THE DAILY KERNEL

Back in April I noted that the time crunch was on to develop cleanup remedies for the Public Health Service Hospital.  The two landfill remediation projects need to happen so the Presidio Trust can move ahead with development plans.  We’ve worked pretty hard over the last several weeks and the team (Presidio Trust, National Park Service, Department of Toxic Substances Control, San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board, Presidio Restoration Advisory Board) is meeting tomorrow with senior management (from the same agencies) to work over various proposals.  We may be close to a resolution, but I’m sure that many concerns will be raised by all parties before a final proposal moves ahead.

– Doug Kern

Tags: Remediation by Doug
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Press release from the Presidio Historical Association.  This document details mounting opposition to the Presidio Trust’s plans for a modernistic 100,000 square foot contemporary art museum to be located on the Presidio’s Main Post.

– Doug Kern

Tags: New Construction by Doug
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The National Trust for Historic Preservation comments on the Presidio Trust’s “Main Post Undertaking”.

– Doug Kern

Tags: New Construction by Doug
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The Presidio Trust is proposing a 45-day comment period on the soon-to-be-released Main Post SEIS.   

45 days.  Let’s see.  The document will propose multiple, high-profile, high-dollar-value mega-projects with cumulatively significant impacts in the culturally and historically sensitive heart of the Presidio.  The projects include a 100,000 sq. ft. controversial museum, a Presidio lodge, other construction or demolition, parking and circulation, and the El Presidio site.  The comment period begins (and ends) during the summer vacation period (considerate?), and lasts all of 45 days. That’s supposed to be an appropriate amount of time to comment on a complex, radically new plan for the Main Post and the future of the Presidio?  

Reasonable?  Does it pass the smell test?  Your thoughts?

Tags: New Construction by Doug
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Synthetic turf has been recommended for potential use at the Presidio of San Francisco for upgrading the ballfields. Identified advantages are greater playing time and less maintenance. In October 2007, the Urban Watershed Project commented on the use of synthetic turf as proposed in the Tennessee Hollow Environmental Assessment:

While we do understand and support the benefits of using synthetic turf, UWP remains concerned about water quality impacts from this surface downstream of proposed ballfield sites. We would like to see that potential impacts are studied prior to installation and that the synthetic turf presents no danger to downstream receptors.

I’d still like to know whether maintenance of the field will introduce problem chemicals to the environment and restored creeks below the site.  For example, what is applied to clean and disinfect the field?  Fabric softeners?

While potential water quality impacts remain a major concern, what about the human health impacts?  Check out the April 17, 2008 video below from ABC News looking at the potential health impacts from synthetic turf. I certainly support further investigation into synthetic turf prior to its use at the Presidio. 

– Doug Kern

Tags: Restoration by Doug
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Discussion around the Main Post Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) continues in the public arena.    (h/t to TDK Reader Jay Bird)

“There has been a real popular upwelling of concerns about plans for the Main Post,” said David Bancroft of the Cow Hollow Association, one of several neighborhood groups slated for involvement in the group.

The neighborhood groups are concerned about a lack of public transportation in the Presidio and an incongruous mix of new additions to the Presidio’s historical Main Post…

– Doug Kern

Tags: New Construction by Doug
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The Presidio Trust is amending their Management Plan (PTMP) with a draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS).  The document will consider proposed project alternatives on the Presidio Main Post, including the Presidio Museum and the Presidio Lodge.  The SEIS schedule looks to wrap up the decision-making process in about six months. The timeline below is an estimate as of March 2008 and subject to change. source: Presidio Trust

June 2008 — Trust releases draft SEIS

June 2008 — 45-day public review process begins

July 2008 — Review process ends

August 2008 — Trust prepares final SEIS

September 2008 — Trust releases final SEIS

October 2008 — Trust prepares Record of Decision (ROD)

October 2008 — ROD signed 

– Doug Kern

Tags: New Construction by Doug
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