval of the project concept on Aug. 16 was the first approval action for the project as a whole. Staff said they had augmented outreach, held community meetings and that opponents and supporters both had engaged; letters of support from Friends of Washington Square and Russian Hill Neighbors were cited.

Board action and context Supervisor Feuer moved to approve item 58 and to table the motions that would have reversed the exemption or required written findings; the motion passed by roll call (10 ayes). The board recorded that it had received public testimony both for and against the exemption and concluded that the appellants had not provided substantial evidence of a reasonable possibility of significant environmental impact due to unusual circumstances.

What’s next The board’s action allows Rec & Park to continue planning the irrigation, drainage and pathway work with conditions negotiated with the neighborhood. Appellants may pursue other administrative remedies but the board’s affirmation clears the categorical exemption for this project. Rec & Park staff said they expect work to start in 2019, subject to scheduling and the contractor procurement process.

Ending The hearing illustrated tensions that can arise between neighborhood advocates seeking fuller public review on public‑works projects and departments seeking expedited conservation and infrastructure upgrades. The board’s vote upheld the department’s environmental determination while recording neighborhood concerns for the record.