A legendary planning commissioner plans to retire after 20 years of exceptional service - 48 hills

Kathrin Moore will rotate off the San Francisco Planning Commission when her term ends this summer after two decades of service. Gilbert Williams is also at the end of his term, leaving one commission post vacant. With vacancies among Board of Supervisors appointees, Rafael Mandelman will be able to nominate candidates who must be approved by the full board. The commission oversees land use policy, giving commissioners major influence over local politics. For much of the past decade, the commission has been split between Board-appointed and Mayor-appointed members on key issues. Mandelman’s closer alignment with the mayor could shift future debates and reduce independent voices.

"Kathrin Moore told me she will rotate off when her term ends this summer. "Twenty years is a long time," she said. Commissioner Gilbert Williams, who has also been an excellent addition to the panel, is also at the end of his term, and one commission post is vacant. That means Sup. Rafael Mandelman will have a chance to reshape the commission, which plays a critical role in San Francisco: The commission oversees land use policy for the city, and since so much of local politics is about land use, the seven commissioners have tremendous influence."

"For most of the past decade, the commission has been split on key issues, with the three members appointed by the president of the Board of Supes standing up to the three appointed by the mayor. Since all three of the vacancies are for board-appointed supes, Mandelman, who is much closer to the mayor than previous board presidents, will be able to shape future debates. Mandelman now can nominate three candidates, who must be approved by the full board. But with a Lurie-friendly board majority, it's likely Mandelman's picks will get the nod."

"Moore, a retired architect, has extensive knowledge of planning issues and policies, and has challenged the Yimby agenda, Mayors Breed and Lurie, political corruption, and developers who are bad actors. She has been a polite, soft-spoken but fierce advocate for rational community-based planning. You have to go way back to the days of Sue Bierman to find someone as excpetional. Williams, a union carpenter and anti-displacement advocate appointed by former Board President Aaron Peskin, was a refreshing community voice in his term."

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