Board affirms environmental review and approves conditional use for 1960–1998 Market Street after months-long appeals

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors on Sept. 15 affirmed the Planning Department’s mitigated negative declaration (MND) for the proposed 1960–1998 Market Street development and approved the Planning Commission’s conditional use authorization for the project after an extended public hearing that drew neighbors, construction-trade unions and the project sponsor.

What the board decided - Environmental document: The board voted to affirm the Planning Commission’s adoption of the mitigated negative declaration (Item 16). Motion to approve and refer related items to committee passed by unanimous roll call (11–0). - Conditional use authorization: After hearing testimony and rebuttals, the board approved the Planning Commission’s conditional use decision (Item 20). The board recorded 7 ayes and 4 no votes on the motion to approve and table related procedural items.

What the project is: The proposal would demolish a long‑standing gas station and build a nine‑story, mixed‑use building with roughly 108 residential units, about 86 below‑grade parking spaces and approximately 8,150 square feet of ground‑floor commercial space. The plan includes on‑site below‑market‑rate units.

Major issues raised at the hearing - Hazardous‑materials and soil removal: Appellants led by the San Francisco Building and Construction Trades Council argued that the environmental review understates the scope of contaminated‑soil removal. Counsel for the appellants said early documents referenced the…