Project Review and Land Use - Bay Area

Outlining the procedures for those seeking to utilize, cross, or affect SFPUC lands in San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Alameda Counties. 

The primary purpose of the lands that we own is for the unimpeded operation and maintenance of our water and power system, and goals set forth in our land use policies. Any entity, be they public or private, contemplating using, crossing, or affecting our lands in any way must apply for permission to do so. Applications are reviewed by a multi-disciplinary committee that includes planners, biologists, engineers, real estate analysts, land managers, foresters and hydrologists. Among other things, the Committee is charged with ensuring that proposals comply with all of our existing land use policies, including but not limited to the Watershed Management Plans and Rights of Way Policies provided below.

Questions?

Please contact Casey Rando, Senior Environmental and Compliance Planner, at crando@sfwater.org.

Project Review

Project Review is usually the first step in getting a proposed project approved. If Commission or Board of Supervisors approval of a proposed project is required or if the project requires Real Estate entitlements or Land Engineering review and approval, the process can take quite a long time. Please plan accordingly.

  1. Project Review starts with an application.

    A fully completed application – project description, maps, drawings, and /or plans and all requested supporting documents must be submitted for Project Review consideration. Send completed applications to projectreview@sfwater.org. 

    Project Review Application

  2. Follow up

    After the initial application, Project Review Committee staff may reach out to the applicant with questions and requests for additional information. Staff will guide the applicant through the review and authorization process, should additional entitlements from other departments be necessary. Committee staff will schedule a date and time for your project to be reviewed.

  3. Land Engineering Evaluation

    Do you need pipeline drawings or authorization to pothole SFPUC pipelines? If a proposed project is located near SFPUC infrastructure, applicants should contact Land Engineering as soon as possible. Once obtained, this information (including SFPUC property boundaries, pipelines and appurtenances and potholing data-) should be incorporated into project drawings or plan sets to show the proposed project or activity relative to SFPUC property and infrastructure. Then submit your revised plans to the appropriate Project Review Coordinator.

    Apply to pothole or for pipeline drawings.

  4. Project Review Committee Hearings

    2025 Bay Area Project Review Meeting Schedule

    January 8 & 22 | February 5 & 19 | March 5 & 19 | April 2 & 16
    May 7 & 21 | June 4 & 18 | July 2 & 17 | August 6 & 20
    September 3 & 17 | October 1 & 15 |November 5 & 19 | December 3 & 17

     

    Due to COVID-19 restrictions and until further notice, all Project Review meetings will be held remotely via the video conferencing platform Zoom. Project Review Committee staff will provide applicants with login information, agendas, and instructions in advance of your meeting with the Committee. All Project Review meetings are recorded as part of the public record.

  5. Project Review Certificate

    Following successful completion of the Project Review meeting, the Committee will issue a Certificate. This certificate outlines required project compliance and protection measures that need to be coordinated and completed prior to project commencement. The Project Review Certificate will also enable project applicants to obtain access permits, if required, and watershed/right of way gate keys for consultants and contractors. The Certificate is also required to obtain authorizations from WSTD Land Engineering and Real Estate Services.

  6. Land Access and ROW Permit

    Now that you have your Project Review Certificate in hand, you can now apply for an access permit to access from our Watershed Managers.

    Application for the Land Access Permit

    Land and Rights-of-Way Access Permits - short-term permits (14-day maximum) are issued for access to and/or across the rights-of-way for a variety of purposes. Other types of permits pertaining to the rights-of-way include Land Use Permits and ROW Leases. Land Use Permits are issued through the Water Supply and Treatment Division's Land Engineering Section and are generally for engineering-related access to the rights-of-way such as the need for a pipeline or cable to cross the right-of-way. ROW Leases are issued by the Real Estate Services Bureau and are generally issued for non-engineering related uses of the rights-of-way such as a parking area or storage facility.

Other Resources

ROW Encroachments

In some locations on the ROW, unauthorized uses have become liability issues, for both security of the water transmission system and the threat of personal liability suits. Periodic surveillance of the ROW is required in order to prevent unauthorized encroachments and land uses. A loss of revenue can also be associated with certain unauthorized, but otherwise acceptable, land uses. Maintenance of the ROW, where there are no other land uses, is a formidable task, requiring annual treatments for weed abatement, fire hazard reduction, litter or dumping abatement and fencing improvements. 

Careful management of these numerous and narrow parcels of land is tantamount to the protection of the water supply infrastructure. Development of a Comprehensive Rights-of-Way Management Plan will address the need to protect and maintain this vital part of the water supply infrastructure through the implementation of policies and best management practices.