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New View of Waterfront

More than thirteen new acres of open water, public parks and new views of the Bay are among the public benefits expected from proposed changes to three plans governing development along the San Francisco waterfront from Pier 35 to China Basin.

"These changes will fundamentally alter what the Port of San Francisco can do on the piers," says Save the Bay's Marc Holmes, who worked with the S.F. Bay Conservation and Development Commission and the Port on recommended changes to the San Francisco Bay Plan, the San Francisco Waterfront Special Area Plan and the San Francisco Waterfront Total Design Plan for Piers 7 through 24. Currently, only "water-oriented" uses are permitted on piers that are redeveloped. The changes would relax this restriction to allow a variety of "public trust" uses. Although public trust uses are hard to define with precision, the Commission's Joe LaClair says that in San Francisco's current land-use context, "there is consensus that it means public access and recreation, combined with new maritime uses such as the new cruise terminal and excursion boats."

Under the proposed changes, which are the result of four years of negotiations between the agencies, five piers would be removed, opening new areas of water, and new parks would be created at Pier 27 and at Piers 34 and 36. "This deal is good for the Bay because of the re-creation of open water, and because the new parks and public access would not have been provided otherwise. There is no requirement under any law for new parks along the waterfront; this will cause new parks to be built, not just a walkway here or there," says Holmes.

LaClair says that new developments along the waterfront will likely include a mix of uses, some of which may not be classic public trust uses, such as maritime offices or shops. However, "when looked at as a whole, the project will have to meet the publics' needs," he says. "We're looking for uses with qualities that attract large numbers of people to the Bay. Benefits that accrue from development of this area have to accrue to the entire Bay Area."

At press time, the Commission planned a June 15 hearing on the proposed changes.

Contact: Joe LeClair (415)352-3656

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