Sweeping amendments to S.F. upzoning plan tabled

"San Francisco supervisors voted Monday to table many of the proposed amendments to the mayor's housing upzoning plan, and instead approved only those that California state officials supported. The plan, which allows housing developers to build taller, denser buildings throughout the city's north and west, has generated concern that developers will displace tenants and businesses to build taller, more profitable buildings. But, the state is requiring San Francisco to create capacity for 36,000 additional units."

"As YIMBYs in San Francisco and the state legislature see it, building a lot more housing is needed to address the city's affordability crisis, and rezoning is a necessary step. If the city fails to rezone, it may face the "builder's remedy," where it loses control of its ability to approve or reject new housing developments, regardless of where they are and their height and density."

"A Sept. 9 letter from state housing authorities warned San Francisco against "introducing potential constraints on development." While the plan was currently compliant, they said, amendments would need to more or less preserve the new capacity created. At the Land Use Committee meeting, the planning department explained what officials at the California Department of Housing and Community Development had communicated about each amendment - plus an estimate of how much the amendment would change capacity."

San Francisco supervisors voted Monday to table many proposed amendments and approved only those supported by California state officials. The upzoning plan allows developers to build taller, denser buildings across the city's north and west, raising concerns about tenant and business displacement. The state requires San Francisco to create capacity for 36,000 additional units; proponents argue rezoning is necessary to address the affordability crisis. Failure to rezone could trigger the "builder's remedy," removing local control over approvals for new developments. A Sept. 9 state letter warned against introducing constraints on development. The planning department reported state feedback and capacity estimates as the committee accepted some exemptions and tabled other amendments.

Read at Mission Local