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Board continues Market Octavia EIR hearing after appellants raise adequacy and historic-survey concerns
Summary
Appellants and preservation groups told the Board of Supervisors the Market Octavia final environmental impact report (EIR) is incomplete and understates impacts; the board continued the hearing one week to allow more review.
The Board of Supervisors on June 12 continued its hearing on the Market Octavia area plan after residents, preservation groups and appellants told the board the final EIR is inadequate.
Appellants argued the environmental document omits critical analyses, including shadow studies for tall buildings, a comprehensive historic-resource survey for thousands of parcels and full accounting of foreseeable projects that rely on the plan. Preservation groups said an incomplete historic-survey process and gaps in analysis leave the EIR unable to support the zoning and development changes in the proposed plan.
Why it matters: The Market Octavia plan would rezone large portions of the Civic Center and nearby neighborhoods and is expected to enable thousands of new housing units. Appellants said the EIR must analyze the cumulative and neighborhood-scale impacts before the board certifies it.
Appellants and experts highlighted specific concerns. One appellant said the document "reaches conclusions without any supporting data," pointing to a lack of shadow studies and saying the EIR repeatedly characterizes the area as "transit rich" without supporting analysis. Preservation groups noted that the professional survey work completed to date does not produce the comprehensive inventory the city had promised, and they asked for peer review and a clear definition of a comprehensive survey before certification.
Board action: After testimony from multiple appellants and longtime neighborhood representatives, Supervisors agreed to continue the hearing one week to allow further review and to give the parties additional time to compile materials for the record. Supervisor Ross Mercarimi moved to continue the matter; Supervisor Chris Ellsburn seconded the motion and the board agreed to reconvene the hearing.
Public testimony: Dozens of residents, neighborhood activists and representatives from preservation organizations addressed the board. Speakers asked that the EIR be recirculated so the public can comment on supplemental or newly disclosed information; the board gave the appellants additional time by continuing the hearing rather than recirculating the EIR immediately.
Next steps: The board set a continuation of the hearing for one week. Appellants said they will supply additional evidence and asked the planning department to provide the full materials used to support the EIR. Planning staff said a more-complete historic survey is under way and is expected in July, but appellants said that timetable is insufficient.
Quotes: "Nowhere in this EIR" are shadow studies provided for proposed tall buildings, appellant Mary Miles told the board. "There are so many of those in this plan, lots and lots of them."
Background: The Market Octavia plan is a complex rezoning and land-use update that affects thousands of parcels. The board9s continuation means more hearings and document exchanges before the supervisors decide whether to certify the EIR and adopt the plan.
