OCII Continues Hunters Point/Bayview Plan Amendments After Heated Public Comment

The San Francisco Commission on Community Investment and Infrastructure on July 16 voted to continue a noticed public hearing on proposed amendments to the Hunters Point Shipyard and Bayview Hunters Point redevelopment plans until Sept. 3, 2024.

Commissioners made the continuance after nearly two hours of public comment from neighborhood residents, business representatives and community advocates about a developer proposal that would relocate large amounts of research-and-development commercial space to Candlestick Point. The continuance motion passed by a roll-call vote of five ayes.

Why it matters: Residents near Candlestick Point said moving 2,000,000–2,500,000 square feet of commercial and R&D space to the site could overwhelm the neighborhood, increase traffic and noise, and heighten public-health risks unless environmental review and community outreach are updated. Supporters said the project would create jobs, contractor opportunities and neighborhood investments.

What happened: Director Koslovsky told the commission the item had been duly noticed under section 33452 of the California Health and Safety Code and that staff proposed continuing the hearing to Sept. 3 so the public hearing record could remain open and the commission could receive additional community input.

Public comment highlights included: "This project has the potential to transform Candlestick Point into a thriving hub benefiting all of San Francisco," said Whit Turner of the Housing Action Coalition, who urged the commission not to let delays be used unfairly against the developer and emphasized housing and job benefits.

Shirley Moore, who said she lives about 100 feet from the site, asked the commission to require an updated environmental impact review, saying the EIR was signed in 2010 and that multiple addenda since then do not substitute for a new analysis; she raised concerns about health impacts, traffic and outreach to immediately affected neighbors.

Brenda Ramirez, who identified herself as living less than 50 feet from a planned research-and-development building, said she worried about lab exhaust, construction dust, loss of sunlight and lack of direct notice for nearby residents.

Other commenters, including Oscar James and local contractors, described community benefit packages, scholarships and contractor hiring by the developer (named in testimony as Lennar) and pressed for assurances that the Hunters Point shipyard be fully remediated of toxics before major new construction.

Several commenters urged delaying the amendments so the community could see more information about projected jobs, occupancy assumptions and traffic impacts; Brian Robinson of the Candlestick Heights Neighborhood Association specifically asked for more data and for the commission to consider the consequences of adding millions of square feet of commercial space to a market some speakers described as already underoccupied.

Formal action and next steps: A commissioner moved to continue the hearing to Sept. 3, 2024; the motion was seconded and approved 5–0. The commission encouraged members of the public to reach out to OCII staff for updates and to continue local community meetings. No ordinances or plan amendments were adopted at the July 16 meeting.

The commission also approved routine consent items earlier in the meeting (minutes from the July 2, 2024 meeting) by a 5–0 vote.

What remains unresolved: Commenters disagree about whether the existing environmental review (original EIR: 2010, plus addenda) is sufficient, about how much commercial/R&D space should be moved, and about traffic and health impacts. Commissioners set a continuance and asked staff to provide information ahead of the Sept. 3 hearing so the commission and community can review outstanding concerns.

The commission adjourned at 2:03 p.m.; the continued hearing is scheduled for Sept. 3, 2024.