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Board upholds SFMOMA expansion EIR after appellant raises visual, traffic and construction concerns
Summary
After a multi-hour hearing, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors affirmed Planning Commission certification of the final EIR for the SFMOMA expansion, rejecting an appeal focused on visual impacts, mid-block access, and construction effects. The clerk recorded the certification as passing (10 ayes, 0 noes, 1 absent).
The Board of Supervisors on Friday certified the final environmental impact report (EIR) for the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art expansion, rejecting an appeal by the owner of the adjacent W Hotel that challenged the EIR's treatment of visual impacts, mid-block access and construction impacts.
The board voted to affirm the Planning Commission's certification of the EIR after a multi-hour public hearing that included presentations from the appellant, planning staff and the museum. The vote to certify the EIR was recorded by the clerk as passing (final tally: 10 ayes, 0 noes, 1 absent at the final roll call for certification).
Why it matters: Certification clears a major procedural hurdle for SFMOMA's proposed expansion and related actions including a fire station relocation and several related rezonings. Opponents argued the EIR did not analyze the final schematic design released after certification and that loss of a mid-block passage would push hotel loading and valet traffic onto already congested streets. Planning staff and museum representatives said the EIR analyzed the project at an appropriate level of detail under CEQA, and the museum offered easement language and a temporary construction-period access plan.
What appellants said: Christine Griffith, attorney for KSSF Enterprises (owner of the W Hotel), told the board the EIR failed to analyze the final schematic design that SFMOMA released after the Planning Commission action. She argued the visual analysis should be revised and recirculated and said the report did not adequately analyze traffic impacts during closure of Hunt Lane and mid-block access, warning that hotel functions would be displaced onto Howard and Third streets.
Planning department and museum response: Staff stated the EIR project description matched the key physical parameters—height, massing, square footage, open-space location—of the final schematic design and noted CEQA does not protect private views from hotel rooms. Staff also pointed to temporary construction access options on Third or Howard Streets and concluded impacts would be less than significant. Museum counsel Steve Vettel said SFMOMA offered a permanent irrevocable access easement for the hotel and that a detailed temporary construction access plan had been reviewed by transit staff.
Public and agency input: The San Francisco Fire Department supported the project, citing a modern replacement for the aging fire station at 676 Howard Street. Business-construction and labor groups also supported the expansion for jobs and cultural tourism.
Board action and next steps: Supervisor Kim, whose district includes the project, moved to affirm certification; the motion passed. Related rezoning and land-transfer ordinances advanced on first reading at the same meeting. The Planning Commission will continue schematic design review at a February hearing; subsequent land-use ordinances and development agreements will return to the board.
