Hearing of persons interested in or objecting to the approval of a Final Mitigated Negative Declaration under the California Environmental Quality Act for the proposed project at 570 Market Street, identified in Planning Case No. 2019-017622ENV, and affirmed on appeal by the Planning Commission and issued on May 19, 2025. (District 3) (Appellants: Brian B. Flynn of Lozeau Drury LLP, on behalf of BCal 44 Montgomery Property LLC; Anna C. Shimko of Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP, on behalf of CPH 564, LP) (Filed October 10, 2025)

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors is holding a public hearing on November 18, 2025, to consider appeals against the approval of a Final Mitigated Negative Declaration (FMND) for the proposed 570 Market Street Project (Planning Case No. 2019-017622ENV). The project, located in the Financial District (District 3), involves demolishing existing two-story commercial buildings to construct a 29-story, 300-foot-tall hotel with 211 guest rooms, 3,400 square feet of retail, and 4,211 square feet of publicly owned private open space (POPOS). Project construction is anticipated to last 24 months.

Appellants, BCal 44 Montgomery Property LLC and CPH 564, LP (owners of adjacent historic buildings), argue the FMND is inadequate under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Their primary objections center on potentially significant impacts from construction noise and vibration (citing exceedances of Caltrans thresholds and inadequate worker protection), damage to nearby historic resources (due to mass, scale, and vibration, and alleged misclassification of 44 Montgomery Street), geotechnical risks (soil settlement, liquefaction from deep excavation and piling), traffic congestion from loading operations on Sutter Street, air quality concerns (cancer risks from diesel particulate matter, asbestos, and lead-based paint), and adverse shadow impacts on public spaces.

The Planning Department maintains that the FMND, affirmed by the Planning Commission on May 1, 2025, is legally sufficient. They assert that all potential environmental impacts are reduced to a less-than-significant level through mandatory compliance with state and local building codes, administrative bulletins, and specific mitigation measures. These measures include a Vibration Management and Monitoring Plan (M-NO-2), Clean Off-road Construction Equipment (M-AQ-4a), and Clean Diesel Generators (M-AQ-4b). The Department contends that appellants' arguments are speculative, lack substantial evidence, or misinterpret environmental review methodologies and thresholds. The project is expected to create 237 jobs and generate over $5 million in development impact fees.

Residents and businesses near 570 Market Street in the Financial District could experience significant construction noise, vibration, and air quality impacts for approximately 24 months during the demolition and construction of the 29-story hotel. There may also be changes to local loading zones on Sutter Street, potentially affecting traffic and deliveries. Long-term, the project introduces a new 211-room hotel and retail, creating 237 jobs and providing a new 4,211 sq ft public open space on the 15th floor.

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