Commission hears extensive public objections to SFMOMA expansion and America's Cup draft EIRs; residents, clubs and parks groups call for more mitigation

The San Francisco Planning Commission held public hearings on draft environmental impact reports Aug. 11, 2011 for two major projects — the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art expansion (including demolition of some buildings, relocation of Fire Station No.1 and a small housing component) and a large waterfront program tied to the 34th America’s Cup and a proposed cruise terminal.

Staff presentation and scope Planning staff summarized the SFMOMA expansion project (Case Nos. 2009.0291E and 2010.0275E). Michael Jacinto said the draft EIR described demolition at 670 and 676 Howard Street and an approximately 200-foot, roughly 230,000-square-foot museum addition; demolition of a building at 935 Folsom, relocation of Fire Station No.1 to that site, and construction of 13 housing units on the Shipley frontage. The draft EIR found demolition of 935 Folsom to be a significant and unavoidable impact and concluded that certain structures are eligible for the California Register of Historic Places. Staff noted the draft EIR was published July 11 and the public-review period runs through Aug. 25, 2011.

SFMOMA public comment: traffic, noise and views Public commenters urged additional analysis and mitigation. Foster Weeks (Clementina Cares) asked for renewed study of traffic and noise associated with the relocated fire station and suggested re‑examining the lack of a traffic signal at Folsom/Shipley. Liz Bridges, speaking for the W Hotel ownership (KSSF Enterprises), said the draft EIR is deficient on construction‑period traffic impacts (two years) and on visual impacts to…