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Public raises spot‑zoning and shadow concerns at 555 Washington draft EIR hearing; comment period extended to May 18
Summary
Community groups and residents challenged the draft environmental impact report for the proposed 38‑story 555 Washington Street development, raising concerns about spot zoning, historic resources and shadowing on Redwood Park and other public spaces; the Planning Commission extended the written comment period by one week to May 18.
Planning staff opened a public hearing on the draft environmental impact report (DEIR) for the proposed 555 Washington Street project — a 38‑story, approximately 390‑foot proposal that would demolish several buildings and construct residential units and a new park. Joy Navarrete and planning staff limited comments to the adequacy and accuracy of the DEIR under CEQA.
The hearing drew a broad set of community organizations and residents. Jerry Crowley of Neighborhood Network called the proposal "spot zoning" and urged the commission to send the DEIR back for additional analysis, saying the project "upzoning on an individual project basis is not good planning." Nan Roth and Andy Katz of Telegraph Hill Dwellers and others raised historic‑resource questions about the California Ink Company building at 545 Sansom and urged additional documentation and consideration of alternatives that avoid significant shadowing of nearby parks.
Tan Chow of the Chinatown Community Development Center requested more specific housing‑needs analysis by income band, localized population impact analysis and traffic and pedestrian safety study for adjacent corridors (Kearny, Stockton and Broadway). Multiple speakers asked for a more robust code‑complying alternative that would avoid new shadows on Redwood Park and Jackson Square.
Several commissioners echoed the need for additional analysis or clarified the process. Commissioner Seguero moved to extend the written comment period; the commission voted unanimously to extend the DEIR comment deadline by one week to close of business on Monday, May 18, 2009.
Planning staff said written comments will be compiled and responded to in the DEIR comments‑and‑responses document and that the commission will receive responses as they are prepared. Staff also noted that questions about Redwood Park maintenance and park policy will be addressed in subsequent materials and by the Recreation and Park Commission as appropriate.
The public hearing closed after the commission adopted the short extension. The DEIR remains under review and the record will include written comments submitted through the extended deadline.
