An Alternative Future for the North East Mission Industrial Zone

Summary: Group A
Mission Coalition for Economic Justice & Jobs (MCEJJ)
APPENDIX
Participants of Group A were primarily business and property owners.
They were well acquainted with one another and outspoken. The group achieved an overwhelming consensus
on all but minor issues. There was complete agreement that the neighborhood should maintain M-1 zoning.
M-1 zoning was favored because its flexibility provided the best means to protect the diversity of the
neighborhood with its mix of industry, housing, commercial, and office uses. Several participants agreed that
under M-1 zoning, market forces would continue to shape the NEMIZ with a dynamic mix of uses. They felt
strongly that the City should not zone individual areas for specific uses because it would create too many nonconforming
uses. The group proposed a compromise to the City’s Alternative B by designating an area north
of 16 th Street as the primary location of industrial uses (IPZ) but this would include a requirement that any
existing non-industrial uses would be conforming. The group believed that the southern end of the NEMIZ
or the “tail” could be rezoned residential because it already fits into the fabric of the surrounding residential
area.
The group’s main concern was the concept of non-conforming uses in the City’s Alternative B. They wanted
to “do away” with the concept of “non-conforming uses” with the exception of environmentally hazardous
industry. They also acceded that there should be buffers from industry around schools. In general, the group
was disappointed with the City’s rezoning process and was very concerned that it has created hostilities
between interest groups in the NEMIZ and groups west of South Van Ness.
The group was very enthusiastic to participate in this workshop. They were all passionate to preserve the
diversity of the neighborhood. What they liked best about the NEMIZ is the dynamic mix of uses found
throughout the neighborhood, the restaurants, the good public transit access (both buses and BART), that
parking is relatively easy, and the presence of artists. There was consensus that there should be more public
open space and streetscape improvements. Streetscape improvements ranged from bike lanes on some streets,
to allowing accessibility of 40-feet trucks on others. The latter was a specific concern of one long-term
business owner whose business depends on large vehicles for transport. The street that his business resides on
is now too congested to accommodate them.
Participants appreciated the current identity of the neighborhood and do not want the NEMIZ to be “knit
into the fabric of the mission” because that might compromise the diversity of uses and the historic industrial
nature of the neighborhood.
Planning Goals Worksheet
The Goals presented from previous NEMIZ planning events created tremendous confusion for the group.
Several participants felt that too many concepts were grouped into one goal. The language was difficult to
interpret, and almost all participants were not comfortable committing to an opinion without discussion of
each goal. Eventually discussion clarified some concerns but by and large participants re-wrote many of the
goals.
Appendix A.1