OCII Certifies SEIR and Adopts CEQA Findings for Mission Bay Warriors Event Center

The Commission on Community Investment and Infrastructure unanimously certified the final Supplemental Environmental Impact Report (SEIR) for the Golden State Warriors Event Center and adopted CEQA findings and a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program on Nov. 3, 2015.

Deputy Director Sally Orth told the commission that certifying the SEIR means “the Commission has considered the adequacy and accuracy of the final SEIR, is certifying that this final SEIR has been presented to and considered by the Commission, certifying that the final SEIR was completed in compliance with CEQA and reflects the Commission's independent judgment and analysis and will consider adoption of CEQA findings including the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program.” Staff said most late comments were included in the administrative record and that an errata sheet corrected minor editorial issues without changing substantive conclusions.

During the staff presentation, Adam Vandewater of the Office of Economic and Workforce Development outlined transportation refinements and said the project requires roughly $55 million in one‑time capital and operating investments (in 2014 dollars) to serve the venue; about $25 million is expected from development-fee sources and the remainder would be financed with event-center revenues. Staff also cited a consultant estimate that the project could generate about $14.1 million per year in net revenue for the city once operational, with portions dedicated to restricted funds, operating costs and capital payments.

Opponents urged delay. Tom Lippe of the Mission Bay Alliance said his group submitted detailed letters arguing the SEIR is legally inadequate on water quality, alternatives and air-quality offsets. Susan Brandt Holly urged the commission to study land-use consistency and argued the project does not qualify as a secondary use under the redevelopment plan. Planning staff and OCII counsel disputed those positions in the hearing record. City Planning’s Chris Kern said the team believes the final SEIR “meets the requirements of CEQA” and does not contain new issues that would change conclusions reached by staff.

Planning staff also described a pending, narrowly worded change to the air-quality mitigation measure (MAQ2B) and an alternative allowing the sponsor to implement an emissions-offset project directly if agreement with the Bay Area Air Quality Management District is not finalized. Staff said the change was discussed with the project sponsor and added as an option in the responses-to-comment document.

The motion to certify the SEIR and adopt CEQA findings was moved by Commissioner Bustos, seconded by Commissioner Singh, and passed on a 5–0 roll-call vote (Commissioners Pimentel, Mondejar, Singh, Bustos and Chair Rosales voting yes). The adopted findings include the SEIR, the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program and a statement of overriding considerations where applicable.

The commission’s action clears OCII’s primary environmental hurdle; staff noted subsequent reviews and approvals are required by other public bodies as part of the project’s next steps.