Board Affirms Eastern Neighborhoods EIR after Appeals on Displacement, Traffic and Housing

SAN FRANCISCO The Board of Supervisors on Sept. 23, 2008 affirmed the Planning Commissioncertification of the Final Environmental Impact Report for the Eastern Neighborhoods rezoning and area plan, rejecting appeals that had argued the EIR fails to analyze likely displacement, traffic and other cumulative impacts.

The boardvote came after more than two hours of appellant presentations and public testimony from neighborhood groups, planning advocates and city staff. The motion to affirm the EIR passed by a 7 ye to 1 No tally, moving the rezoning process forward while leaving unresolved calls from several neighborhood organizations for tighter protections for low-income and family housing.

Why it matters: The Eastern Neighborhoods plan proposes rezoning and new development rules for large swaths of the cityincluding the South of Market, the Mission, Showplace Square and the Central Waterfrontand is projected to shape housing, jobs and land use across the city through 2025. Appellants warned the document does not adequately analyze how new market-rate development will affect existing renters, neighborhood services and transit capacity.

What the appellants said

Attorneys and community…