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Neighborhood coalition says Stonestown project shifted from on-site AWOS to fee-out; fire department praised and criticized
Summary
A caller from the Coalition for San Francisco Neighborhoods told the Fire Commission Stonestown — transcribed variably as Stone's Town/Stowestown — was first confirmed to have on-site AWOS piping but later told it would 'fee out' and pay for host tenders; the caller argued that approval for the fee-out on the largest project (~3,500 units) is "incomprehensible."
During general public comment at the June 26 meeting of the San Francisco Fire Commission, a caller identifying themselves with the Coalition for San Francisco Neighborhoods raised concerns about automatic water/other on-site systems (referred to in the transcript as AWOS piping) and inconsistent project representations to city agencies.
The caller listed a set of large developments they said have dedicated on-site AWOS piping, naming Mission Rock (1,200 units), Potrero Power Station (2,600 units), Pier 70 (2,150 units), The Systems Mission (700 units), and Balboa (1,100 units). They said Stonestown — the largest, at about 3,500 housing units — was reported to have on-site AWOS hookups in January and that the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) had confirmed a hookup for Stonestown, but later meetings indicated Stonestown would not have on-site AWOS piping and instead would "fee out" and pay for host tenders.
"But the fire department approved this fee out for the largest of these housing projects is incomprehensible," the caller said, urging commissioners to note the discrepancy across planning, PUC, and capital-planning committee meetings and to seek clarity. The caller said two PUC hookups exist nearby (one seven blocks away at Nineteenth Avenue and [transcribed] Yoloa; another about 14 blocks away at Ocean Avenue and Victoria) and referenced recent city planning and capital planning committee hearings in May and June.
Commissioners did not debate the claim at length during the meeting and the transcript records no substantive departmental response to the fee-out accusation in the session. The commission did not take formal action on the matter during the meeting. Commissioners and staff indicated they would follow up and Chief Nicholson said she would send commissioners the grand jury report link and other requested materials during the meeting.
Because the transcript contains multiple spellings and references to the project ("Stone's Town," "Stowestown," "Stonestown"), the commission and city staff should confirm the project's official name and PUC/Planning determinations and provide an official written response where appropriate.
