Park advocates tell commission draft "Rose" should bar new buildings in parks

Catherine Howard, speaking for the Golden Gate Park Preservation Alliance and the Rose Working Group, told the Historic Preservation Commission that the draft 2013 Recreation and Open Space Element (the "Rose") risks opening parks to new construction. "The Rose opens up our parks to use as building sites," she said, urging the commission to return to the 1986 Rose restriction against new buildings in parks.

Howard cited policy language from the 1986 document that called for locating new indoor recreation and cultural buildings outside existing parks and for allocating funds for land acquisition when indoor facilities were needed. She warned that the current draft's use of undefined terms such as "cultural" could "apply to just about any building project put forth by an enthusiastic special interest group," and added: "Once one building went up, more would certainly follow."

The comment came during general public comment at the commission's Jan. 15 hearing. Tim Frey of the planning department acknowledged receipt of the Rose Working Group's letter and said staff looked forward to continuing to work with community stakeholders on the document.

Why it matters: The Recreation and Open Space Element guides the city's approach to parks, playgrounds and open space for decades. Changes that make it easier to place buildings in parks could reduce outdoor open space, an outcome opponents say would be irreversible in densely developed neighborhoods such as Golden Gate Park.

Next steps: Howard asked the commission to agendize the Rose for further comment and to forward concerns to the Planning Department; commissioners indicated they would consider adding the topic to a future agenda for more detailed discussion.