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Board advances City Center sign district for former Sears site; supervisors urge Target community outreach
Summary
An ordinance to create a special sign district at the Masonic/Geary former Sears site moved through first reading; supervisors urged Target to engage with neighborhoods and address safety and labor concerns.
The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday passed in first reading an ordinance to create the City Center Special Sign District for the property at Masonic and Geary Boulevard, the former Sears Roebuck site, in anticipation of a Target store and other tenants.
Supervisor Mark Farrell, sponsor, said the changes were prepared to support the anticipated opening of Target in spring 2013 and would allow new signage to improve visibility and traffic flow. He thanked developers, planning staff and neighborhood stakeholders for their outreach. Other supervisors voiced support while urging Target to continue community engagement, address labor and safety concerns, and be accountable to local values.
Supervisor Wiener noted past tensions between Target and the LGBT community and said that while some advocacy and outreach had been successful, ongoing engagement was important. Supervisor Campos, who co-led outreach with Wiener, said Target should demonstrate a commitment to San Francisco's values and continue working with community leaders. Several supervisors and staff described the project as entitled following planning commission approval and the lapse of the appeal window.
Supporters stressed economic benefits: supervisors said the redevelopment is expected to bring hundreds of jobs and reinvigorate the site, while some residents expressed concern about impacts on small businesses and traffic. Supervisors said they would continue monitoring safety and traffic issues, noting nearby schools and previous bicycle safety concerns on Masonic.
Why it matters The sign district affects how a large retail redevelopment will be presented to the public and how motorists and pedestrians navigate the site. Supervisors framed the vote as balancing neighborhood preservation, traffic and pedestrian safety, and economic revitalization.
What's next The ordinance passed in first reading and will return for subsequent readings as required. Supervisors asked for continued outreach and monitoring of labor, traffic and pedestrian-safety issues as the project moves forward.
