"CEQA has become a punching bag for developers and Yimbys, blamed for pretty much everything from the housing crisis to the delays in high-speed rail. State legislation has limited the use of the landmark environmental law to question new housing and its impact on the environment. But the rezoning in North Beach has nothing to do with housing. It's all about the size and type of business that's allowed in the area."
"For years, the special zoning has protected small, neighborhood serving businesses by limiting the size of storefronts and preventing two or three commercial units to be merged to create larger spaces for bigger stores, including possibly chain stores. The zoning has also prevents retail and other uses from being replaced by more restaurants and bars, preserving a mix of uses and keeping North Beach from becoming nothing but a tourist destination that doesn't serve the residents."
A coalition of North Beach businesses and community groups filed suit in December to block new zoning rules that end the North Beach Special Use District and allow larger-scale businesses. The plaintiffs argue the city needed to perform an environmental review under CEQA before implementing the rezoning, while city planners ruled the changes did not constitute "a project" requiring review. The rezoning relaxes limits on storefront size and allows commercial units to be merged, potentially attracting chain stores, and reduces protections against replacing retail with restaurants and bars. The suit hinges on whether the rezoning qualifies as a CEQA "project."
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