The article was originally published in The Registry. You can read the original here.
Orchard Partners has unveiled a significantly downsized plan for the Guadalupe Quarry Redevelopment Project in Brisbane, a move aimed at appeasing environmentalists concerned about the impact on noise, traffic, and, critically, endangered butterfly species inhabiting San Bruno Mountain. The revised proposal comes after considerable public outcry and an ongoing environmental review process.
Initially, the project at the Guadalupe Quarry site envisioned a massive 1.3 million square foot “Amazon-style” warehouse and distribution center. The updated plan now proposes a two-level data center building totaling 180,000 square feet and a two-level industrial building intended for a combination of modern warehousing, light industrial, assembly, and manufacturing uses.
According to Tyler Higgins, managing partner at Orchard Partners, the updated plans are a direct response to community feedback. As stated on the project’s website, Higgins commented, “Our updated project plans respond to the community’s feedback received from our Open House on April 23 and ongoing conversations with local leaders.” He added, “Brisbane residents want to see a smaller project that includes innovative types of industrial uses beyond just warehousing.” Don Little, a partner at Orchard Partners, further explained that “Based on feedback from the Brisbane community, we have reduced the total project size by a third and reduced building heights from 100 feet to 80 feet.” Little also noted that the updated development plan is a smaller project that intends to result in less truck traffic and fewer environmental impacts. Warehouse uses could be reduced by up to 70 percent, he noted.
A central point of contention for environmental groups, including Green Foothills and San Bruno Mountain Watch, is the project’s proximity to San Bruno Mountain, a vital habitat for three federally endangered butterfly species: the Mission Blue, San Bruno Elfin, and Callippe Silverspot butterflies. These species are protected under the San Bruno Mountain Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP), and their survival relies on specific host plants found on the mountain. Opponents argue that the original and even therevised development could destroy crucial habitat. Green Foothills, on their website greenfoothills.org, specifically stated that theproposed development “would destroy habitat for the Mission Blue butterfly and San Bruno Elfin butterfly, and could impact habitat for the Callippe Silverspot butterfly – all of which are on the federal endangered species list.”
While Orchard Partners has proposed setting aside 82 acres of the 144-acre site for ecological preservation and offering 36 acres as a conservation easement, environmental groups remain critical. Green Foothills, through its website, points out that much of the land offered for protection is steeply sloped and unlikely to be developed anyway, making it an insufficient trade-off for theloss of existing, viable butterfly habitat within the project footprint.
The City of Brisbane, as the lead agency, has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Guadalupe Quarry Redevelopment Project. As reported by Green Foothills and confirmed by information on brisbaneca.org, the public review period for the Draft EIR, which ran from October 7, 2024, to January 6, 2025, generated nearly 400 pages of comments, with the vast majority opposing the project. The city is currently evaluating these comments to prepare a Final EIR, which will be a critical step in the decision-making process for project approval or denial. Any approval would also require amendments to the HCP and various state and federal agency approvals, as highlighted by Green Foothills.
The Guadalupe Quarry Redevelopment Project highlights the ongoing tension between urban development and environmental preservation in ecologically sensitive areas, particularly when endangered species are involved. The scaled-down proposal represents an attempt by Orchard Partners to address community and environmental concerns, but the path to full approval remains subject to rigorous environmental scrutiny and continued public engagement.