Opinion

[Print]  [Email]        

Commission backs Japantown overhaul

By: John Upton

06/25/09 7:21 PM PDT

A draft plan to overhaul Japantown was acknowledged Thursday by the Planning Commission.

The unanimous vote was largely irrelevant, except that it pushed responsibility for overseeing finalization of the Japantown Better Neighborhood Plan to the Board of Supervisors, which has taken the lead in finalizing similar neighborhood plans in recent years.

Commissioner Michael Antonini described the draft plan as a “great start” and a “work in progress.”

The aim of the Japantown plan is to bring new visitors, housing, ground-floor stores and open space into the neighborhood.

Up to $41 million would need to be raised through development impact fees and neighborhood taxes to pay for proposed public improvements included in the draft 20-year plan.

Some residents and neighbors have criticized the draft plan, saying it could have a gentrifying effect, and that The City has failed to sufficiently consult with the community about the proposed changes.

Funding has not yet been allocated for an environmental impact report, which is needed before the plan can be implemented.

This blog entry was corrected after it was published to reflect the fact that the commission voted to acknowledge the draft plan. The blog entry originally stated that the commission voted to endorse the draft plan.





To view this site, you need to have Flash Player 8.0 or later installed. Click here to get the latest Flash player.


Most Popular Headlines





 


 



 

Reader Comments

All comments on this page are subject to our Terms of Use and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Examiner or its staff. Comment box is limited to 250 words.

Akit

Jun 26, 2009

This article needs to be corrected. The keyword "endorsed" was not used by the Commission. It was "acknowledged." Acknowledgment means that the Commission is basically giving their appreciation for the work in progress, but needs more funding by the BOS to continue working on the plan.

 


Post a comment


Email:
(This will not be displayed or shared. Privacy Policy)

Display Name:

Comment:




Sports

Cardinal has Luck going into Big Game showdown

Though he’s just a redshirt freshman, Andrew Luck... Full story

Entertainment

Reno Santa event inspired by SF revelers

About 5,000 Santa costume-clad folks are expected to... Full story

Entertainment

Scoop: Is J. Lo having ex tailed?

Is Jennifer Lopez playing hardball in her battle with... Full story