one of the issues that i would like to bring up is that many of the citizens of the city and north beach have had a history with the joe dimaggio playground and north beach library for many decades. and what pertains to this particular e.i.r., since 1988, from 1988 to august of 2008, there have been other public processes which led to certain perceptions and expectations about the ufse the library and the use of the playground. we had an interest primarily initially with the library itself. it is a recognize the historic resource eligible for the state and national registers. as you know, the e.i.r. expects that if there is a design that does not adversely impact that historic resource, that would be considered the best environmental solution. and having talked to many architects, myself being an architect and a native of san francisco and north beach, who grew up with the library and the playground, we've looked at that project and offered some very good design solutions. unfortunately, in the six-month response period, there was much considerable effort to diminish alternatives that we

most importantly, it has been a partnership with the north beach community and north beach neighborhood. this is one of the densest projects in the -- densest urban environments in the entire country. there are 4.5 acres of open 1000 residents. that is 95% below the city average. this truly is a dense urban neighborhood. we do not have tremendous opportunities to create more open space or to add recreational amenities in this neighborhood. here is a project that will result in a 20% increase in open space, 12,000 additional square feet of park and playground. and it has been designed in such a way that it makes the park more accessible for all -- for seniors, for people with disabilities, for parents with kids. it improve sightlines from the clubhouse and pool to the playground. it reflects the need for flexibility on the blacktop. the park is being designed to accommodate a number of different sports and activities, ranging from basketball to four square to roller hockey to soccer. it is a thoughtful design. it is a collaborative design. it is what the community has expressed loudly an

the north beach project is in fact the last one of the 24. it is an issue of service equity. you've heard speakers talk about the density, the diversity of the north beach area that serves a broader constituency. so it's really important that we move the project forward and it's very consistent with not only the general plan, but also, the requirements to carry this project forward are extremely important. and to echo what mr. ginsberg talked about, this is a model program of collaboration amongst city departments to benefit the public. we've also worked with the department of public works and others to make it happen. president olague: thank you for adhering to the rules of this item. >> thank you very much. president olague: it's an awkward item. is there any additional public comment on this item, the e.i.r.? seeing none, public comment is closed. >> thank you, madam president. we now call the item that is closed. considerations of findings and final action category. the public hearing is closed. the item would be number four that is before you, the north beach public libra

i will support in the north beach area. thank you. >> good evening, supervisors. i am in the chinatown, long beach area. i am a cell phone user. i spend a lot of time in long beach and chinatown. sometimes they do not work good in the area, especially at my restaurant. the signal is even cut off. it affects our community. honorable supervisors kamala please do something about this. -- honorable supervisors, please do something about this. in the case of emergencies. so many seniors are in the chinatown area. on the hill, people do not have to look at antennas. please, no more delays. thank you for your consideration. >> good evening, supervisors. we have a specialty general contractor. we are located on third street. we are the telecommunication workers that make yourself ands -- cell phones work. we employ roughly 120 employees. we are a union contractor. we love these jobs. in the 16 years, we have never had health damage from rf exposures. for the general public, there is roughly zero risk. the cordless phone provides 150 times as much radiofrequency exposure as

it says for purpose of the north beach public library and joe dimaggio master plan, can we add other public use in there? >> john mallman from the city attorney's office. technically, the street vacation legislation is not before the planning commission. you play a role in that you are getting the general plan clearance to allow the vacation to go forward. i'm sure that we could work something out with the legislative sponsors so sort of expand that finding in the street vacation legislation so it's similar to defining it in the zoning legislation. >> that would be -- i would be more comfortable, if you could keep north beach public library in there, but following the argument for the zoning change where you have wording that says or other public use would seem appropriate to me. i'm just throwing it out there as a suggestion. we don't have a motion yet. >> i don't understand the reason that your question -- commissioner sugaya: because it's a specifically targetted use and i'm uncomfortable, if this zoning is to last forever what if the library gets demolished in 50 years like the pr

the 1960's. i've seen north beach change a great deal. and i would respectfully submit that you tank this proposal. it's doing nothing good to enhance the city besides the views and all the other stuff. i'll get off now, make time for president olague: i called a few speaker cards, but if there's any additional public comment on the e.i.r. >> good afternoon, commissioners. i'm actually a landscape architect with the city for the last eight years. but you'll here today as a neighborhood activist of 20 years in north beach and have been very active in a lot of the community projects. i just want to let you know, this has been a very long process, extremely long. i personally have been involved for over 10 years in this project. and we have studied every iteration possible. and i'm really -- i know you've gone through a lot. the e.i.r.'s this thick. everything has really been studied and change is hard, but i think this is potentially the most beneficial project to our neighborhood and for our families. so i wanted to give you an indication,

i will just read briefly from the letter. north beach neighbors supports approving the installations of micro cell antennas at these locations. we believe they will provide a necessary improvement on cellular service in the neighborhood and that the country has minimize any negative impact. it is our understanding that the proposed installation means necessary safety standards. t-mobile has worked to make sure the antennas will not normally be visible from the street. i wanted to come here this evening and the state the position of the north beach neighbors and separate from that, i will state that i do own and manage my own business in north beach. i also live here in san francisco. i actually still do have a land line. i do not actually know the number to it even though i have been there for five years. and never give up the number. but i have to call out on that number when i am at home. otherwise, on my cell phone, it drops immediately, randomly at any time. and i find it very embarrassing that in san francisco, the backyard of silic

the ordinance for changing the zoning should not specify use for the new north beach library that is not compatible with such zoning as inappropriate to specify in the zoning ordinance. also the construction on the city street we all recognize is contrary to the san francisco general plan and probably likely, if understood clearly by the average resident, wherever they are on any street, any district if they understood clearly that a neighbor adjacent to them would be constructing into the sidewalk or street, i think one would recognize most people would oppose it for various reasons and that needs to be clearly thought out in how that is communicated rather than having many models and renderings which tend not to show property lines. the alternatives available to mitigate these issues need to be evaluated. the general master plan is a very beautifully presented drawing. as an architect, i appreciate the high quality of workmanship in the model rendering, the drawings, the computer generated drawings. but i recognize there's a certain salesmanship in any type of drawing you present in

that meets the needs of the north beach neighborhood. this is a diagram which shows the existing site conditions with the existing library and location of the children's playground at the busy intersection of greenwich and columbus, and the tennis courts located at the center of the site at a distance of about eight feet below the children's playground. this shows the proposed phase one, which would include the construction of the new library, the closing of one block of mason street and the completion of the new park block. phase two would include future park improvements, including the new children's playgrounds, to be relocated at the center and heart of the site and also, the relocation of the tennis courts, so that the whole park block becomes connected and the library is now integrated into this new full park block. the 701 lombard site actually offers great opportunities. it's at the crossroads of north beach with incredible views to the coit tower, st. peter and st. paul's church, the crooked part of lombard street and transameric

neighborhood commercial etc., and it goes on to say, for p., public, and o.s., open space, for the new north beach public library. is it customary to mention a specific use? or would it be better to have it say, change to p. and o.s. for public use. rather than mentioning the library specifically? >> john mallman from the city attorney's office, that's actually just a finding for the support in the change in legislation so the actual zoning map doesn't say we're doing that, that this is done for the north beach library and in fact, the finding is clear it would be for a new public library or other public use. so it's sort of an expansive observation of what kinds of uses zoning can support on this site. >> following that argument, then, can we reword the resolution on -- if i can figure out what section we're in. vacation. it says for purpose of the north beach public library and joe dimaggio master plan, can we add other public use in there? >> john mallman from the city attorney's office. technically, the street vacation legislation is not before the planning commission. you play a role in that

the street vacation plan. >> aimee alden. i am here as a resident of north beach. my husband and i are raising our sons in the neighborhood. one of the things that amazed us is how many families with children there are in north beach. we see families everywhere in the neighborhood, particularly at joe dimaggio playground, which is used by a lot of family day cares. frequently, it either drop my son off or dropped him off at joe dimaggio. one of the facilities we do not use very much is our neighborhood library, because it is not warm and welcoming to families. it is dark. there are not a lot of places to sit. one program that used to bring us in was a great childhood literacy program. every thursday morning, the librarians read and sing songs. you can see dozens of children with parents, grandparents, nannies -- until a year ago, when the library was told that because the building was so decrepit it did not meet ada standards and the program had to leave the library. fortunately, recreation and park give them a facility down the street. when an early childhood liter

in the areas that are yellow. again, for north beach that maintains what they currently are right now with conditional use. but when you're talking about the ocean avenue, our mission, you know, the lower 24, outer sunset, where there are cafes that are really looking forward to having this, there was one cafÉ that incurred an ada lawsuit. and i think about the commercial corridors where they're struggling. so i wanted to look and see. if we change the legislation from what we originally intended to look at just what is currently permitted. did i answer your question, commissioner riley? commissioner yee riley: sort of. that is going to be kind of expensive. president o'brien: commissioner clyde? commissioner clyde: where you need a c.u., since that is a different thing than limits in live performance, that is why we want to go with the option to allow -- north beach has an embarrassment of issues. there is so much going on. it is an issue, allowing flexibility within that very dense community. it is an issue. but the fact is, there is

it's at the crossroads of north beach with incredible views to the coit tower, st. peter and st. paul's church, the crooked part of lombard street and transamerica peer mid. it offers great opportunity to take advantage of abundant natural light and ipping corporate these important landmarks into the library and also to provide great connection to the expanded park block. as this diagram shows, the triangle offers a clear diagram for how to incorporate the three important program areas of the children's area in one corner, the adults in a separated space in the main part of the triangle and a separate teen area, all with a centralized and efficient staff area at the center of the proposed building. this is a more detailed plan showing phase one, with the one block of mason street closed. and, again, you can see in greater detail the centralized service area and the golden color in the middle, as well as the three separate program areas, all public spaces -- library spaces are on one floor, and it is connected to the park in a secure and safe manner. the closing of lombard -- excu

so if you don't mind. >> i'm sue clausen, i chair the coalition for a better north beach library. we have partnered with groups throughout san francisco, including all the preservation groups to ask that the e.i.r. be ignored and that the current north beach library be preserved and that we have a park on the triangle instead of a large out-of-character library. the problem with the e.i.r. is that it lacks balance. it is a sales pitch for the program that the library wants to enunciate. and it doesn't really address the issues of eminent domain, which you know about. doesn't address the issues of the open space sun being used to buy the land that is on this triangle. it doesn't speak to prop m priority policies, which are being violated, in particular the ones about neighborhood character and the ones about preservation of historic buildings. also, they seem to try to make you believe that the current library could not be expanded or renovated. the original plan was to renovate the library and do a small expansion. and we have submitted several plans. in fact, we met with the plann

the mississippi. chinatown and north beach are not just the most historic and oldest and some of the most important neighborhoods that we have here in san francisco, but these are neighborhoods that have very little open space, and both north beach and chinatown, we do not have front porches. we do not have backyards. we do not have many places for people to play, for young people to run around, and was on the streets is going to mean for the residents of chinatown and north beach will be an opportunity for all of our generations to join the rest of the city and plate. for our young people, our families, and seniors, and this is why it is so wonderful to be here as part of this kickoff announcement, but also, for this new announcement about the inclusion of chinatown and north beach. these are two neighborhoods that have been in recent years working in close partnership, and i want to thank the neighborhood association, the resident groups, and the merchant groups who have come here today to partner with our city government, our city agencies represented here, as well as our wonderful nonprofits -- livable city,

the structures go on. >> thank you. next speaker. >> i live in north beach. i live at exactly 80 feet from where the new tower is going to be installed. thank you for letting me speak tonight, supervisors. i live at 80 feet from the cell tower. my neighbor has never had a problem with her cell coverage. i am here tonight because we all need this tool for our work, for our pleasure. we all need it. i asked you to please have this. we all know that at&t and t- mobile are merging. in less than a year, they will be together. we have to figure route how they are going to care for this community. it should be a shared responsibility. >> thank you. are there any other members of the public who would wish to speak on behalf of the appellants? i would like to ask the project sponsor if you could step up and do your presentation. >> i am the outside counsel for t-mobile. i would like to refocus this to where we were. the issues regarding need or demand or exceptional circumstances. these are not really relevant to your review this evening. we are talking about whether a

the appeal? do it if you can. >> thank you. next speaker. >> i actually lived in north beach. i leave my house from north beach sometimes, too. all you have to do it is crossed into chinatown. like the lady said earlier, your call will drop. you will find dead zones within chinatown. we are talking about a continuous signal, a cohesive signal between cell towers. we are not going to go out and throw away our cell phones because somebody wants to go back to drums and sending carrier pigeons. they are demanding environmental impact reports. the city is in a financial crisis. to do eir's on projects like this is irresponsible. we have america's cup 2012 coming up. where is it going to take place? along fisherman's wharf, along north beach. you are going to have the upper class tourists coming. if they are here trying to use their cell phone and they're smart phone and theirap

in the coverage in north beach is stated as best. supervisors, either they are making misrepresentations or the -- to the planning department or the consumers regarding the strength of their voice and data coverage in north beach. which is it? if they're making misrepresentations regarding coverage, what guarantees are there that they are not misrepresenting the measurements? in july of 2010, a group of concerned residents met with representatives from t mobil to discuss the plan to install the three and 10 at in north beach within 8 to block radius. we learned a key significant facts. first, cell phone companies measure the signals of their cell phone antenna on frequencies specific to their company and not cumulative. additionally, the signal is essentially directed towards the horizon. since they are often installed on roof tops, because of the characteristic of the city of san francisco and in particular in north beach, these installations are often end up emitting radio frequency directly. yet, the radiation is measured at st. le

into the downtown, san francisco right around 50 degrees. north bay beaches will be in the upper as soon as. monterey bay, low to mid as soon as and mid 60s as you head inland. rain and mountain snow possible up around tahoe. light rain through sacramento, 67. fresno, 71. 72 in l.a. and 86 in palm springs. tonight it won't be quite as warm as it was this morning, and 8-10 degrees cooler. mid to upper 40s for the rest of us. here is a lookfront. warm front bringing us the rain. cold front doesn't really have any moisture with it but wants it moves through on the jetstream, we'll start see the clearing. >> most organized activity starting to fall apart by the 5:00 into the 6:00 hour. notice the clearer skies tonight as high pressure moves in. as we head in for tomorrow morning, clear and thick dew on the ground. afternoon, sunshine and possible high clouds. it will miss us wednesday and it will be about 10 degrees warmer by then. briefly cooler we talked about thursday and friday and saturday and sunday should be warm away from the coast. >>> thanks a lot. >>>