Draft environmental impact report : California Academy of Sciences, Golden Gate Park ...

316 Pages·2003·17.7 MB·English

by  San Francisco (Calif.). Planning Dept

SANFRANCISCOPUBLICLIBRARY
3 1223 06194 8353
CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
GOLDEN GATE PARK
STEINHART AQUARIUM NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM
•
MORRISON PLANETARIUM EDUCATION RESEARCH
• •
DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT
SAN FRANCISCO PLANNING DEPARTMENT
2002.0782E
STATE CLEARING HOUSE NO. 2002092097
DRAFT FIR PUBLICATION DATE: MARCH 15, 2003
DRAFT FIR PUBLIC HEARING DATE: APRIL 24, 2003
DRAFT FIR PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD:
MARCH 15, 2003 TO APRIL 29, 2003 DOCUMENTS DEPT.
MAR 1 7 2003
SAN FRANCISCO
PUBLIC LIBRARY
Written comments should be sent to:
REF Paul Maltzer, Environmental Review Officer •San Francisco Planning Department
711 4097 1660 Mission Street, Suite 500, San Francisco, CA 94103
.
C1283
2003
5/S
San FranciscoPublicLibrary
VERNMEKTIKfOMONCEfWiiai
SAN FRANCISCO PUBUC
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REFERENCE BOOK
Not to be taken from the Library
PLANNING DEPARTMENT
City and County ofSan Francisco • 1660 Mission Street, Suite 500 • San Francisco, California • 94103-2414
MAINNUMBER DIRECTOR'SOFFICE ZONINGADMINISTRATOR PLANNINGINFORMATION COMMISSIONCALENDAR
PHONE:[phone] PHONE:[phone] PHONE:[phone] INFO:558-6422
[phone]
4THFLOOR 5THFLOOR MAJORENVIRONMENTAL INTERNETWEBSITE
FAX:[phone] FAX:[phone] FAX:[phone] WWW.SFGOV.ORG/PLANNING
DATE: March 15, 2003
TO: Distribution List for the California Academy of Sciences Project Draft EIR
FROM: Paul Maltzer, Environmental Review Officer
SUBJECT: Request for the Final Environmental Impact Report for the California Academy ofSciences Project
(Case No. 2002.0782E)
This is the Draft ofthe Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the California Academy of Sciences Project. A public
hearing will be held on the adequacy and accuracy ofthis document. After the public hearing, we will prepare and
publish a document titled "Summary ofComments and Responses" that will contain a summary ofall relevant
comments on this Draft EIR and our responses to those comments. It may also specify changes to this Draft EIR.
Those who testify at the hearing on the Draft EIR will automatically receive a copy ofthe Comments and Responses
document, along with notice ofthe date reserved for certification; others may receive such copies and notice on request
or by visiting our office. This Draft EIR together with the Summary of Comments and Responses document will be
considered by the City Planning Commission in an advertised public meeting(s) and certified as a Final EIR ifdeemed
adequate.
After certification, we will modify the Draft EIR as specified by the Comments and Responses document and print both
documents in a single publication called the Final EIR. The Final EIR will add no new information to the combination
ofthe two documents except to reproduce the certification resolution. It will simply provide the information in one,
rather than two, documents. Therefore, ifyou receive a copy ofthe Comments and Responses document in addition to
this copy ofthe Draft EIR, you will technically have a copy ofthe Final EIR.
We are aware that many people who receive the Draft EIR and Summary of Comments and Responses have no interest
in receiving virtually the same information after the EIR has been certified. To avoid expending money and paper
needlessly, we would like to send copies ofthe Final EIR to private individuals only ifthey request them. Ifyou would
like a copy ofthe Final EIR, therefore, please fill out and mail the postcard provided inside the back cover to the San
Francisco Planning Department within two weeks after certification ofthe EIR. Any private party not requesting a
Final EIR by that time will not be mailed a copy. Public agencies on the distribution list will automatically receive a
copy ofthe Final EIR.
Thank you for your interest in this project.

CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
GOLDEN GATE PARK
STEINHART AQUARIUM NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM
•
MORRISON PLANETARIUM EDUCATION RESEARCH
• •
DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT
SAN FRANCISCO PLANNING DEPARTMENT
2002.0782E
STATE CLEARING HOUSE NO. 2002092097
DRAFT EIR PUBLICATION DATE: MARCH 15, 2003
DRAFT EIR PUBLIC HEARING DATE: APRIL 24, 2003
DRAFT EIR PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD:
MARCH 15, 2003 TO APRIL 29, 2003
Written comments should be sent to:
Paul Maltzer, Environmental Review Officer •San Francisco Planning Department
1660 Mission Street, Suite 500, San Francisco, CA 94103
3 1223 06194 8353
California Academy of Sciences
Draft Environmental Impact Report
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
SUMMARY
I. S-1
n. PROJECT DESCRIPTION 1
A. Project Objectives 1
B. Project Location 3
C. Project Characteristics 5
D. Project Schedule, Cost, Approvals and General Plan Policies 21
E. Approvals Requirements 22
m. ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING AND IMPACTS 24
A. Land Use, Plans, and Zoning 24
B. Transportation 34
C. Historic Resources 89
D. Visual Quality 123
E. Air Quality 140
F. Shadow 152
G. Growth Inducement 163
IV. MITIGATION MEASURES PROPOSED TO MINIMIZE
POTENTIAL ADVERSE IMPACTS OF THE PROJECT 166
A
Transportation 166
.
B. Historic Resources 169
C. Visual Resources 170
D. Air Quality 170
E. Noise 171
F. Geology/Topography 171
G. Water Quality 172
H. Hazards/Hazardous Materials 173
I. Archaeological Resources 173
V. SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS THAT CANNOT BE
AVOIDED IF THE PROPOSED PROJECT IS IMPLEMENTED 178
VI. ALTERNATIVES TO THE PROPOSED PROJECT 179
A. Alternative A: No Project 179
B. Preservation Alternative B: Full Academy Program/
Increased Building Height 182
C. Preservation Alternative C: Reduced Development Program/
Heights Maintained 189
CaseNo. 2002.0782E
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CaliforniaAcademyofSciencesProject March 15, 2003
Table ofContents
Page
Vn. DRAFT EIR DISTRIBUTION LIST 194
REPORT PREPARERS; ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS
VIII.
CONSULTED
200
APPENDICES
A. Initial Study A-1
B. Air Quality - Project Emissions Calculation Worksheet B-1
LIST OF FIGURES
1 Project Location 4
.
2. Proposed Site Plan 6
3. Floor Plan Ground Level LI 7
4. Floor Plan Upper Level L2 8
5. Floor Plan Upper Level L3 9
6. Floor Plan Basement Level Bl 10
7. Floor Plan Basement Level B2 11
8. Section of Future Collections Growth Area 12
9. North and South Elevations 13
10. East and West Elevations 14
11. Intersection Locations 40
12. Academy Buildings by Name and Date of Construction 95
13A. Historic View of Steinhart Aquarium (1925) 97
13B. Historic View ofAcademy (1960) 97
14A. Contemporary Exterior View of Steinhart Aquarium 98
14B Contemporary Interior View of Steinhart Aquarium (Swamp) 98
15. Contemporary Exterior View of Simson African Hall 99
16A. Contemporary Exterior View of Science Hall 102
16B. Contemporary Interior View of Morrison Planetarium 102
17. Viewpoint Locations 126
18. View South From Tea Garden Drive Near the deYoung Museum 127
19. View Southwest From the Music Concourse 128
20. View Northeast From Shakespeare Garden 129
21. View Northwest From Middle Drive East 130
22. Year-Round Shadow Trace 154
23. Shadow Patterns - December 21 (10 a.m., Noon, 3 p.m. PST) 155
24. Shadow Patterns - March 21 (10 a.m., Noon, 3 p.m. PST) 156
25. Shadow Patterns - June 21 (10 a.m., Noon, 3 p.m. PDT) 157
26. Shadow Patterns - September 21 (10 a.m.. Noon, 3 p.m. PDT) 158
27. Preservation Alternative B: Basic Site Plan 184
Case No. 2002.0782E
CaliforniaAcademyofSciencesProject ii March 15, 2003
Table ofContents
Page
LIST OF TABLES
1. Existing and New Academy Programs 17
2. Intersection Level of Service Existing Conditions 42
3. Existing Parking Conditions 46
4. Daily Attendance and Trip Generation for Existing and Proposed CAS 52
5. Proposed Project's Person-Trip Generation (Net-New Visitors) 53
6. Baseline and Baseline Plus Project Intersection Level of Service Conditions 57
7. Baseline and Baseline Plus Project Parking Conditions 58
8. Intersection Level of Service Baseline Plus Project Plus
Underground Parking Facility Conditions 73
9. Baseline Plus Project Plus Underground Parking Facility Conditions 75
10. Intersection Level of Service 2015 Cumulative Without
Underground Parking Facility Conditions 79
11. Intersection Level of Service 2015 Cumulative With
Underground Parking Facility Conditions 80
12. Proposed Project's Percent Contribution 2015 Cumulative Without
Underground Parking Facility Conditions 82
13. Proposed Project's Percent Contribution 2015 Cumulative With
Underground Parking Facility Conditions 83
14. Future Daily Operational Air Quality Effects 148
15. Localized Carbon Monoxide Concentrations 149
CaseNo. 2002.0782E m
CaliforniaAcademyofSciencesProject March 15, 2003
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