The Board of Supervisors unanimously rejected an appeal and allowed an affordable senior housing project at Bernal Hill to proceed. A few Coleridge Street neighbors complained the project would shrink a rarely used, privately owned park that sits atop an unstable pedestal with a garage below. The project includes a new, more accessible park. Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center staff met neighbors, held meetings, accepted feedback, and reduced building heights. Opponents nevertheless persisted, telling the developer to look downtown. The appeal addressed a minor subdivision technicality and failed. Under SB 35, compliant projects bypass city hearings and the public has no right to a hearing.
"The developer, Bernal Heights Neighborhood Center, did what all affordable housers in the city do: The staff reached out to the neighbors, held meetings and took feedback, and as a result made some changes that lowered the height of the new buildings. That, in a reasonable world, is how this should work: The developer meets with the neighbors, the neighbors explain their concerns, the developer does the best it can to meet those concerns, and you get a better project."
"Sup. Jackie Fielder, who supported the affordable senior housing, asked Planning Department staffer Audrey Maloney a pretty basic question. Under current state law, where are people supposed to go to raise questions about a new development in their neighborhood? Maloney: Under SB 35 (a bill by state Sen. Scott Wiener), the city has no role in this project. The public has no right to a hearing. If it's compliant with the local zoning, there's nowhere to raise any questions. It's approved by right."
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