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Planning Commission certifies EIR and approves entitlements for O'Farrell/Jones redevelopment after preservation debates
Summary
The San Francisco Planning Commission on Sept. 13 certified the final EIR for the proposed mixed‑use O'Farrell/Jones project and approved related entitlements, despite objections from preservation groups that sought stronger mitigation for demolition of an historic church building. The vote on certification was unanimous; entitlements passed 6‑1.
The San Francisco Planning Commission on Sept. 13 certified the final environmental impact report for the proposed mixed‑use project at O'Farrell and Jones streets and approved the project's entitlements after lengthy public testimony and staff presentations.
Chelsea Fordham of the Planning Department said the EIR analyzed a preferred project and a revised preferred project that would include demolition of the 450 O'Farrell building and concluded the analysis adequately evaluated the environmental effects, though it identified a significant and unavoidable historic‑resource impact that would require a statement of overriding considerations under CEQA. "The preferred project and the revised preferred project would not avoid the one significant and unavoidable historic resource impact," Fordham told the commission.
Project representatives said the plan would deliver 176 mixed‑income units, about 23 on‑site units meeting the 13.5% on‑site affordable requirement plus replacement of five rent‑controlled units and other payments into an affordable housing fund tied to the North Of Market special use district. Tyler Evia, speaking for the project sponsor, said the team studied alternatives, financing options and design changes and proposed removing a problematic colonnade facade while preserving other character elements and reinvesting savings into community benefits.
Preservation advocates, including San Francisco Heritage, urged the commission to require stronger mitigation and to retain more of the historic facade. "Saving the colonnade as proposed would be essentially a lawn ornament attached to a new project," Mike Bueller of San Francisco Heritage said during public comment, arguing the proposed facade plan would not honor the building's history.
Commissioners pushed the sponsor and Heritage to keep negotiating but ultimately voted to certify the EIR unanimously and to adopt CEQA findings and entitlements (including conditional use authorization and demolition approvals) by a 6‑1 vote, with Commissioner Richards voting against the entitlements. The motion included a staff‑read condition directing further work on final design with the planning department.
The commission's actions certify the EIR record and clear key discretionary steps; the developer continues to work with staff on details required before building permits can be issued.
