Planning Association for the Richmond, SF

Winter issue of the PAR newsletter is out

The Winter 2016 issue of the PAR newsletter is out — take a look at it here.

Read about: Geary Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) environmental impact evaluation coming to a head; Affordable Bonus Housing Program proposes incentives for new affordable housing in exchange for more height and density; Ocean Beach bonfire policy update; new bike/foot path to Golden Gate Bridge opens; Mountain Lake bubbles as playground work progresses, and more.

And be sure to come to the Winter member meeting, everyone's welcome:

PAR Winter 2016 general meeting
Wednesday, January 13, 7 pm - 9 pm
Richmond Recreation Center, 251 18th Avenue
(between Clement & California streets)

Affordable Bonus Housing Program — We'll continue our discussion of the proposed Affordable Bonus Housing Program, which was introduced at PAR's December 9, 2015 forum.

Come out and be part of PAR's community conversation.

Ocean Beach Fire Program Update

[via the Coalition to Save Ocean Beach / Friends of Sutro Heights Park]

On February 5, the National Park Service hosted a public meeting on the topic of fires on Ocean Beach. There were 81 people in attendance and there was productive dialogue among attendees and NPS staff. Thank you to Supervisor Eric Mar and all who were present and contributed to a successful evening.

The NPS presentation as well as a transcription of all the notes written on the easel charts can be found on the project website. Discussion was wide-ranging, but there were some clear themes.

We heard support for continuing beach fires, a willingness to consider a permit system tempered by concern that it not become too complicated or too costly, a broader understanding of the challenges of enforcing rules and cleaning up after fires, and some understanding of the value of a period of winter closure to coincide with the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) Winter Spare the Air Season and to give the beach a break.

Next Steps

For the upcoming spring/summer season fires will be allowed at Ocean Beach while we continue to work out the details of the future program. All current rules will still be in effect: go.nps.gov/beachfires

The park is currently examining the following topics for the future program:

• Permit system — We are pursuing the implementation of a permit system using Reserve America, an online reservation system that is used effectively by many federal agencies. There are various details still to be determined, however, our objective is to ensure this activity remains as affordable as possible while also assisting NPS in being able to provide a sustainable, quality visitor experience.
• Seasonal closure — NPS is considering a winter rest period during Winter Spare the Air Season, which is defined by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District as November through February. Click here to download more information on this topic.
• New signage and fire rings — We are exploring the option of installing sturdy, steel framed signage on the beach, that includes the beach fire rules, located between the promenade and the fire rings. Additionally, because the current fire rings are not holding up to the heavy use and harsh beach environment we are looking to acquire sturdy, long-lasting custom built rings. However, these improvements are largely contingent on funding availability.
• City partnership — NPS is hopeful that we can enter into a partnership with the City of San Francisco that will allow the City to assist us with the high level of maintenance needs in the area where fires occur.

A public meeting will be scheduled in the late summer this year to share the additional information gathered on the topics listed above.

All NPS updates can be found on the project website: parkplanning.nps.gov/oceanbeachfires

Sunday Streets returns to Ocean Beach on July 7

Bring out your skates, bring out your bike, bring out your dog, bring out your family and your neighbors and your friends — Sunday Streets at Ocean Beach (and Golden Gate Park) is back with car-free streets for play, from the Academy of Sciences all the way to the San Francisco Zoo at the foot of the Great Highway. Enjoy four miles of open streets, dozens of activities, live music and performances.

Sunday Streets in the park and at the beach
Sunday July 7, 11:00am-4:00pm
JFK Drive, Great Highway

There's brand-new pavement on the Great Highway, spectacular smoothness for in-line skates and whelchairs and bicycles, even strolling is nicer and everyone is welcome!

All activities are free and open to all, see the Sunday Streets website for maps and more information.

Ocean Beach Master Plan DRAFT Document- Now Ready for Review

The Ocean Beach Master Plan process was built around public and stakeholder input.

The draft document review period will end February 29, 2012. 

Please review the draft (whole doc here (75M!) and submit your feedback. To ensure your comments are properly recorded and reviewed, please email them to [email protected] in this format:

• Subject line: DRAFT OBMP COMMENTS [your name/affiliation]
• First, GENERAL COMMENTS about the document
• Then, specific comments. For each comment, begin with SECTION and PAGE NUMBER, e.g. “Section V, pp14-15: [your comment]"
• Within your comment, refer to specific graphics as appropriate

OR

• Via US mail:

            SPUR (attn. Benjamin Grant)

654 Mission Street

San Francisco, CA 94105

 

 

La Playa Safeway Update

 

 

 

La Playa Safeway Neighbors, 
 
Thank you again to the neighbors who attended our February 24 community meeting and to everyone that has provided comments on the “Underground Dock Plan” site plan and architecture. We appreciate all of the feedback and have been studying several of the suggestions we received.

 

We have added a landscape architect, acoustical (sound) engineer, and transportation planner to our project team. These experts will assist us in addressing the neighbor-specific interests that have been raised this past year.

Additionally, the San Francisco Planning Department is requesting that Safeway submit a Preliminary Project Assessment (PPA). The PPA is a new informal City process that reviews projects internally before a formal development application is filed. This preliminary assessment is designed to give project applicants initial City feedback and procedural instructions within sixty days. The PPA is not a development application and issuance of a PPA letter isnot a development approval or denial. To learn more about the PPA, please visit the City’s website:

http://www.sf-planning.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=8396

Safeway will turn in its PPA on Tuesday, June 14, 2011, and post a copy to the La Playa Safeway website:

www.safewayonlaplayasf.com

To reiterate, the PPA is not a formal project application but rather a pre-application assessment.

 

Safeway is continuing to refine the “Underground Dock Plan” to address neighbor questions about sound implications, parking circulation and the interim use of land intended for residential development.  We do not have an official date for formal project application, but would estimate a Fall 2011 submittal.  We will keep you updated on our timing for submitting a formal project application. 
 
We appreciate the public involvement that has helped to shape this new Safeway.  There will be many more opportunities for input as we move through the submittal and review process.  In the near future, we are working with PAR to get on the agenda of one of its upcoming general membership meetings. We will email and post the date once it is confirmed. In the meantime, if you have questions or comments, or would like to see the virtual 3-D model of the site plan calibrated to your address, please let me know by reply email.

Respectfully,

Natalie Mattei
Safeway Real Estate Manager

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