Planning Commission opens public hearing on Moscone Center expansion EIR; neighbors push for pedestrian mitigations

The San Francisco Planning Commission opened a public hearing on the Draft Environmental Impact Report for the Moscone Center Expansion Project on June 5, 2014, with staff noting that written comments will be accepted at the Planning Department until 5 p.m. on June 16. Elizabeth Pearl of the Planning Department asked speakers to limit remarks to the adequacy and accuracy of the draft EIR; staff will respond in writing as part of the responses-to-comments document.

Why it matters: The expansion would increase convention capacity downtown and generate construction and hospitality jobs, while neighbors argue it would intensify pedestrian loads in a dense block and affect nearby play areas and public space. The adequacy of pedestrian and parks mitigations is central to whether the EIR must be revised prior to certification.

Neighborhood groups and residents pressed the commission and staff for specific mitigation commitments. John Oberling, president of the Yerba Buena Neighborhood Consortium, urged “conclusive mitigation” for pedestrian safety, listing wider sidewalks on two blocks of Fourth Street, three mid‑block signalized crossings, installation of red‑light arrows at select intersections, and a sidewalk management plan to organize furniture and signs. Oberling warned that “If the mitigations we need … are not part of the project, we will litigate the EIR.”

Speakers from TODCO and Yerba Buena Gardens told commissioners the expansion casts shadows over playgrounds and limits views, and asked that playground and playground‑area improvements be included in the EIR as project mitigations. Alice Light, director of community planning at TODCO, asked that proposed playground improvements, a relocated learning garden and a green wall be addressed in the environmental analysis.

Supporters emphasized economic and employment benefits. Kevin Carroll, executive director of the Hotel Council of San Francisco, told the commission the hotel industry employs 24,000 people, 57 percent of whom are San Franciscans, and said the expansion would support jobs and the visitor economy. Jim Lazarus of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce argued the project preserves the city’s competitiveness as a convention destination.

Commissioners asked staff to revisit transportation assumptions in the EIR, including pedestrian flows during overlapping events (for example, Giants games) and signaling timing. Commissioner Antonini suggested the EIR should analyze a larger square footage scenario and explicitly include proposed pedestrian improvements; Commissioner Moore urged attention to cumulative pedestrian circulation as the district is revitalized.

What happens next: Staff will accept written and verbal comments on the adequacy and accuracy of the draft EIR through June 16, 2014. A sponsor presentation and fuller design update are scheduled to return to commission on July 24. Staff emphasized that the hearing was for draft EIR comments, not project approval; certification would follow completion of the responses-to-comments and any necessary revisions.