Another high-rise is in the works for San Francisco's waterfront, and you can bet there will be plenty of people out to complain when the City Planning Commission on Thursday looks at the plan for a 31-story, 186-unit residential tower at 75 Howard St., just off the Embarcadero.

No decisions will be made at the noon meeting at City Hall as the commission considers the draft environmental impact report on the project, which would replace an eight-level, 540-space parking garage at Howard and Steuart streets, but the meeting could give an indication of just how much pushback the project will face when the final EIR comes up for approval early next year.

The Paramount Group has already been told by planners that its project is too tall, blocks scenic vistas, contributes to unacceptable traffic congestion and casts too many shadows on public open spaces to meet the existing zoning rules for the site. To meet city code requirements, the developer would need to lop 13 stories off the high-rise.

None of those are necessarily deal killers (although the tower's 348-foot height is way above the existing 200-foot limit), but the question is just how much stomach city officials have for another high-profile fistfight over waterfront development.

There already are dueling measures on November's ballot over the future of the 8 Washington development, which would put 134 luxury condos across the street from the Ferry Building, and the plan for the Warriors arena at Pier 30-32 is beyond controversial. Add that to the fact that the city's landmark Transbay Tower project faced serious concerns about the impact of shadows on the city's downtown and waterfront, and the question that arises is how much is too much?

Something will be built on the Howard Street site, since the garage, described charitably as "visually utilitarian" by planners, is sitting on one of the last sites in that part of downtown for high-rise development.

- John Wildermuth

A competitive race: Board of Supervisors President David Chiu will run to represent San Francisco's 17th Assembly District.

The widely expected announcement stands to make things a bit more interesting at City Hall: Chiu will be running against board colleague David Campos, who announced his candidacy last month.

If elected, Chiu would be considered pretty liberal in Sacramento - but in left-leaning San Francisco, he will have to run to the right of Campos, a stalwart progressive. Chiu, who represents District Three - including North Beach and Chinatown - has a reputation as a consensus builder in a frequently divided building.

In an interview this week, Chiu said he wants to bring that same tact to Sacramento.

"Five years ago, I came to City Hall to end deep divides that were keeping San Francisco from moving forward," he said. "I have been honored to work alongside San Franciscans of all backgrounds and neighborhoods to find common ground and to create solutions to the big challenges facing the city. ... (If elected) I will vocally advocate alongside the Democratic majority for innovative solutions like the ones I have advanced as a supervisor. I plan to advance politics that not only reflect our shared values as San Franciscans, but also benefit the lives of all Californians."

- Marisa Lagos

Teed up: Despite the outcry from some regular golfers, the push to transfer management of Golden Gate Park Golf Course to an organization teaching the sport to youth is shaping up to be a chip shot at City Hall.

The Board of Supervisors Budget and Finance Committee voted unanimously Wednesday to recommend that the full board approve a five-year lease with First Tee. The national organization, which already reaches thousands of San Francisco students through its programs at Harding Park and a Visitacion Valley practice facility, would pay $225,000 a year in rent plus green fees that will bring an estimated total of $412,500 to the city by the fifth year. First Tee would also install $150,000 worth of upgrades.

"We were specifically searching for a company that could help us revitalize play at the golf course," said Recreation and Park Department property manager Nick Kinsey, noting that the nine-hole course has been operating significantly below capacity in recent years.

Only one person showed up to speak against the First Tee takeover, and opponents have said that they worry about being crowded out of the mellow course that currently doesn't require tee times. But First Tee supporters note that students in the program will only take up 8 percent of tee times and insist there will be enough room for everyone.

- Neal J. Riley