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Commission signals support for UCSF research building EIR and design criteria with recommended comments
Summary
The commission reviewed UCSF’s draft environmental impact report for a 175,000-gross-square-foot research building adjacent to San Francisco General Hospital and agreed staff should draft a letter that supports the EIR analysis and the proposed design criteria as mitigation.
The Historic Preservation Commission reviewed the draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and proposed design criteria for UCSF’s planned research building adjacent to Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital on April 6 and concurred that staff should prepare a comment letter affirming the adequacy of the draft EIR and the design-criteria mitigation.
Rich Ducray (department staff) summarized the project and the draft EIR’s cultural-resources analysis. Diane Wong (UCSF environmental coordinator) detailed program totals: the envelope accounts for about 175,000 gross square feet, including roughly 73,000 gross square feet of lab/research space and 102,000 gross square feet of desktop research and administrative space. The building envelope was presented as approximately 80 feet tall with five levels and floor plates of roughly 40,000 square feet.
UCSF emphasized extensive community outreach dating to 2013 and noted revisions to the design criteria following the Architectural Review Committee’s March 2 comments. Architectural Resources Group (Erica Schultz) explained design-criteria changes: a vertical orientation, clarified corner bays, and recommended locations for the historic fountain within the site.
Commissioners asked questions about the adequacy of the EIR and the mitigation role of the design criteria. Commissioner Pearlman and others commended UCSF for incorporating ARC comments. Staff proposed drafting a letter to UCSF stating appreciation for the response to ARC comments and supporting the draft EIR analysis and design criteria; commissioners indicated concurrence and directed staff to proceed. The public-comment period for the draft EIR closes May 9; staff will prepare the commission letter for transmittal to UCSF.
