Case no. 2006.1524E--350 Mission Street office building : notice of preparation of an environmental impact report and availability of the initial study

2010·5.4 MB·English

by  San Francisco (Calif.). Planning Dept

SANFRANCISCOPUBLICLIBRARY
3 1223 08817 3027
bAN i-hANCISCO
PLANNING DEPARTIVIENT
June 2, 2010 1650MissionSt.
ToResponsibleAgencies, TrusteeAgencies, andInterested Parties: Suite400
SanFrancisco,
CA94103-2479
RE: CASE NO. 2006.1524E-350 MISSION STREET OFFICE BUILDING
NOTICE OF PREPARATION OFAN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORTAND Reception:
415.558.6378
AVAILABILITY OFTHEINITIAL STUDY
A Notice of Preparation (NOP) of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the above-referenced project, Fax:
415.558.6409
described below, has been issued by the Planning Department. The NOP/Notice of Public Scoping Meeting is
eitherattachedorisavailableuponrequestfrom BrettBollinger, whomyou mayreachat(415) 575-9024 oratthe Planning
Information:
/^niino afhttp://www.sf-planning.org/index.aspx?page=1828.Thisnoticeisbeing 415.558.6377
idaspotentiallyhavinganinterestintheprojectortheprojectarea.
r, GLL US Office, L.P., proposes to demolish the existing four-story
truct a 24-story, approximately 355-foot-tall (plus mechanical space)
square feet of office space, 6,600 square feet of restaurant and retaU
nspace. Retail and restaurantspaceswould includea retailstore and a
restaurant and conference space on the second floor. A 40-foot-wide
I
San FranciscoPublicLibrary ieaccesstotwoloadingand twoserviceparkingspacesontheground
:e parking spaces in three subgrade levels. The building would be
lED (LeadershipinEnergy EfficientDesign) Goldrating.
Government Information Center
San Francisco Public Library missionreview and approval underSection309 of the Planning Code,
100 Larkin Street, 5''^ Floor ponsor is seeking exceptions, pursuant to Section309, to Planning Code
San Francisco, CA 94102 ion 270), and separation of towers (Section 132.1)(c)). In addition, the
ie's wind current requirements (Section 148), based on the results of a
tto Planning CodeSection321 (Office Development: Annual Limit) and
REFERENCE BOOK In addition, construction may require use of curb lane(s) adjacent to
.
Nottobetakenfrom thelibrary would require permits from the Department of Public Works and the
project would also require building permits, which would require
^artmentandDepartmentofBuildingInspection(DBI).
The 18,909-square-foot project site (Block 3710, Lot 017) is in a C-3-0 (Downtown Commercial—Office) Use
Districtanda550-SHeightandBulkDistrict.
Determination. The PlanningDepartmenthas determined thatan EIR mustbe prepared for the proposed project
prior to any final decision regarding whether to approve the project. The purpose of the EIR is to provide
informationaboutpotential significant physicalenvironmental effects of the proposed project, to identify possible
ways to minimizethesignificanteffects, and todescribe and analyzepossible alternatives to the proposed project.
Preparation of an NOP or EIR does not indicate a decision by the City to approve or to disapprove the project.
However, prior to making any such decision, the decision maikers must review and consider the information
containedinthe EIR.The (EIR)willevaluatepotentialimpacts, includingcumulativeimpacts, related totrafficand
transportation, air quality, greenhouse gas emissions, shadow and wind, and hazardous materials. Other issues
have been determined to result in less-than-significant impacts, as documented in the Initial Study. The EIR will
late alternatives to the proposed project, including the required No Project Alternative^ajra^^p^j^yji^iHJ|-j-
D mativesthatwouldreduceoreliminatesignificantenvironmentaliimmppaaccttsso( fthePprpB^^gW3.p^r.TQieSrt»D^^EP.-,T
REF
711.4097
T41356n JUN -3 Z010
www.sfplanninq.orq
SAN FRANCISCO
PUBLIC LIBRARY

SAN FRANCISCO
PLANNING DEPARTMENT
June 2, 2010 1650MissionSt.
To ResponsibleAgencies, TrusteeAgencies, andInterested Parties: Suite400
SanFrancisco.
CA94103-2479
RE: CASE NO. 2006.1524E-350 MISSION STREET OFFICE BUILDING
NOTICE OF PREPARATION OFAN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORTAND Reception:
415.558.6378
AVAILABILITY OF THE INITIAL STUDY
A Notice of Preparation (NOP) of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the above-referenced project, Fax:
415.558.6409
described below, has been issued by the Planning Department. The NOP/Notice of Public Scoping Meeting is
eitherattachedorisavailableuponrequestfrom BrettBoUinger, whom you mayreachat(415) 575-9024orat the Planning
Information:
aboveaddress.Itisalsoavailableonlineathttp://www.sf-planrung.org/index.aspx?page=1828.Thisnoticeisbeing 415.558.6377
senttoyoubecauseyouhavebeenidentifiedaspotentiallyhavinganinterestintheprojectortheprojectarea.
Project Description. The project sponsor, GLL US Office, L.P., proposes to demolish the existing four-story
building at 350Mission Street and construct a 24-story, approximately 355-foot-tall (plus mechanical space)
tower containing approximately 356,000 square feet of office space, 6,600 square feet of restaurant and retail
space, and6,960 squarefeetofpublicopenspace. Retailand restaurantspaces would includea retail store and a
coffee bar/cafe on the ground floor and a restaurant and conference space on the second floor. A 40-foot-wide
drivewayonFremontStreetwouldprovideaccessto twoloadingand twoserviceparkingspaceson theground
floor and 61 parking spaces and 64 bike parking spaces in three subgrade levels. The building would be
constructedtostandardsrequiredforaLEED (LeadershipinEnergy EfficientDesign) Goldrating.
The projectwould require Planning Commissionreview and approval underSection 309 ofthe Planning Code,
Permit Review inC-3 Districts, and the sponsor is seeking exceptions, pursuant to Section 309, to Planning Code
requirements for upper tower bulk (Section 270), and separation of towers (Section 132.1)(c)). In addition, the
project may seek an exception to the Code's wind current requirements (Section 148), based on the results of a
wind study. The projectwould be subjectto Planning Code Section321 (Office Development: Annual Limit) and
Section295, concerning shadow impacts. In addition, construction may require use of curb lane(s) adjacent to
the site for a pedestrianwalkway, which would require permits from the Department of Public Works and the
Municipal Transportation Agency. The project would also require building permits, which would require
reviewand approvalbythePlanningDepartmentandDepartmentofBuildingInspection (DBI).
The 18,909-square-foot project site (Block 3710, Lot 017) is in a C-3-0 (Downtown Commercial—Office) Use
Districtanda550-SHeightandBulkDistrict.
Determination. The PlanningDepartmenthas determined thatan EIR mustbe prepared for the proposed project
prior to any final decision regarding whether to approve the project. The purpose of the EIR is to provide
informationaboutpotential significant physicalenvironmental effects of the proposed project, to identify possible
ways to minimize the significanteffects, and to describe and analyze possible alternatives to the proposed project.
Preparation of an NOP or EIR does not indicate a decision by the City to approve or to disapprove the project.
However, prior to making any such decision, the decision makers must review and consider the information
containedinthe EIR.The(EIR)willevaluatepotentialimpacts, includingcumulativeimpacts, related totrafficand
transportation, air quality, greenhouse gas emissions, shadow and wind, and hazardous materials. Other issues
have been determined to result in less-than-significant impacts, as documented in the Initial Study. The EIR will
alsoevaluate alternatives to the proposed project, including the required No Project Alternative
otheralternativesthatwouldreduceoreliminatesignificantenvironmentalimpactsofthepro^^d
^^'^^TS DEPT
JUN-
3 2010
www.sfplanninq.orq
SAN FRANCISCO
PUBLIC LIBRARY
Notice of Preparation ofan EIR Case No. 2006.1524E
June2, 2010 350 Mission Street
The Planning Department will hold a PUBLIC SCOPING MEETING on Tuesday,June22, 2010, at 6:00p.m. at
50 Fremont Street, Suite 2275 (office of the project sponsor, GLL USOffice, across the street from the projectsite.
Thepurposeofthis meeting is to receiveoral comments toassistthe Planning Departmentinreviewingthescope
and content of the environmental impact analysis and information to be contained in the EIR for the project.
Written comments will also be accepted until the close of business on Friday, July2, 2010. Written comments
should be sent to Bill Wycko, San Francisco Planning Department, 1650 MissionStreet, Suite 400, San Frandsco,
CA
94103.
Ifyou work foranagency thatisa ResponsibleoraTrusteeAgency, weneed to know theviewsofyouragency
as to the scope and content of the environmental information that is relevant to your agency's statutory
responsibilities in connection with the proposed project. Your agency may need to use the EIR when
considering a permit or other approval for this project. We will also need the name of the contact person for
your agency. If you have questions concerning environmental review of the proposed project, please contact
Brett Bollingerat(415) [email protected].
3 1223 08817 3027
SAN FRANCISCO
PLANNING DEPARTMENT
Notice of Preparation of an Environmental Impact Report 1650MissionSt.
Suite400
Date: June2, 2010 SanFrancisco,
CA94103-2479
CaseNo.: 2006.1524E
Project Title: 350 Mission Street Reception:
415.558.6378
Zoning: C-3-0(DowntownCommercial—Office)
550-SHeightand BulkDistrict Fax:
415.558.6409
Block/Lot: 3710/017
LotSize: 18,909 squarefeet Planning
ProjectSponsor GLLUSOffice, L.P. Information:
415.558.6377
Contact: DanielFrattin, Reuben&JuniusLP-[phone]
LeadAgency: SanFrancisco PlanningDepartment
StaffContact: BrettBollinger-[phone]
[email protected]
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The project sponsor, GLL US Office, L.P., proposes to demolish the existing four-story building at
350Mission Street and construct a 24-story, approximately 355-foot-tall (plus mechanical space) tower
containing approximately356,000 square feetofoffice space, 6,600 square feetofrestaurantand retail space,
and 6,960 square feet of public open space. Retail and restaurant spaces would include a retail store and a
coffee bar/cafe on the ground floor and a restaurant and conference space on the second floor. A 40-foot-
wide driveway on Fremont Street would provide access to two loading and two service parking spaces on
the ground floor and 61 parking spaces and 64 bike parking spaces in three subgrade levels. The building
would be constructed to standards required for a LEED (Leadership in Energy Efficient Design) Gold
rating.
The project would require Planning Commission review and approval under Section 309 of the Planning
Code, Permit Review in C-3 Districts, and the sponsor is seeking exceptions, pursuant to Section 309, to
Planning Code requirements for upper towerbulk (Section 270), and separation of towers (Section 132.1)(c)).
In addition, the project may seek an exception to the Code's wind current requirements (Section 148), based
on the results of a wind study. The project would be subject to Planning Code Section 321 (Office
Development: Annual Limit) and Section295, concerning shadow impacts. In addition, construction may
require use ofcurb lane(s) adjacentto the site for a pedestrian walkway, which would require permits from
the Departmentof Public Works and the Municipal Transportation Agency. The project would also require
building permits, which would require review and approval by the Planning Department and Department
ofBuildingInspection(DBI).
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWTOPICS
The Environmental Impact Report (EIR) will evaluate potential impacts, including cumulative impacts,
related to traffic and transportation, air quality, greenhouse gas emissions, shadow and wind, and
hazardous materials. Other issues have been determined to result in less-than-significant impacts, as
documented in the Initial Study for the proposed project. The EIR will also evaluate alternatives to the
proposed project, including the required No Project Alternative and one or more other alternatives that
would reduceoreliminate significantenvironmentalimpactsoftheproposed project.
www.sfplanninq.orq
Notice ofPreparationofan EIR Case No. 2006.1524E
June 2, 2010 350Mission Street
FINDING
THIS PROJECT COULD HAVE A SIGNIFICANT EFFECT ON THE ENVIRONMENT, AND AN
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT WILL BE REQUIRED. This finding is based upon the criteria of the
Guidelines of the State Secretary for Resources, Sections 15063 (Initial Study), 15064 (Determining Significant
Effect), and 15065 (Mandatory Findings ofSignificance), and the reasons as documented in the Environmental
Evaluation(InitialStudy) fortheproject, whichisattached.
PUBLIC SCOPING PROCESS
Pursuant to the State of Califomia Public Resources Code Section 21083.9 and California Environmental
Quality Act Guidelines Section 15206, a public scoping meeting will be held to receive oral comments
concerning thescopeofthe EIR. Themeetingw^illbe held onTuesday,June22,2010, at6:00p.m. at50 Fremont
Street, Suite 2275 (office of the project sponsor, GLL US Office, across the street from the projectsite). Written
comments will also be accepted at this meeting and until 5 p.m. on Friday, July2, 2010. Written comments
shouldbesentto BillWycko, Environmental ReviewOfficer, San Frandsco PlanningDepartment, 1650Mission
Street,Suite400, SanFrancisco,CA94103.
StateAgencies: Ifyou workfora responsibleagency, weneed toknow theviewsofyouragency regarding the
scope and content oftheenvironmental information thatisgermane toyouragency's statutory responsibilities
in connection with the proposed project. Your agency may need to use the EIR when considering a permit or
otherapprovalforthisproject. Pleaseincludethenameofacontactpersoninyouragency.
Environmental ReviewOfficer
STUDY
INITIAL
350 MISSION STREET
PLANNING DEPARTMENT CASE NO. 2006.1524E
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
A. Project Description 1
B. Project Setting 11
C. Compatibilitywith ExistingZoningand Plans 14
D. SummaryofEnvironmental Effects 18
E. EvaluationofEnvironmental Effects 18
1. Land Useand Land UsePlanning 18
2. Aesthetics 20
3. Populationand Housing 29
4. Cultural Resources 33
5. Transportation and Circulation 39
6. Noise 42
7. AirQuality 48
8. Wind and Shadow 50
9. Recreationand PublicSpace 52
10. Utilities and ServiceSystems 54
11. PublicServices 58
12. Biological Resources 60
13. Geology and Soils 62
14. Hydrology and WaterQuality 66
15. Hazards and Hazardous Materials 72
16. Mineral and Energy Resources 79
17. Agriculture and ForestResources 81
18. MandatoryFindings ofSignificance 82
F. Mitigation Measures 82
G. Determination 88
H. Listof Preparers 89
LIST OF FIGURES
1. ProjectLocation 2
2. Ground FloorPlan 4
3. Mezzanine Plan 5
4. Representative Upper FloorPlan 6
5. MissionStreet (South) and FremontStreet(West) Elevations 9
6. ViewpointMap 22
7. Viewpoint 1: Looking North onFremontStreet from South ofMissionStreet 23
8. Viewpoint2: Looking Easton MissionStreetfrom TransbayTerminal Bus WaitingArea 24
9. Viewpoint3: Looking NorthonFremontStreet fromSoutheastComerof 25
Missionand FremontStreets
10. Viewpoint4: Looking NorthwestonMission Streetfrom EastofFremontStreet 26
11. Viewpoint5: LookingSoutheastonFremontStreet from NorthofMissionStreet 27
Case No. 2006.1524E 350 Mission Street
i
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LIST OF ACRONYMS
Cal-OSHA Division orOccupahonal Safety and Health, California Departmentof LaborRelations
CDMG
California Division ofMines and Geology (now California Geological Survey)
CEQA California Environmental QualityAct
Corps U.S. Army Corpsof Engineers
dJOBAA A-weighted Decibel(s)
DBI San Francisco DepartmentofBuilding Inspection
rD^rmHT CSan Fr-<ranci•sco 1D—\epart,ment, of/"Pnuibll*ic HTTealth
DPW San Francisco Departmentof Public Works
ERO Environmental Review Officer, SanFranciscoPlanningDepartment
FEMA Federal Emergency ManagementAgency
FIRMs Flood Insurance Rate Maps
HUD
DepartmentofHousingand UrbanDevelopment
LEED® Leadership in Energyand EnvironmentalDesign
LOS Level ofService
MEA
Major Environmental AnalysisDivision, SanFrancisco Planning Department
MRZ-4 MineralResource Zone4
NFIP National Flood Insurance Program
NPDES Nahonal PollutantDischarge EhmmationSystem
OPR Governor's Office of Planning and Research
OSHA FederalOccupational Safety and HealthAdministration
SFFD San Francisco Fire Department
SFHA Special Flood Hazard Area
SFMTA San Francisco MunicipalTransportationAgency
SFPUC San Francisco PublicUtilities Commission
SMP
Site Mitigation Plan
UST Underground Storage Tank
Case No. 2006.1524E ii 350 Mission Street
207037
Study
Initial
2006.1 524E - 350 Mission Street
A. PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Theprojectsponsor, GLL USOffice, L.P., proposes to demolishtheexisting four-storybuilding at
350MissionStreetand constructa24-story, approximately355-foot-tall (plusmechanical space) tower
containingapproximately356,000 square feetofoffice space, 6,600 square feetofrestaurantand retail
space, and 6,960squarefeetofpublicopenspace. Retail and restaurantspaces would include acoffee
bar/cafe on the ground floor and a restaurantand conference spaceon the second floor. A40-foot-wide
drivewayonFremontStreetwould provide access to two loading and twoservice parking spaces on the
ground floorand 61 parking spaces and 64bikeparking spacesin three subgrade levels. Thebuilding
wouldbe constructed to standardsrequired fora LEED (Leadership in Energy EfficientDesign) Gold
rating.1
PROJECT LOCATION AND SITE CHARACTERISTICS
The projectsite, located at350 MissionStreet, on the northeastcomerofMissionand FremontStreets, is
onAssessor'sBlock3710, Lot 17.^ Thesite iswithinthe C-3-0DowntownOfficeUse Districtand the
550-Sheightand bulkDistrict (550 footheightlimit; setbacks required forfloorsabovebuilding "base";
permitted floorarea ratio is 9.0:1; FARofup to 18.0:1 is permitted with transferofdevelopmentrights).
The approximately 19,000-square-footprojectsite isgenerally, flatwithanelevationof3 feet, SFD at the
comerofMissionand FremontStreets.^The site, whichhas frontages on Mission and FremontStreets, is
currentlyfully occupiedby a four-story, approximately 60-foot-tallbuilding providingabout
95,000square feetoffloorarea, including the 13,000-square-footbasement. Approximately 72,000 square
feetofoffice space, currently ineducational usebyHeald College, and 10,000 square feetofretail space
occupythe existingbuilding. No off-streetparkingspaces or loading spaces are currently provided. The
buildingwasbuilt in 1923. There is a total ofninestreettrees along the Fremontand MissionStreet
frontages. Figure1 shows theprojectlocation.
PROPOSED PROJECT
The proposed projectwould consistofa 24-story, approximately355-foot-talloffice towerwithoffice uses
occupyingapproximately356,000 square feeton floors5 through24 (the buildingwouldhaveno
TheLEEDBuildingRatingSystemisathird-partycertificationprogramandbenchmarkforthedesign,constructionand
operationofgreenbuildings.Itprovidesbuildingdesigners,ownersandoperatorswithtoolstoassessaproject'sperformance
withrespecttoenvironmentalresponsibility. .MoreinformationabouttheLEEDratingsystemcanbeobtainedat
http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CategoryID=19.accessedonApril21,2008.
ConsistentwithSanFranciscopractice.MarketStreetandstreetsparallelareconsideredeast-weststreets.Thus,MissionStreet
runseast-west,andFremontStreetrunsnorth-south.
SanFrpnciscoCityDatum(SFD)establishestheCity'szeropointforsurveyingpurposesatapproximately8.6feetabovethe
meansealevelestablishedby1929U.S.GeologicalSurveydatum.
Case No. 2006.1524E 1 350 Mission Street
207037