Handouts & FAQs
Last Updated: 10/14/2022

Central SoMa Plan - Outreach Strategies

The April 2013 Central Corridor Plan Draft for Public Review is the result of the input we received from hundreds of community members and interested stakeholders. To make sure that we heard from as many people as possible, the Planning Department proactively reached out to stakeholder groups, and offered a wide variety of methods for engagement and providing input.

Meeting with Community Groups

The Planning Department has met with myriad organizations in the neighborhood, including:

  • 77 Dow Place HOA
  • Alliance for Better District 6
  • Arden HOA
  • Asian Neighborhood Design
  • California Culture and Music Association
  • Central City SRO Collaborative
  • Central Subway Outreach Committee
  • Clementina Cares
  • Eastern Neighborhoods Citizens Advisory Committee
  • Filipino-American Development Foundation
  • Good Jobs for All
  • Housing Action Coalition (HAC)
  • One Bluxome HOA
  • Rincon Hill /South Beach/Mission Bay Neighborhood Association
  • San Francisco Bicycle Coalition
  • San Francisco Planning and Urban Research (SPUR)
  • San Francisco Senior and Disability Action
  • San Francisco Youth Commission
  • SF BLU HOA
  • SoMa Community Coalition
  • SoMa Community Collaborative
  • SoMa Community Stabilization Fund Citizens Advisory Committee
  • SoMa Pilipinas
  • South Beach/Mission Bay Merchants Association
  • South of Market Action Network (SOMCAN)
  • South of Market Business Association (SOMBA)
  • South of Market Leadership Council
  • South of Market Project Area Committee (SOMPAC)
  • TODCO
  • Walk SF
  • We Are SoMa
  • Western Soma Taskforce
  • Yerba Buena Alliance
  • Yerba Buena Community Benefit District
  • YIMBY

If you are interested in having the Planning Department come to your group's meeting, email steve.wertheim@sfgov.org and we'll be happy to schedule a time that works for you.

Public Hearings

To date, the Planning Department has held multiple public hearings on the Central SoMa Plan. To watch these hearings, visit www.sfgovtv.org and search by date and Commission under the "Video on Demand Section".

Public Meetings

To date, the Planning Department has held multiple public meetings on the Central SoMa Plan. Click on the links below to see the materials related to each meeting:

  • November 29, 2011 Public Workshop on Initial Land Use and Urban Form Scenarios
    On Tuesday November 29, 2011, the Planning Department hosted a public workshop at the SPUR Urban Center to present the draft land use and urban form principles, implementation strategies, and a range of scenarios for both zoning and height limits.
    Download the entire workshop presentation (screen version)
    Download the entire workshop presentation (print version)
    Zoning Scenario Maps
    Building Height Scenario Maps
    3-D Urban Form Simulations of Building Height Scenarios
  • March 6, 2012 Public Workshop on the Public Realm
    On Tuesday March 6, 2012, the Planning Department hosted a public workshop at the SPUR Urban Center to present and receive feedback on concepts for improvements to the public realm (streets and open spaces).
    Download the entire workshop presentation (screen version)
  • June 13, 2012 Public Workshop on Refined Plan Proposals
    On Wednesday June 13, 2012, the Planning Department hosted a public workshop at the SPUR Urban Center to present and receive feedback on refined Plan concepts for all aspects of the Plan, including land use, urban form, streets and circulation, open space, eco-district, and public benefits program. The Department refined its proposals presented at past workshops based on comments received from the public as well as additional analysis.
    Download the entire workshop presentation (screen version)
    Download the workshop boards
  • June 12, 2013 Public Workshop on Plan Refinement Topics
    On Wednesday June 12, 2013, the Planning Department hosted a public workshop at TODCO's Woolf House to develop a list of topics for further analysis. To see the results of this process, click here.
    Download the entire workshop presentation.
  • November 18, 2014 Open House on Community Benefits
    On Tuesday November 18, 2014, the Planning Department hosted an open house at SPUR to discuss the community benefits being considered by the Plan.
    To see the proposed community benefits, see our draft policy papers on Affordable Housing, Community Facilities, Production/Distribution/Repair, and Privately-Owned Public Open Spaces (as well as others), click here.
    For community input received at the meeting, click here.
  • March 25, 2015 Open House on Neighborhood Character
    On Wednesday March 25, 2015, the Planning Department hosted an open house at the SPUR Urban Center to discuss neighborhood character, including preservation of existing buildings, design controls for new buildings, and environmental sustainability.
    To read the Meeting Summary that was handed out at the meeting, click here.
    To see the storyboard posters that were presented at the meeting, click here.
    To see our Draft Policy papers on these topics (as well as others), click here.
  • December 9, 2015 Open House on the Menu of Public Benefits
    On Wednesday December 9, 2015, the Planning Department hosted an open house to discuss the menu of public benefits that could be funded by the $2 billion potentially generated by the Central SoMa Plan.
    To read the "Menu" that was handed out at the meeting, click here.
    To see the presentation, click here.
    To see the storyboard posters that were presented at the meeting, click here.
  • November 1, 2016 Open House on the Revised Central SoMa Plan (Part 1 of 3)
    On Tuesday, November 1, 2016 the Planning Department hosted an open house to discuss increasing capacity for jobs and housing, maintaining the diversity of residents, and facilitating an economically diversified and lively jobs center (i.e., the first three Goals of the Central SoMa Plan).
    To see the presentation, click here.
  • November 15, 2016 Open House on the Revised Central SoMa Plan (Part 2 of 3)
    On Tuesday, November 15, 2016 the Planning Department hosted an open house to discuss transportation, recreation and open space, and the design of ground floors.
    To see the presentation, click here.
  • December 6, 2016 Open House on the Revised Central SoMa Plan (Part 3 of 3)
    On Tuesday, December 6, 2016 the Planning Department hosted an open house to discuss environmental sustainability, cultural preservation, and building design and architecture. 
    To see the presentation, click here.
     

Walking Tours

In 2011, the Planning Department hosted two walking tours featuring a variety of speakers along who discussed their area of interest and vision for the corridor. For maps, photos, and a list of speakers from those tours, see below:

Storefront Charrette

From June 22-25, 2011, the Planning Department set up shop in a retail space at 825 Howard Street and invited everyone to drop in to chat and to provide input that we will use to formulate the plan. For photos of that event and the results of the visual mapping exercise, see below:

Community Survey #1

From May 1 – August 1, 2011 the Planning Department conducted a Community Survey to receive guidance on specific issues within the Central Corridor. See the results below:

Community Survey #2

From December 9, 2015 to January 31, 2016 the Planning Department conducted a Community Survey to receive guidance on how the City should prioritize public benefits revenues generated by the Plan. See the results below: