Soccer field plan would have significant impacts

by Ed Moy

The San Francisco Planning Department released a long-awaited Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the Beach Chalet Athletic Field Renovation on Wednesday, Oct. 26.
According to the Planning Department, the draft report is “meant to identify and assess any environmental impacts of our proposed renovation of the Beach Chalet soccer fields.”
“The DEIR found a significant impact to historical resources from the project,” stated environmental planner, Sarah B. Jones. “All other impacts were found to be less than significant, or could be mitigated to that level. The DEIR considers several alternatives, including an off-site alternative at West Sunset and two versions of the modified project that could reduce the impact to historic resources. The DEIR is an informational document and it doesn’t make any recommendations regarding the merits of the project or the alternatives.”
The DEIR is available to the general public as a pdf file on Rec. and Park’s website (www.sfrecpark.org) or the Planning Department’s website (www.sf-planning.org).
Topics covered in the DEIR include aesthetics, cultural resources, biological resources, hazards and hazardous materials and air quality.
A public hearing on the DEIR will be held at City Hall, Room 400, on Dec. 1. Public comments will be accepted until 5 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 12.
The Rec and Park Depart­ment’s fact sheet states the DEIR found that renovation of the Beach Chalet Athletic Fields will create a single “unavoidable significant impact” to the site’s value as a historic resource. The report determined that replacing grass with synthetic turf, installing field lighting, adding on-field spectator seating and creating concrete pedestrian paths around the fields would alter the Beach Chalet Athletic Fields’ existing features, which convey historical significance. However, Golden Gate Park’s designation as a historic place on the federal, state and local levels would remain unchanged as the park has many features which will continue to convey historic character and significance.
The Beach Chalet Athletic Field renovation project came under fire late last year when area residents complained about the environmental impacts of the potential installation of artificial turf. Neighborhood residents also expressed concerns about the installation of night lighting that would allow games to be played until 10 p.m.
According to the City Fields Foundation (www.cityfieldsfoundation.org), a non-profit group that has been raising money to replace grass fields with artificial turf, the synthetic materials have been installed and are in use at several fields across the City. The Foundation says the lower maintenance costs and increased playing time it offers make it a sound choice.
The $8.9 million renovation cost for Golden Gate Park would be partially shared by City Fields, which has already helped to renovate several aging facilities in the City.
“Renovating Beach Chalet with lights and synthetic turf will eliminate all dangerous gopher holes and more than triple the amount of play on the fields,” states City Fields Foundation on its website. “Currently, the fields host 4,738 hours of annual play. The proposed renovation will add 9,582 hours of new play each year. The renovation will also make the facility much more family-friendly and inviting for all – athletes, spectators and park visitors.”
According to Connie Chan, deputy director of public affairs for Rec and Park, a 2004 study found San Francisco would need to add 35 soccer fields and 30 baseball/softball fields to meet demands due to a lack of access to athletic fields in the city. Rain is often a main culprit in the loss of usable athletic fields.
“Since 2006, SF Rec and Park and the nonprofit City Fields Foundation have worked to address this challenge by renovating select city athletic fields with synthetic turf and field lights,” Chan stated. “We are proposing to renovate the dilapidated Beach Chalet Athletic Fields in the western end of Golden Gate Park with synthetic turf, field lights and other amenities because Beach Chalet is one of three primary ground sports fields in San Francisco that are unfortunately in abysmal condition, often closed and lacking spectator seating.”
Chan stated that with the release of the DEIR, public comment will be accepted until Dec. 12.
Submitted public comments will be addressed in a “comments and responses report,” which will be released and considered by the Planning Commission in the spring of 2012.
“The Planning Commission is ultimately responsible for certifying that the DEIR is accurate, adequate and consistent with the requirements of state law,” Chan stated.
For more information on SF Rec and Park’s response to the DEIR, go to the webpage at http://216.121.125.82/BeachChaletAthleticFieldsDraftEnvironmentalImpactReportFactSheet.aspx. To download the SF Planning Department DEIR, go to the city’s website at http://www.sf-planning.org. The report is also available for public review and comment on the Environmental Planning website at http://tinyurl.com/sfceqadocs. Hard copies and CDs are also available at the Planning Department’s information center at 1660 Mission St., first floor.  Referenced materials are also available for review at the Planning Department’s office at 1650 Mission St., fourth floor.

Supervisor Shines Spotlight on Muni’s Light Rail Service

By Ed Moy

Supervisor Carmen Chu addressed concerns over Muni light rail service in the Sunset District during a hearing at the SF Board of Supervisors’ City Operations and Neighborhood Services Committee in October.
Chu said the hearing was productive because it included a review of performance data gathered on Muni light rail service for the N-Judah and L-Taraval lines between February and April of this year. Her office is analyzing the data.
Among the concerns Chu covered were the number and reasons for missed train runs, on-time performance, frequency and causes of train switchbacks, and how the SFMTA plans to address those issues.
Muni management claims it is working to alleviate or minimize disruptions to the public.
Chu pointed out that a key reason for delays along the N-Judah and L-Taraval lines is a recurring problem with malfunctioning stairs aboard the light rail trains coming out of the downtown tunnel to street level. She stated that repairs have been on-going to correct the stair problems.
She also stated that a lack of qualified Muni light rail operators will be addressed by SFMTA through the hiring and training of new operators.
Chu said the new N-Judah shuttle buses operating as a downtown express bus route have helped improve service during peak commute hours.
Earlier this year, Chu addressed the issue of Muni light rail train switchbacks, a policy of “short-turning or early turn-around” of trains headed to the Outer Sunset, with the City Operations and Neighborhood Services Committee.
The early train turnarounds are a cause for concern for many elderly and disabled passengers, who are sometimes left stranded along the N-Judah line waiting for the next train to arrive in order to continue with their commute.
Other topics up for review included the bus service along 19th Avenue and Sunset Boulevard on Muni’s 28 and 29 bus lines.
Chu said Muni conducted an extensive analysis of the two bus lines to monitor on-time performance, frequency and passenger loads. The data compiled is being utilized to improve the service along both the 28-line and 29-lines, which run along the two major commute corridors linking the Sunset and Richmond districts.
Sunset and Parkside residents with Muni concerns can contact Chu at (415) 554-7460 or chustaff@sfgov.org.

Golden Gate Park bicycle lanes get unanimous OK

by Ed Moy

The SF Recreation and Park Commission voted unanimously in October to approve the John F. Kennedy Drive Separated Bikeways project for implementation in January 2012.

The Bikeways Project is a joint effort of SFMTA in conjunction with the SF Recreation and Park Department to install cycle lanes on John F. Kennedy Drive in Golden Gate Park, which would provide a new bikeway separated from moving vehicles.

The project also received approval from the San Francisco Concourse Authority in early October after two community workshops to discuss the design concepts for the new cycle tracks.

According to SFMTA, the goal of the project is to make John F. Kennedy Drive accessible to all users, including pedestrians and cyclists of all abilities, and to support the SF Board of Supervisors’ 2010 resolution to have a goal of 20 percent of trips in San Francisco by bicycle by 2020.

By creating a bikeway that is physically separated from parked and moving vehicles, the project addresses the need for bicycle lanes and creating a buffer between cyclists who are not comfortable riding with cars next to them.

SFMTA also notes that in addition to increasing the comfort level for cyclists, separated bikeways reduce the incidence of having vehicles stopped in the bike lane or having parked cars open their doors into the bike lane.

Paul Rose, SFMTA spokesperson, stated that the project will cost about $425,000, including $40,000 from air quality grants. He said the final design has not been finalized.

“While the project received final approval from the Rec. and Park Commission, the work is not done,” stated Rose. “We are continuing to work with pedestrian safety and disabled advocates (including the Mayor’s Disability Council) to make minor design changes and to collaborate on an education/outreach process to help ensure safety following implementation.”

Some disabled activists testified at the Planning Commission meeting that the current design is unsafe because vehicles with ramps would have to encroach into the buffer zone and possibly into the cycle track to drop off or pick up disabled people.

“I oppose this plan as proposed,” said Bob Planthold, an activist for the disabled community.

Rose also pointed out that although the original estimates in the bicycle plan indicated that about 150 parking spaces would be eliminated, according to estimates in the current plan, there would be a net loss of about 80 parking spaces.

Additional details on the project can be found on the website at http://www.sfmta.com.