PLEASE EXPRESS IN YOUR OWN WORDS.  'ROBO' LETTERS ARE NOT GIVEN AS MUCH WEIGH AS INDIVIDUAL LANGUAGE AND FEEINGS.

Your mailing address

December 8, 2011

Mr. Bill Wycko

Environmental Review Officer

San Francisco Planning Department

1650 Mission St.  Room 400

San Francisco, CA 94103

Subject:            BEACH CHALET ATHLETIC FIELDS RENOVATION

Draft Environmental Impact Report

Planning Department Case No. 2010.0016E

State Clearinghouse No. 2011022005

Dear Mr. Wycko:

I oppose the proposal to renovate the Beach Chalet Athletic Fields with artificial turf and stadium lights.  I support the Compromise Alternative put forth by the public during the Planning Commission hearing of December 1^st,  2011.  The Compromise Alternative is to renovate the Beach Chalet fields with natural grass and no lighting and to renovate the West Sunset Playground to provide more hours of play for youth soccer.  I request that the Planning Department focus on this alternative and work to find a solution that protects Golden Gate Park's parkland.

 I agree with the DEIR finding that the proposed project will materially impair in an adverse manner many of the character defining features of the Beach Chalet Athletic Fields.   However, in all other areas, I find the Draft Environmental Impact Report to be deeply flawed.  I request that the following areas be explored further:

[CHOOSE THOSE AREAS IN WHICH YOU ARE INTERESTED; ALSO, YOU CAN DOWNLOAD AND SKIM THROUGH THE DEIR LOOKING FOR AREAS OF INTEREST -- you will probably find more questions….PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING AND THINK OF QUESTIONS YOU WOULD LIKE TO ASK - -- robo-letters are not as eloquent as expressing yourself and your own feelings

Aesthetics:

·         Both during the day and at night, show two simulations for each view.  One is to show the amount of light and darkness currently in this area.  The Second is to show, in the full dark, all lighting, including the proposed stadium lights at the highest amount of lighting planned for the Beach Chalet fields and all proposed parking and pedestrian lighting:

• From Ocean Beach due west and  south west of the project area, looking back to Golden Gate Park and the area of the Beach Chalet Athletic fields;  
• From the Great Highway Promenade immediately across from the Beach Chalet, looking back to Golden Gate Park and the Beach Chalet Athletic Fields;
• From the road up to the Cliff house, looking down to the beach and to the Beach Chalet Athletic Fields.
• From the railroad path due west of the center of the Beach Chalet fields, looking at the project area.  Show also the change in light on the path area from the current darkness to the fully lighting project.

Cultural Resources:

• The Myoporum trees are still called "shrubs"   - why are 30 foot trees called shrubs?  What is the basis for this classification?   Quote the arboriculture standard that substantiates this designation.
• The DEIR says RPD can change the circulation paths to decomposed granite (DG) and make them more curvilinear; but ADA in San Francisco won't accept DG.  What materials does RPD propose to use?  What will these paths look like?  Provide an illustration.
• Why are there so many paved paths in a park that is supposed to be naturalistic parkland?
• In addition to the stadium lighting, there will be lighting for paths and lighting for parking also - what will be the cumulative impact on this "wild" end of the Park for people?  What will be the cumulative impact for wildlife?
• This report ignores the fields as part of the larger part of GGP;  What percent of the total meadows in the park is the Beach Chalet project?
• The DEIR ignores the cumulative impact of the fields and the Westside Water Treatment Plant.  The two projects together form a barrier that is over 50% of the width of the Park  - why does the DEIR ignore this?  What is the impact on the overall design and experience of the park for visitors, if these two projects are built?
• Explain why the DEIR ignores the Golden Gate Park Master Plan when it calls the western end of the Park the more wild and forested area.
• Explain why the DEIR ignores the cumulative loss of trees with the two projects.  What is the total number that will be lost and threatened by these two projects?  What will be the cumulative impact on the western windbreak of the park?

 Traffic and circulation:

• Rec and Park has talked of closing the Park at night -- how will this impact traffic in this area? 
•  How will having large crowds in this area impact Rec and Park trying to close the Park at night?
• What happens to people who take a bus to a game -- where does the public get off the bus?  How far do they walk?  What paths will they follow?
• What is the impact on the Ocean Beach parking lot of large games at the soccer complex?
• What is the cumulative impact of  events such as soccer tournaments, sand castle contests, surfing contests, major runs, Bay to Breakers, or even just a sunny day -- on traffic in this area?
• Expand the traffic study to include the above factors.  Study all of the events over the past 2 years that took place in Golden Gate Park and the increased traffic for the soccer matches.  Give totals for all events and where the parking takes place.  Analyze the impact on Golden Gate Park, on Ocean Beach, and on the surrounding neighborhoods.  Include increased attendance at events such as the Outside Lands Festival and the Bluegrass Festival, which have increase in attendance over the years.
• What will be the impact on the new bicycle lane that goes by the newly enlarged parking lot entrance?  

Recreation

• What level of maintenance will be required with the new artificial turf fields?   What kinds of activities will be included in this maintenance, and how many hours will be spent on each activity?
• What level of maintenance will be required if natural grass is planted at Beach Chalet?  What kinds of activities and how many hours will be spent on each activity?
• Please give the same information for the West Sunset Playing fields - -how will this change between the current natural grass and if it has artificial turf?
• How will maintenance be handled with more traffic and higher use of the area?
• What will be the new, compared to the prior, custodian hours?  How will this be financed?
• The DEIR says that the new project will result in clean restrooms --what is the correlation between artificial turf and clean restrooms?  What is the correlation between night time stadium lighting and more usage, and clean restrooms? Why can't RPD clean up the bathrooms without spending $9.6 million on artificial turf and night lighting?

[ADD YOUR FEELINGS ABOUT THE PARK AND YOUR EXPERIENCES THERE -- FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU HAVE  WATCHED THE HAWKS FEEDING AT BEACH CHALET, TALK ABOUT IT.  YOUR EXPERIENCES AND THE LOSS  OF BEING ABLE TO HAVE THEM IN THE FUTURE ARE VALID CONCERNS. -- ]

 I would also like to receive a printed copy of the Comments and Responses and the Final EIR by mail.

Please let me know that you have received this letter.

Sincerely,

Your Name

Be sure to include your address here or at the top of the letter.