An last-ditch appeal to block the Golden State Warriors’ new arena at Mission Bay failed Tuesday with the rejection by the California’s First District Court of Appeals.
The new arena will be at Third and 16th Streets, just across the street from three new U.C. San Francisco hospitals. The arena is set to open for the 2019-2020 NBA season.
The failed appeal challenged the validity of San Francisco’s approvals for the arena and claimed the Warriors’ arena would create traffic jams that block emergency services at nearby hospitals.
The lawsuit was brought by the Mission Bay Alliance, a group of former UCSF officials.
“We conclude there is no merit to plaintiffs’ objections to the sufficiency of the city’s environmental analysis and its approval of the proposed project,” Justice Stuart Pollak concluded for the panel.
The appeal consolidated to petitions seeking to set aside environmental impact findings and related city permits for construction. The proposed arena will be a 488,000 square foot event center on 11-acres with 18,500 seats and include two 11-story office and retail buildings, parking garages and 3.2 acres of open space.
The arena will also provide a venue for non-basketball uses, including conventions, concerts, cultural events and other sporting events.
The plan was approved by the Board of Supervisors in 2015 and the plaintiffs filed a challenge that was transferred to Sacramento Superior Court. The arena plan was approved by the court in July 2016 and appealed.
“Substantial evidence supports the city’s finding that the project has sufficient safeguards to protect the peaceful enjoyment of neighboring properties from substantial noise emissions,” the panel also held, saying it was not the court’s job to “second guess” the adequacy of safety and noise protections.
Joining Pollak were Justices William McGuiness and Martin Jenkins.
Case: Mission Bay Alliance v. Office of Community Investment, A148865
TrialInsider.com 