Supervisor committee clears CEQA findings for fire department training site purchase

The Land Use & Transportation Committee voted to recommend adoption of California Environmental Quality Act findings that would clear the way for the city to buy a parcel intended for a consolidated Fire Department training facility.

Oliver Eberian, Regulatory Specialist with Public Works, told the committee the department rushed a mitigated negative declaration so the city could respond to a seller's short timeline. "We basically did a rushed job on getting the mitigated NEG deck out in only 6 months," Eberian said, noting the schedule was about a third of the usual timeline.

The committee considered whether the CEQA adoption should happen separately from later project approval. Supervisor Aaron Peskin said it is "very rare" for the Board to adopt these findings independently, and asked why the item was presented as a standalone action. Andrico Penick, Director of Real Estate, said approving environmental review now supports a related port acquisition and helps demonstrate the city's commitment to state legislators working on the adjacent parcel.

Chief Janine Nicholson told the committee the training facility is urgent for the Fire Department: "We are in dire need of this facility," she said, urging support to meet the department's relocation timeline.

There was no public comment on the item. After brief discussion the committee moved to recommend approval; the clerk recorded ayes from Supervisors Peskin, Preston and Melgar, and the motion carried.

The committees recommendation sends the CEQA findings to the full Board of Supervisors for consideration as part of the acquisition process. Staff said final project approval will return to the Board later and that the environmental approval does not bind that future decision.