Neighbors,

Tonight I attended a Preliminary Neighborhood Input Session sponsored by SF Planning Department. They invited a surrounding neighborhood association representative to give preliminary input into the Balboa Reservoir Project. There will be two public hearings, 1st the week of January 20 (date/location to be announced) and again in March.

There were approximately 10 people in attendance: from Riordan High School, Westwood Park, Ingleside Terrace, Ocean Ave Merchants Association, and one or two more. The goal was to give preliminary information on the project and to get a sense of what neighborhoods want in the project.

What they know so far: They are potentially bidding the project as a lease rather than a sale. They would have ~99 year lease on the land that the developer would build and maintain. Other than that, not many specifics. They asked us what we felt our neighbors would be interested in with this development.

Here are some topics mentioned:
-Parking and transportation as an issue on all sides
-Pedestrian friendly design to encourage walking, biking and public transportation
-Open spaces (large and small) for multi use, walking, biking, etc.
-Housing of all types were mentioned (affordable, home ownership, housing for teachers, etc.)
-Public art
-Neighborhood integrity

Planning department stated that the goal of the public meetings is to put parameters around the public bid. No physical, mapping or design will be discussed, as there also needs to be a site study. The goal is to have a bid out sometime by summer/fall 2015 to developers. No other details were discussed.

Since we have not met on this as a neighborhood, my goal was to listen to what they have planned so far. I have requested they attend the SNA quarterly meeting in February 2015. They will notify us with the public meeting information to which I will post on the website, this site and on the Facebook page.

This is all the information I have so far. Thanks.