[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6549986,"mediaKeyId","5418795-347e76304bde416cb8f6273e260a0010","parentId",5418795,"title","Planning and Recreation & Park commissions certify EIR and approve entitlements for 530 Sansom project, raise shadow limits","audioSeconds",4189,"startMs",1391000,"endMs",5580000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5418795-347e76304bde416cb8f6273e260a0010&start=1391&end=5580","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5418795-347e76304bde416cb8f6273e260a0010/thumbnail_1391000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6549986/San-Francisco-City/San-Francisco-County/California/Planning-and-Recreation-Park-commissions-certify-EIR-and-approve-entitlements-for-530-Sansom-project-raise-shadow-limits","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6549986-f7845c162b0e938f5083b7d59e094c14/orig.mp4?Expires=1770764780&Signature=e5DMu3JsTOjwtQCUsMe7kIi1tY8LC61Cp288s24myEBk~ft9m7g1I7gYC90WtNnitm8tlNtKJF3zxQnHy4vih9DXPa0g166vkpoBMSV~f92~UXqdahdKj8d8GjMR2XymvVMXon4XIpSNbOOwf1-bCrGUVfL1FOgp1nKB-Y4dR0XTvO4Y6kgsLzW3q8m6cVxAbcDhbSYJzFUn-wH6m4euPD0zhfMGGYCR~9Zall~NpKuSwBdsUt2SzS03zqk3wy6OsxrKEAcKBIk-wqVIavyVbW6xg4hoLT5YhljKkIogoH3g~Zikn0jWb-TBFMt~bQ1a25UJ8voNTcjHhJliT13fiA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of San Francisco","date","2025-07-17T00:00:00Z","article","The San Francisco Planning Commission and Recreation and Park Commission on Thursday moved forward on the 530 Sansom mixed‑use tower and replacement Fire Station 13 project, certifying the Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR), approving multiple related entitlements and recommendations, and agreeing to raise absolute cumulative shadow limits (ACLs) for four downtown parks.

Planning Department staff said the Final EIR analyzed demolition of four existing structures on the project site and construction of two components: a separate four‑story replacement fire station on the 447 Battery Street parcel and a 41‑story mixed‑use tower on the remaining parcels. Sherry George, environmental review coordinator for the Planning Department, summarized the EIR findings and said implementation would cause significant and unavoidable impacts to historic resources and air quality even after mitigation; staff recommended certification of the Final EIR and noted that if the commission approved the project it would also need to adopt a statement of overriding considerations under CEQA.

Tita Bell, legislative aide to Supervisor Danny Sauter, told the commissions the supervisor sees the proposal as “the most significant new project in the Northern Financial District in decades” and highlighted public benefits staff and sponsor briefed commissioners on, including a new, seismically upgraded Fire Station 13; nearly $15,000,000 in affordable housing payments intended to support 100% affordable senior housing in Chinatown (with an initial $2,000,000 payment to be made within six months of entitlements); and an estimated $14,000,000 in annual new general fund revenue.

City staff and the project sponsor described project elements and public benefits. Jonathan Cherry, project manager at the Office of Economic and Workforce Development, explained that the development agreement would vest the sponsor’s project rights for eight years, require the sponsor to design and build the new fire station to department specifications, and that the city’s acceptance of the new station is conditioned on construction completion before the tower is occupied. Cherry said the project sponsor would contribute nearly $15 million for affordable housing and about $1,000,000 to the downtown park fund.

Fire Department representatives spoke in support. Deputy Chief Sayumi Brannan said she spent much of her career at Station 13 and described departmental support for a modernized station. Planning and Rec & Park staff presented a shadow analysis and requested joint action to raise ACLs set in a 1989 memorandum implementing the sunlight ordinance. Recreation and Park Department planner Chris Townes explained that the project would slightly increase annualized shadow loads on Washington Square (from 7.47% to 7.48%), Willie Woo Wong Playground (to roughly 48.04%), Maritime Plaza (from 67.84% to 69.92%) and Sue Bierman Park (by 0.004 percentage points to about 42.698%). Staff characterized the timing and location of most new shadows as early morning or late afternoon; staff recommended the commissions consider qualitative factors such as time of day, program locations within parks and public benefits of the project when deciding whether the new shadows have a significant adverse impact.

Public testimony included supporters who emphasized the affordable-housing payments and a new fire station and opponents who urged rejection or more conditions. Danielle Kuznic, owner of San Francisco Wine Society, said she has operated at 447 Battery Street since 2011 and opposed rescinding the building’s landmark designation, saying losing the site would destroy her business and set a precedent for removing landmarks. San Francisco Heritage and other commenters urged the commissions to protect landmarks and warned about precedent. Chinatown Community Development Center urged approval because of the senior‑housing funding. Speakers also raised concerns about construction impacts to nearby residents and businesses and about downtown office vacancy and market effects.

Procedural and voting actions recorded in the hearing include a recusal: Planning Vice President Moore disclosed a retirement payment from a firm associated with the project sponsor team and asked to be excused; a motion to recuse Moore passed unanimously 6‑0. The Planning Commission certified the Final EIR on a motion and recorded a unanimous vote (5‑0). The commissions voted jointly to raise the ACLs for the four parks to accommodate the project; Planning recorded a 5‑0 vote and Recreation and Park recorded a unanimous vote to raise the limits. The Recreation and Park Commission voted that the project’s net new shadow would not have a significant adverse impact on the four parks (roll call recorded as affirmative). The Planning Commission then voted to adopt CEQA findings, shadow findings, recommend general plan and planning-code amendments, recommend a development agreement, adopt conditional use findings and approve a large‑cap office allocation — those items passed on recorded votes (motion passed 5‑0). A separate motion on the planning code text amendment (Article 10 / landmark conditional rescission) passed but recorded a 4‑1 vote, with Commissioner Imperial voting against the code amendment recommendation to the Board of Supervisors.

Staff and sponsor representatives said the project requires additional Board of Supervisors approvals, property‑exchange updates and a separate financial mechanism the city will consider to recapture future revenue to offset fire station construction costs. Project supporters and city staff described job creation, prevailing wage and local hiring commitments in the development agreement and a projected annual economic impact and fiscal contribution to the city budget.

The commissions’ actions advance the project through the city’s entitlement process; the Board of Supervisors will receive the planning commission’s recommendations and consider the landmark rescission, ordinances and related transactional documents before any demolition or construction could begin.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of San Francisco - Video Open Video Only in Windows Media Player - Jul 17, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Planning Commission and Recreation and Park Commission on Thursday certified the Final EIR and approved entitlements and joint shadow actions to advance the 530 Sansom mixed‑use tower and replacement Fire Station 13 project, while public commenters raised historic‑preservation and small‑business concerns.","taxTitle","San Francisco City, San Francisco County, California","taxId",5751,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6549991,"San Francisco commissions approve $2.8 million in Downtown Park Fund allocations for three park projects",1106,114000,1220000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5418795-347e76304bde416cb8f6273e260a0010&start=114&end=1220","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5418795-347e76304bde416cb8f6273e260a0010/thumbnail_114000.jpg","/articles/6549991/San-Francisco-City/San-Francisco-County/California/San-Francisco-commissions-approve-28-million-in-Downtown-Park-Fund-allocations-for-three-park-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6549991-05223c21f5ed6f93c81ff1410245c949/orig.mp4?Expires=1770764780&Signature=MrDn951pPcGV1a-23NTzn5v45U6CvFDb~i0-EUK1oh8LfMSP~-SP6EMAEgCKn2sA~Y73MmLx7bl0FSG6DIFskpx6v3zTiphTGf--yIueYMMpYSEw4rCqlK5YhbTHQibCnOd7PamVk31gsmKCsGHK34wWfpulGQowWGcOg5z2ETNeOp1cnF9YxxllWQ50-JBIpy7qdjO5jV3395sQZyezZ-U6NhzBhOgvtXi-d3CRAmstkd6smiF0iGvMvdMXPUo0A0IgGr5Es9PfBW4PtXJL-lQO5EOnmF6jV~c6Lnydw1ePWz1lUadj4ObXGqjGh156HAXFDQp7eXJTHidP9dosRQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The San Francisco Planning Commission and Recreation and Park Commission on Thursday approved joint allocations totaling $2,800,000 from the Downtown Park Special Fund for three park projects: a replacement Gene Friend Recreation Center, a renovation of Portsmouth Square, and planning and design work for Embarcadero Plaza and Sue Bierman Park.

The Downtown Park Fund allocations were presented by Phoenix Alfaro, a planner in the Recreation and Parks Department’s capital and planning division, who told the commissions the department was requesting “a total allocation of $2,800,000 from the downtown park special fund for 3 park renovation projects.” Alfaro listed the requested amounts as $1,150,000 for the Gene Friend Recreation Center, $1,150,000 for Portsmouth Square, and $500,000 for Embarcadero Plaza and portions of Sue Bierman Park.

The allocations are intended for construction shortfalls and planning costs. Alfaro said the Gene Friend Recreation Center “will be replaced with a new 25,000 square foot center” including two full-size basketball courts and other indoor and outdoor amenities, and that the requested funds would help cover unanticipated construction costs so the project remains on schedule to open before the 2026 school year. Portsmouth Square’s allocation will support a complete renovation including a community clubhouse, playground consolidation and removal of a pedestrian bridge. The Embarcadero allocation is directed at planning and design for a multi-acre waterfront revitalization.

Public commenters urged that the project designs explicitly include skateboarding and small-wheeled mobility elements. Aaron Bree Orr, who identified himself as a skateboarding advocate, asked the commissions to “earmark in them space for skateboarding to be delivered, in an entry level and accessible way for all ages.” Rec and Park and Planning commissioners responded in discussion that skate elements and mobile skate programs are already being expanded elsewhere in the system and that staff track usage and program needs when shaping park designs.

Commissioners from both bodies spoke in support of the allocations, citing heavy use and visibility of the parks and the near-term benefit to communities. Planning Commissioner Braun asked staff about past uses of the Downtown Park Fund; staff said the department last requested money from the fund in 2019 for Turk Hyde Mini Park and other improvements and described how those funds were applied. A joint motion to approve the allocations passed on voice votes; the Planning Commission recorded a 6‑0 vote in favor and the Recreation and Park Commission recorded unanimous support in their roll call.

The commissions’ approvals are limited to the Downtown Park Fund allocations; other approvals or construction timelines remain governed by each project’s separate permitting and contracting processes.

The commissions moved on after the vote; staff and commissioners said they expected the fund allocations to help keep the Gene Friend project on track and to advance design work for the waterfront sites.","Planning and Recreation & Park commissions jointly approved $2.8 million from the Downtown Park Special Fund to help finish the Gene Friend Recreation Center, renovate Portsmouth Square and advance planning for Embarcadero Plaza and Sue Bierman Park.","actionData","errors"]

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Planning and Recreation & Park commissions certify EIR and approve entitlements for 530 Sansom project, raise shadow limits

San Francisco commissions approve $2.8 million in Downtown Park Fund allocations for three park projects