Planning Commission initiates waterfront plan amendments, delays EIR certification to later hearing

The Planning Commission on March 9 initiated a package of amendments intended to align the city’s general plan and planning code with an updated Port-led waterfront plan. Planning staff and Port representatives briefed commissioners on the scope of changes, which include updated area-plan language on resilience and equity, a new southern waterfront special-use district subject to the Waterfront Design Advisory review, and limited zoning map cleanups.

David Boupre (deputy director, Port) described the waterfront plan as an update to the 1997 framework that preserves maritime priorities while integrating policies on equity, multimodal access and climate resilience. Matt Snyder (planning staff) and colleagues said the proposal would amend multiple elements and area plans — notably the Northeastern and Central waterfront area plans — to add language on sea-level rise, resilience, open space connections and consistency with the Bay Trail and ferry access.

Deputy City Attorney Austin Yang clarified a procedural point raised by Commissioner Diamond: "The initiation itself is just that. The actual general plan amendment will not be approved until a later date, I believe no sooner than 60 days from now," meaning the commission may initiate text and map amendments now and certify the EIR at a subsequent hearing prior to final approval.

Commissioners thanked staff and port representatives for the work and directed a minor edit removing language that implied CEQA findings had already been made; the commission voted unanimously to initiate the general-plan amendment, planning-code amendment (including creation of a fourth waterfront special-use district) and the cleanup zoning map amendment, and to schedule the adoption hearing on or after April 13.

Why it matters: The waterfront plan covers nearly 7.5 miles of port jurisdiction and shapes how land along the Bay is used and reviewed; initiation begins the public process for aligning city policy documents with the updated Port plan and extends special design review to additional southern port properties.

Next steps: Staff will bring a revised resolution (removing the premature environmental findings language) and the environmental review (EIR) back to the commission for certification before any final approval of plan or code changes.