Planning Commission certifies Ocean Beach EIR, finds project conforms to General Plan

The San Francisco Planning Commission on Sept. 28 certified the Final Environmental Impact Report for the Ocean Beach Climate Change Adaptation Project and adopted the General Plan Referral (GPR) that finds the project, on balance, conforms with the city’s general plan.

Julie Moore of the Planning Department described the project scope: closure of a portion of the Great Highway to vehicular traffic between Sloat and Skyline boulevards, construction of buried protective infrastructure for wastewater assets, removal of some revetments and pavement, dune and bluff restoration, creation of a multi‑use trail, beach access stairways, coastal parking and new restrooms, and long‑term beach nourishment.

Staff told the commission the final EIR found three areas of significant and unavoidable impact: increased vehicle miles traveled (redirected traffic), related traffic noise from diverted circulation, and unavoidable impacts to the Fort Funston bank‑swallow colony despite new mitigation measures. The department added five mitigation measures after additional agency consultation; agency partners included the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the National Park Service and SFPUC.

Public commenters offered mixed views. Supporters, including volunteer groups and local users, urged certification to protect wastewater infrastructure and adapt to sea‑level rise; others—residents and environmental commenters—pressed the commission to probe VMT increases, emergency‑route implications and the efficacy of seawall/armoring measures. The San Francisco Zoological Society urged more specific mitigation for construction impacts on zoo parking, circulation and animal welfare; staff said the EIR addressed those topics and that further specific measures could be considered by implementing agencies.

The commission voted unanimously, 7‑0, to certify the EIR and to adopt the GPR findings; Planning staff noted that SFPUC and Recreation & Parks would need to adopt statements of overriding considerations should they approve the project in the future.

Next steps: SFPUC and other implementing agencies will consider project approvals and any required overriding‑consideration findings under CEQA.