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Planning Commission certifies SFMOMA expansion EIR, clears path for land swap and new fire station
Summary
The San Francisco Planning Commission unanimously certified the final environmental impact report for SFMOMA’s proposed 230,000‑sq‑ft expansion, accepted CEQA findings and approved related general plan/zoning referrals that enable a land swap and construction of a new Fire Station 1 at 935 Folsom Street. Commissioners and agencies said the project will increase museum space and provide a new firehouse at no cost to the city, but the EIR finds unavoidable construction impacts that will require a statement of overriding considerations if the project is approved.
The San Francisco Planning Commission on Nov. 10 certified the final environmental impact report for the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art expansion and voted unanimously to forward required general‑plan and zoning changes to the Board of Supervisors.
Planning Department staff said the project would demolish two buildings at 670–676 Howard and 935 Folsom, build an approximately 200‑ to 220‑foot, roughly 230,000‑square‑foot SFMOMA addition, relocate Fire Station 1 to 935 Folsom and allow a future residential parcel on the southern portion of that lot. Michael Jacinto, the department’s environmental planner, told the commission the EIR found significant unavoidable impacts related to historic resources (demolition of a building eligible for the California Register) and construction‑period air quality; staff nonetheless recommended the report be certified as adequate and complete for CEQA purposes.
SFMOMA and city officials emphasized public benefits. Neil Beneser, SFMOMA’s director, described longer‑term public programming and increased free access, saying the expansion will "dramatically" increase visitation and public service. Ken Rich of the Office of Economic and Workforce Development summarized the land‑disposition framework, saying SFMOMA will fund and build the new fire station at 935 Folsom and transfer it to the city at no cost.
Deputy Chief Monica Field of the San Francisco Fire Department described operational shortcomings at the current Howard Street station and said a new station at Folsom will improve response and living conditions for firefighters. Supporters from labor and neighborhood groups also testified in favor of the project, citing jobs and neighborhood activation.
Opponents and nearby property owners urged stronger, enforceable measures for construction‑period traffic, valet and loading access. Christine Griffith, representing the W Hotel ownership, said the EIR’s improvement measures did not provide the permanent easement protections the hotel needs for long‑term loading access and estimated half a million dollars in construction‑related costs.
Staff and SFMOMA representatives responded that access and loading issues are addressed in the comments‑and‑responses document and that improvement measures could be imposed as enforceable conditions at later design review (Section 309) hearings. After the public testimony, Commissioner Seguire moved to certify the EIR as "adequate and complete;" the motion carried unanimously.
The certification is a procedural step under CEQA. Because the document identifies unavoidable significant impacts, the commission noted it would need to adopt a statement of overriding considerations if it later approves the project entitlements. The commission later voted, also unanimously, to approve the related actions on findings, the general plan referral, and the zoning map amendment needed to incorporate 676 Howard into the expansion site and to enable construction of the new fire station.
Next steps: the project will return for Section 309 design review and for required Board of Supervisors actions on the land‑disposition and zoning amendments.
