Public raises historic‑resource and procedural concerns at hearing on 3400 Laguna Street Draft EIR

Planning Department staff presented the Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the proposed Heritage on the Marina project at 3400 Laguna Street, a 1.6‑acre site in the Marina District. Megan Kalpin, the EIR coordinator, described the proposal to demolish two of five buildings and construct two new institutional buildings, resulting in 58,380 square feet of net new institutional use and an increase in residential care suites from 86 to 109.

Kalpin said the Draft EIR (published 08/28/2024) concluded the proposed project would not result in any significant and unavoidable impacts after six mitigation measures and that it analyzed a no‑project, rehabilitation and reduced‑construction alternatives. Staff noted a concurrent Article 10 landmark nomination for the site that the Historic Preservation Commission initiated and will consider further on Oct. 16; staff said the landmark process will run in parallel to CEQA review but does not itself change the EIR analysis.

Members of the public urged more time and changes to the process. Tonya Albuquerque argued the Draft EIR should be paused while the Article 10 landmark designation is decided and that the initial study should have been completed and released before the Draft EIR to give the public a proper starting point for comment. She also criticized the Draft EIR’s economic analysis for not substantiating the sponsor’s need to demolish existing buildings.

Staff reminded the public that written comments on the Draft EIR will be accepted through Oct. 15 at 5 PM and that verbal comments received at the hearing will be transcribed and addressed in the responses to comments document. No decision on the project was requested at this informational/public‑comment stage.