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SFBA Treasure Island DEIR comments

 
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BillRx



Joined: 31 May 1998
Posts: 8

PostPosted: Fri Sep 10, 2010 6:18 pm    Post subject: SFBA Treasure Island DEIR comments Reply with quote

SFBA Comments re Treasure Island preferred project alternative in the Draft Environmental Impact Report


September 10, 2010

Mr. Bill Wycko
Environmental Review Officer
San Francisco Planning Department
1650 Mission St., Suite 400
San Francisco, CA 94103

Re: Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the Treasure Island / Yerba Buena Island Redevelopment Project – Case No. 2007.0903E - Comments and Questions on the DEIR

Dear Mr. Wycko:

After many years of public meetings and verbal assurances regarding both the interim and future uses of Treasure Island, the San Francisco Boardsailing Association (Boardsailing = Windsurfing + Kiteboarding) hereby submits comments and questions that we would like to see addressed regarding the “Environmentally Superior Alternative” chosen as the preferred alternative in the DEIR referenced above.

We appreciate the time and cooperation extended over the years by City officials and other stakeholders in incorporating our long-term vision for boardsailing into the Treasure Island Redevelopment Plan. However, because the northern end of Treasure Island is one of the premier, world-class boardsailing locations in the United States, the complete omission of any specific reference to interim and future boardsailing access and facilities in the DEIR raise cause for concern.

One of the premises upon which we have based our access discussions has been the “Proposed Actions and Alternatives” as stated in the “Transfer and Reuse Naval Station Treasure Island Final EIR 2006”, which states in Chapter 2-8:

Recreation Facilities
Several recreation facilities continue to be used on Treasure Island as a venue for regional sports activities. These include the baseball field which serves as the home field for the San Francisco Little League, including regional competitions; the soccer field located in the middle of the Island, which is used by soccer and rugby teams from around the Bay Area; the Great Lawn; and various other open space recreational facilities such as parks, trails and ball-fields. Boardsailors and users of other water oriented recreational crafts use the shoreline of Treasure Island, launching from the boat ramp at the northern corner and landing regularly along the northern shoreline of the island.


Based upon previous experiences with EIR decision documents we believe it necessary that the public components of the Plan be clearly summarized and articulated in the Final EIR for them to carry any weight during the development process. The objective of an EIR is that it look for adequacy and completeness and a good faith effort of full disclosure. Our impression of the project scope presented in this DEIR is one of a “market driven” development, with little priority placed upon the implementation of public improvements so frequently presented during planning discussions.

While our expectation is that the draft “Design for Development for Treasure and Yerba Buena Islands” (“Design for Development”) will be formally adopted in connection with the Redevelopment Plan, it is also our understanding that the Design for Development (D4D) document will exist as a guideline for future “Island” development, more or less in place of building and zoning codes as applied in non-redevelopment. As such, the D4D is more of a guideline for Island development and should not be misconstrued as law. To be more specific, “Section 2:: T1 Public Open Space” of the D4D states in the Standards Column that “T1.6.5.9 – Two loading areas and amenities for boardsailing shall be provided in two locations near parking areas.” While we applaud this description, either this type of specificity needs to be included in the final EIR, or the D4D needs to be adopted as is, and as an appendix to the EIR such that it carries the same force of law. In no section of the DEIR do you find significant discussion of Public Open Space and/or its environmental impact, positive or negative.

While we understand that the substantial downturn in the housing market complicates the
City’s and the project applicant’s ability to provide improved access during the initial stages of construction, we believe that the DEIR should specifically describe incremental access and phasing of Public Open Space and Facilities.

In addition, mandates of the Mac-Ateer Petris Act provide "maximum feasible public access consistent with the project" to apply to all and interim stages of construction as well. Presently, windsurfers, fishermen, walkers, and kayaks use the levee road and launch from the Island. We think that those users should be able to have improved use of the existing facilities, which can be accomplished without any construction, but merely by reopening the parking lot adjacent to the launching ramp. Such options should also be address in the DEIR.


In Summary, please address the following questions:

1) Why is there complete omission of any specific reference to interim and future boardsailing access and facilities in the DEIR?

2) Why is there no reference to the “Proposed Actions and Alternatives” as stated in the “Transfer and Reuse Naval Station Treasure Island Final EIR 2006”, Chapter 2-8?


3) Why does the DEIR not provide specific project scope for Public Open Space and/or its environmental impact, positive or negative?

4) Why does the DEIR not specifically describe “maximum feasible public access consistent with the project" to apply to all and interim stages of construction, including incremental access and phasing of all Public Open Space and Facilities during project development?


In closing, the DEIR does not include the specific depiction of public access that had been agreed upon in earlier versions of the plan. While that detail is included in the D4D, plans and graphics should be part of the Final EIR. The Final EIR should make it clear that part of the long term plan for the 300 acres of parkland is the specific provision for continued and improved access to the water.


Sincerely,

signed

William Robberson, President
San Francisco Boardsailing Association
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paulbroder



Joined: 20 Jun 2000
Posts: 23

PostPosted: Fri Sep 10, 2010 9:18 pm    Post subject: SFBA Treasure Island Reply with quote

GO BILL!! Thanks
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SPQR



Joined: 18 May 2004
Posts: 274

PostPosted: Fri Sep 10, 2010 11:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Wow, nice job Bill. Is it just me or is Wycko Whacko? Should the rest of us email or write this guy?
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