Better Neighborhoods Plan – Winter 2005 Meetings Planned

by Jason Henderson

Community meetings will be held by the Planning Department this February to discuss the Market-Octavia Better Neighborhoods Plan, which is still under environmental review.These meetings will provide a review of the plan and planning staff will also be present to provide any updates or amendments to the plan. Staff will also discuss suggestions for how the proposed UC Extension redevelopment fits into the Market-Octavia Plan. Additionally, the EIR process will be explained.

This process has been ongoing for several years. The community meetings will be very good opportunities for those who have all but forgotten about this plan to get a re-cap, and for people who are new to Hayes Valley to become familiar with the innovative and progressive planning concepts in the plan. For more information about the plan, or to get on the mailing list for updates, contact Anne Marie Rogers, Area Plan Co-Manager (phone: 558-6395; email: anmarie.rodgers@sfgov.org )

Meanwhile, the long awaited "Draft" Environmental Review of the Market-Octavia Better Neighborhoods Plan is moving forward. The draft EIR should be released for public review in March or April of 2005. There will be a public comment period, and then public hearings in the summer of 2005. Planning Staff expect the final hearings for approval of the plan to be held in September or October 2005. An interactive timeline for the plan is available at http://www.betterneighborhoods.org