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Port Commission authorizes exclusive negotiations with Warriors group; forms 16‑member advisory committee
Summary
The Port Commission authorized exclusive negotiations with GSW Arena LLC for Piers 30–32 and Sewell Lot 330 and approved a Citizens Advisory Committee of up to 16 members to guide community input. Staff emphasized the agreement starts a multi‑step EIR and lease process, not project approval.
The San Francisco Port Commission voted to authorize staff to enter exclusive negotiations with GSW Arena LLC, the entity representing the Golden State Warriors, to explore development of a multipurpose facility at Piers 30–32 and Sewell Lot 330.
Byron Rhett, Planning and Development Director, told commissioners the two‑year exclusive negotiating period (with a one‑year extension option) would begin work on a term sheet, fiscal feasibility and an environmental impact report — all prerequisites to any lease or disposition and development agreement. He said the negotiating period includes an upfront developer fee schedule (about $25,000 per quarter, up to roughly $100,000 in year one and $200,000 across two years) and a staff cost‑recovery cap of roughly $1.7 million. “The E&A is not an approval of the project,” Rhett said, noting approvals would come only after an EIR and subsequent Commission and Board of Supervisors actions.
Public commenter Dennis McKenzie urged the Commission to consider an educational element inside any arena, saying he had “provided you with a copy of my update on my proposal to include a high school classroom in the basketball arena.” The Commission recorded a motion and approved the authorization by voice vote.
Separately, Commissioners approved forming a Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) to provide community input on the project. Staff proposed a CAC of up to 16 members and up to eight alternates; Tricia, a special projects analyst on the team, said the Board of Supervisors had urged a CAC and recommended that roughly half the seats be local residents or small‑business owners and the rest filled with people with technical expertise in transportation, housing and related areas. The resolution as amended requires the CAC to adopt a written charter that includes a process for proposing solutions as well as mechanisms to encourage regular participation. Staff said the CAC will meet four times through October with an introductory meeting anticipated for Aug. 23.
Staff and commissioners emphasized that community outreach, traffic and good‑neighbor policies will be central to any future approvals and that the CPUC and other agencies are not directly involved in this item; the Commission’s action only begins the negotiating and environmental review process.
Next steps: staff will begin cost‑recovery negotiations with the developer, start EIR planning and convene the CAC’s initial meeting. Any lease, LDDA or disposition will return to the Commission for approval and then, if approved, will go to the Board of Supervisors.
