Planning Commission certifies Mission Rock EIR; project includes extensive affordable housing, parks and shoreline measures

The Planning Commission on Oct. 5 certified the final environmental impact report for the Mission Rock master plan and approved related zoning and development agreements, greenlighting a multi‑block project centered on Seawall Lot 337 and the rehabilitation of Pier 48.

The project sponsor, the San Francisco Giants, presented a master plan that staffs and the sponsor said will create an integrated, transit‑rich neighborhood with housing, office, retail, arts and roughly eight acres of new publicly accessible open space along the China Basin Channel. Project documents and staff briefing described a program that would provide large quantities of housing, with staff and sponsor estimates focused on several build‑out scenarios; the plan passed ballot review in 2015 as Proposition D and requires a substantial on‑site affordable housing commitment.

“Forty percent of all housing on‑site will be affordable,” Ken Rich of the Office of Economic and Workforce Development told the commission in related remarks about public benefits and the Southern Bayfront strategy. Project staff said the community benefits package includes on‑site family‑sized affordable units, workforce and local‑hire commitments, infrastructure investments and shoreline funding. Jack Baer, speaking for the Giants, highlighted voter support: “The voters endorsed the project overwhelmingly, with 74% voting in favor city‑wide.”

The project also incorporates financing tools and commitments aimed at shoreline protection and public maintenance. Port staff and project leaders described a ground‑lease structure and a plan to use community facilities district taxes and other mechanisms to fund long‑term seawall and pier repairs. Port staff said proceeds are intended to flow back to preservation and waterfront open space across port property.

Public testimony at the hearing was extensive and largely supportive; city groups including labor unions, neighborhood associations, parks and bike advocates, arts organizations and social service groups spoke in favor of the project and its commitments to affordable housing, open space and workforce training. Commissioners debated details, asked staff to note errata to the development agreement and discussed the phasing, transportation mitigation and the project’s role within a cluster of large Southern Bayfront plans.

The commission voted to certify the EIR and adopt the implementing motions and development agreement as amended; the motions passed unanimously on the record. Next steps include related port approvals, final legislative actions at the Board of Supervisors and multiple implementing permits and phased design reviews required by the project’s special use district and design‑controls documents.

Taken together, staff and the sponsor said Mission Rock is intended to be a long‑term, coordinated investment in housing, open space and waterfront resilience. The approval sets the framework for years of design, infrastructure work and construction ahead.