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Planning Commission holds lengthy DEIR hearing for 5M/SOMA project; public raises displacement, open‑space and historic preservation concerns
Summary
The Planning Commission took public testimony on the draft EIR for the 5M project at 925 Mission. The DEIR finds significant historic‑resource and air quality impacts; commenters pressed for more analysis of displacement, PDR losses, open‑space shortfalls and cumulative office growth. The commission extended the DEIR comment deadline to Jan. 7.
Planning Department staff presented the draft Environmental Impact Report for the 5M project (925 Mission), a major mixed‑use development proposed by Forest City, and accepted public comment at a November 20 hearing that stretched for hours.
Michael Jacinto of the Planning Department summarized the DEIR’s scope: two program variants (residential‑ and office‑emphasis), up to about 1.8 million square feet of new development, demolition of six on‑site structures and retention of two historic buildings, and building heights up to about 470 feet in the largest alternatives. The DEIR identifies significant unavoidable impacts for demolition of the Cammerlin (Cammerlein) Building and certain air‑quality effects tied to construction; the document also studies circulation, shadowing, open space and community benefits.
Speakers from neighborhood groups, arts organizations and preservationists urged the commission to slow the process and to demand stronger mitigation. Common themes: calls to return a greater portion of any up‑zoning land‑value windfall to community benefits; requests to meet a citywide affordability threshold (many speakers cited a 33 percent inclusionary target); concern that the DEIR understated cumulative downtown office growth and related housing demand impacts; requests for more analysis of PDR (production, distribution and repair) displacement and of open‑space adequacy; and repeated requests to extend the comment period so the community can review missing design illustrations and alternatives.
Other speakers supported the project, saying the site’s transit‑rich location and planned public open space could bring jobs, affordable housing and arts space; some neighborhood organizations and labor unions said Forest City had conducted constructive outreach and offered commitments on jobs and cultural uses. Commissioners pressed staff and the sponsor on the DEIR’s assumptions about cumulative development and transit impacts.
After hearing hours of comments, the Planning Commission agreed to extend the DEIR public comment period; staff and commissioners referenced Jan. 7 as the new comment deadline so the community would have additional time to review the large draft document and supplemental graphics. Staff said responses to comments will be provided in a formal responses document and that certification is expected to return for action in spring 2015, depending on the volume of comments received.
The DEIR hearing did not certify the EIR; it is an adequacy hearing and public comment period extension. The commission left the record open for written comments through the newly announced deadline.
