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Planning Commission certifies final EIR for Moscone Center expansion and approves related entitlements
Summary
The commission certified the final environmental impact report and approved associated entitlements for the Moscone Center expansion after staff presented errata and design refinements reducing shadows on the Children's Garden; votes were unanimous.
The San Francisco Planning Commission certified the final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Moscone Center expansion project and approved related entitlements on Aug. 14, following presentations by Environmental Planning and current planning staff.
Elizabeth Pearl of the Planning Departments Environmental Planning Division summarized the draft and final EIR process, noted an errata sheet correcting numerical shadow-hour calculations and described project refinements that reduce the bulk of the upper level of the Moscone South building to lessen shadow impacts on the Childrens Garden. Pearl told commissioners that, with the design changes, the project no longer presents significant and unavoidable shadow impacts on the garden.
Elizabeth Waddie, assistant director of current planning, outlined land-use approvals requested, including a Planning Code Section 309 determination of compliance (exceptions to some ground-level requirements), variances and a general-plan referral concerning sidewalk/encroachment modifications. The department recommended approval, citing public-realm improvements, expanded contiguous exhibition space and pedestrian-bridge design changes.
Project representatives described the expansion would increase contiguous below-grade exhibition space, expand above-grade Moscone South functions, add a public terrace above Moscone North and create pedestrian and public-realm improvements, including funds for Western Pedestrian Bridge replacement and Children's Garden improvements. Moscone and travel-industry representatives said the expansion would create construction and permanent jobs and increase annual hotel-tax revenue.
Public comment included residents and neighborhood groups who largely supported the project while urging strong mitigation for pedestrian circulation and sidewalk management during events. Commissioners discussed the mitigation monitoring and reporting program (MMRP) and confirmed many pedestrian-safety and public-realm mitigations were incorporated as conditions of approval. The motion to certify the EIR and approve entitlements passed unanimously.
