Opponents of the Warriors' proposed arena this past weekend began "gathering signatures for a ballot measure that could block both the waterfront hoops palace and the Giants' planned development across from AT&T Park," according to Matier & Ross of the S.F. CHRONICLE. The measure -- put together by "local Sierra Club leaders and others in the 'No Wall on the Waterfront' movement -- would require that any development exceeding height limits go before voters." The physical targets of the proposed June measure "are the Warriors' planned 17,000-seat arena at Piers 30-32, luxury condos and a hotel across the Embarcadero," as well as the Giants' planned high-rises for their main parking lot. The Warriors "have long expected a ballot fight, though they won't say whether they would oppose the Sierra Club initiative." But the Giants "didn't see this fight coming." What the Giants "didn't expect was that their building plans would become ensnared in the arena battle." Team execs will not comment on the proposed June measure, but opposing it "could be risky." After all, "proponents can argue, it simply leaves mega-development decisions in voters' hands." Backers "have only until Feb. 3 to gather the needed 9,702 signatures of registered voters to qualify the measure" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 1/12).
