Gun‑club critic warns PUC about Lake Merced cleanup standards and costs

David Cincotta, speaking for the Pacific Rod and Gun Club, urged commissioners to scrutinize the analysis underpinning the city's cleanup plan for a Lake Merced site. He said the city has asked the Regional Water Board to apply residential cleanup standards, but argued the site is unlikely to be used for housing and is not zoned for residential uses; Cincotta called the request "ludicrous, ridiculous, and a waste of taxpayers' money," and cited an estimate that cleaning to residential standards would cost more than $10,700,000.

Cincotta asked the commission to ensure the environmental review first identifies intended future uses and evaluates alternatives and historic resources. He noted the club has been on the site for more than 80 years and said that "every building in San Francisco requires an analysis if it's over 50 years old," urging that the significance of the historic resource be studied as part of CEQA/agency review.

Commission response: Commissioners asked whether Cincotta was seeking a lesser cleanup standard or alternative remediation approaches; he said developers often present intended future uses to regulators and different uses have different cleanup standards (capping vs. removal, for example). The chair asked clarifying questions and thanked him for his testimony.

Context and next steps: The public comment was part of the meeting's public-comment period; the transcript records Cincotta leaving a letter for the commission and urging staff to coordinate with the Regional Water Board and planning department to ensure alternatives and historic‑resource analysis are not overlooked.