Mayor Lee Announces Superior Court’s Decision on Hunters Point Shipyard Phase 2 - Candlestick Point Legal Challenge
9/15/11—Mayor Edwin M. Lee announced that the City received a favorable statement of decision from the San Francisco Superior Court on the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) lawsuit challenging the Hunters Point Shipyard Phase 2 - Candlestick Point project’s environmental impact report (EIR).
“I am happy that San Francisco has cleared a major hurdle on the path to progress so that the Hunters Point Shipyard Phase 2 - Candlestick Point can now move forward,” said Mayor Lee. “The Court saw clearly that environmental safeguards and laws were adhered to on a major development project. Even as we strive to lift the Bayview from decades of neglect, the City never took a short cut to ensure the health, safety and success of this important revitalization effort. Today, a lawsuit didn’t win – parks and open space, jobs, housing, and the community did. San Francisco and the entire Bay Area can look to this model of public-private partnership to achieve results for our citizens.”
People Organized to Win Employment Rights and Greenaction for Health and Environmental Justice (Petitioners) sued the City challenging the adequacy of the EIR. In his statement of decision, San Francisco Superior Court Judge Ernest Goldsmith found that the project’s EIR complied with CEQA in all respects except one. The decision permits the project to move forward as approved by the City last year. But, in the event that the City authorizes an early transfer of any property on the Hunters Point Shipyard, further environmental review is required.
In a carefully considered opinion, Judge Goldsmith analyzed each of the Petitioners’ arguments. Relying on factual evidence and legal precedent, the decision upheld the EIR’s identification of potential impacts and its mitigation measures.
“This final decision is a victory for the City and the Bayview Hunters Point community, who have waited far too long for economic revitalization that provides the community with affordable housing, jobs, new public parks and open space and other economic opportunities,” said District 10 Supervisor Malia Cohen. “We can now move forward with implementing this important development project and delivering on all of these public benefits.”
“I am happy that San Francisco has cleared a major hurdle on the path to progress so that the Hunters Point Shipyard Phase 2 - Candlestick Point can now move forward,” said Mayor Lee. “The Court saw clearly that environmental safeguards and laws were adhered to on a major development project. Even as we strive to lift the Bayview from decades of neglect, the City never took a short cut to ensure the health, safety and success of this important revitalization effort. Today, a lawsuit didn’t win – parks and open space, jobs, housing, and the community did. San Francisco and the entire Bay Area can look to this model of public-private partnership to achieve results for our citizens.”
People Organized to Win Employment Rights and Greenaction for Health and Environmental Justice (Petitioners) sued the City challenging the adequacy of the EIR. In his statement of decision, San Francisco Superior Court Judge Ernest Goldsmith found that the project’s EIR complied with CEQA in all respects except one. The decision permits the project to move forward as approved by the City last year. But, in the event that the City authorizes an early transfer of any property on the Hunters Point Shipyard, further environmental review is required.
In a carefully considered opinion, Judge Goldsmith analyzed each of the Petitioners’ arguments. Relying on factual evidence and legal precedent, the decision upheld the EIR’s identification of potential impacts and its mitigation measures.
“This final decision is a victory for the City and the Bayview Hunters Point community, who have waited far too long for economic revitalization that provides the community with affordable housing, jobs, new public parks and open space and other economic opportunities,” said District 10 Supervisor Malia Cohen. “We can now move forward with implementing this important development project and delivering on all of these public benefits.”