[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 85 (Wednesday, May 2, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26025-26027]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-10580]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

[Docket No. FR-5637-N-01]


Notice of Intent To Prepare a Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) for the HOPE SF Development at Potrero Terrace and Potrero Annex 
Public Housing Development, San Francisco, CA

AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and 
Development, HUD.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS and to Conduct Public 
Scoping Meeting.

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SUMMARY: This provides notice to the public, agencies, and Indian 
tribes that the City and County of San Francisco's Mayor's Office of 
Housing (MOH), as the Responsible Entity in accordance with 24 CFR 
58.2(a)(7), intends to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Report/
Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS) for the HOPE SF Development at 
the Potrero Terrace and Potrero Annex Public Housing Development 
(Potrero HOPE SF Master Plan Project). The EIR/EIS will be a joint 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and California Environmental 
Quality Act (CEQA) document. The EIR will satisfy requirements of CEQA 
(Public Resources Code 21000 et seq.) and the State CEQA Guidelines (14 
California Code of Regulations 15000 et seq.), which require that state 
and local government agencies consider the environmental consequences 
of projects over which they have discretionary authority before acting 
on those projects. The proposed action is subject to NEPA, because 
funding for the project may include HUD funds from programs subject to 
regulation by 24 CFR part 58; these include, but are not limited to, 
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds under Title I of the 
Housing and Community Development Act of 1974; Home Investment 
Partnership Program (HOME) grants under Title II of the Cranston-
Gonzales National Affordable Housing Act of 1990 as amended; Project 
Based Section 8 Vouchers under the United States Housing Act of 1937; 
and/or Section 8(o)(13) and Public Housing operating subsidies for 
mixed income developments authorized under the U.S. Housing Act of 
1937, Section 35. This notice is in accordance with the Council on 
Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations at 40 CFR parts 1500-1508.
    A Draft EIR/EIS will be prepared for the proposed action described 
herein. Comments relating to the Draft EIR/EIS are requested and will 
be accepted by the contact person listed below. When the Draft EIR/EIS 
is completed, a notice will be sent to individuals and groups known to 
have an interest in the Draft EIR/EIS and particularly in the 
environmental impact issues identified therein. Any person or agency 
interested in receiving a notice and making comment on the Draft EIR/
EIS should contact the person listed below within 30-days after 
publication of this notice.
    This EIS will be a NEPA document intended to satisfy requirements 
of federal environmental statutes. In accordance with specific 
statutory authority and HUD's regulations at 24 CFR part 58 
(Environmental Review Procedures for Entities Assuming HUD 
Environmental Responsibilities), HUD has provided for assumption of its 
NEPA authority and NEPA lead agency responsibility by the City and 
County of San Francisco. The EIR will be a CEQA document intended to 
satisfy State environmental statutes (Public Resources Code 21000 et 
seq. and 14 California Code of Regulations 15000 et seq.).

ADDRESSES: All interested agencies, tribes, groups, and persons are 
invited to submit written comments on the project named in this notice 
and on the Draft EIS to the contact person shown in this notice. The 
office of the contact person should receive comments and all comments 
so received will be considered prior to the preparation and 
distribution of the Draft EIS. Particularly solicited is information on 
reports or other environmental studies planned or completed in the 
project area, major issues that the EIS should consider, recommended 
mitigation measures, and alternatives associated with the proposed 
action. Federal agencies having jurisdiction by law, special expertise 
or other special interest should report their interest and indicate 
their readiness to aid in the EIS effort as a ``Cooperating Agency.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eugene Flannery, Environmental 
Compliance Manager, City and County of San Francisco Mayor's Office of 
Housing, 1 South Van Ness Avenue, 5th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94103; 
Phone: (415) 701-5598; Fax (415) 701- 5501; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

    The MOH, acting under authority of section 104(g) of the Housing 
and Community Development Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 5304(g)), section 288 
of the HOME Investment Partnerships Act (42 U.S.C. 12838), section 26 
of the United

[[Page 26026]]

States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437x) and HUD's regulations at 
24 CFR part 58, in cooperation with other interested agencies, will 
prepare an EIS to analyze potential impacts of the Potrero HOPE SF 
Master Plan Project.
    The proposed development would be on approximately 39 net acres in 
the T 2S R 5W portion of San Francisco on the San Francisco North 
Quadrangle 7.5-minute U.S.G.S. topographic quadrangle map. The project 
site is located on the southeastern border of the Potrero Hill 
neighborhood. The project site is one and one-half blocks west of 
Interstate 280 (I-280), four blocks east of U.S. Highway 101 (U.S. 
101), two blocks north of Cesar Chavez Street and is bordered to the 
northwest by the Potrero Hill Recreation Center. The eastern edge of 
the site sits on a ridge paralleling Pennsylvania Street below. The 
project site is comprised of several parcels that contain the Potrero 
Terrace and Potrero Annex properties and an adjacent San Francisco 
Unified School District (SFUSD) owned property. Combined, these parcels 
have a total acreage of approximately 39 acres, including roads. Areas 
of the project site have very steep slopes. The highest topographic 
elevation is to the north at the intersection of 23rd Street and 
Arkansas Street at 265 feet above mean sea level (msl) and the lowest 
elevation is to the south at the intersection of 26th Street and 
Connecticut Street at 40 feet above msl. Surrounding land uses include 
residential, commercial, recreational, and industrial uses. To the 
north and northwest there are multi-family residences, single-family 
residences, and the Potrero Hill Recreation Center. To the west are 
multi-family residences, single-family residences, and Starr King 
Elementary School. To the south are industrial uses. Across Texas 
Street to the east are multi-family residential, single-family 
residential, and industrial uses. The obsolete buildings that make up 
the site are in need of replacement. In addition, dead-end streets and 
steep topography isolate this housing development from the surrounding 
neighborhood.
    Built in two phases in 1941 and 1955, the Potrero site is comprised 
of two of the oldest public housing developments in San Francisco, 
Potrero Terrace and Potrero Annex. Together, these public housing 
developments house a population of approximately 1,200 people. The 
proposed project would replace all 606 existing housing units; 
incorporate additional affordable housing and market-rate homes into 
the community; and add amenities such as open space, retail 
opportunities, and neighborhood services. Including the 606 public 
housing units, the proposed project would build up to 1,700 homes. The 
proposed project would include buildings between three to eight 
stories, and would range in height from 40 feet to 85 feet. Development 
would occur in phases to minimize disruption to existing residents. The 
proposed project would include new vehicle connections, new pedestrian 
connections, a new circulation pattern and new bus transit stops. In 
addition, the proposed project would incorporate green construction and 
sustainable principles.

Alternatives to the Proposed Action

    There are three alternatives to the proposed action to be analyzed 
in the EIS. Alternative 1 is a variation of the project density. 
Alternative sites for the project were explored early in the process 
and it was determined that no other more viable site was available.
Alternative 1--Reduced Development Alternative
    Number of Units: 1,280.
    Maximum Height: 40 feet.
    Acreage: 39 acres (no change).
    Percent Reduction: 25 percent.
Alternative 2--Replacement of Existing Public Housing Units
    Number of Units: 606 units.
    Acreage: 39 acres.
    No Community Center, No retail, no additional open space.
    Percent Reduction: 64 percent.
Alternative 3--No Project Alternative
    The No Project Alternative would analyze the ``no action'' 
alternative, which would be the continuation of uses on the site; 
therefore, existing buildings and tenants would remain at the project 
site and no new buildings or uses would be constructed.

B. Need for the EIS

    The proposed project may constitute an action significantly 
affecting the quality of the human environment and an EIS will be 
prepared on this project by the City and County of San Francisco's MOH 
in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). Responses to this notice will be used to: (1) 
Determine significant environmental issues, (2) identify data that the 
EIS should address, and (3) identify agencies and other parties that 
will participate in the EIS process and the basis for their 
involvement.

C. Scoping

    A public EIS scoping meeting will be held on a date within the 
comment period and after at least 15 days of publishing this Notice of 
Intent. Notices of the scoping meeting will be mailed when the date has 
been determined. The EIS scoping meeting will provide an opportunity 
for the public to learn more about the project and provide input to the 
environmental process. At the meeting, the public will be able to view 
graphics illustrating preliminary planning work and talk with MOH 
staff, and members of the consultant team providing technical analysis 
to the project. Translators will be available. Written comments and 
testimony concerning the scope of the EIS will be accepted at this 
meeting. In accordance with 40 CFR 1501.7 affected Federal, State, and 
local agencies, any affected Indian tribe, and other interested parties 
will be sent a scoping notice. Owners and occupants within a 300-foot 
radius will also be notified of the scoping process. In accordance with 
24 CFR 58.59, the scoping hearing will be preceded by a notice of 
public hearing published in the local news media 15 days before the 
hearing date.
    The scoping process associated with the CEQA process took place 
from November 2010 through December 2010. A CEQA public scoping meeting 
was held on November 22, 2010.

D. Probable Environmental Effects

    The following subject areas will be analyzed in the combined EIR/
EIS for probable environmental effects: Land Use and Planning (land use 
patterns, relationship to plans/policies and regulations; Visual 
Quality/Aesthetics (views/light and glare); Socioeconomics and 
Community (demographic character changes, displacement); Environmental 
Justice (disproportionately high and adverse effects on minority and 
low income populations); Cultural/Historic Resources; Transportation 
and Circulation; Noise (construction and operational); Air Quality 
(construction and operational); Greenhouse Gas Emissions; Wind and 
Shadow; Recreation; Utilities and Service Systems (water supply, 
stormwater, sewer, solid waste); Public Services (fire, police, 
schools, parks); Biological Resources; Geology/Soils; Hydrology/Water 
Quality (erosion control and drainage); Hazardous and Hazardous 
Materials; Mineral and Energy Resources; and Agriculture and Forest 
Resources.
    Questions may be directed to the individual named in this notice 
under the heading FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.


[[Page 26027]]


    Dated: April 25, 2012.
Mercedes M. M[aacute]rquez,
 Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development.
[FR Doc. 2012-10580 Filed 5-1-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4210-67-P