S.F. upzoning plan heads to committee for final amendments

"The state-mandated upzoning has divided San Francisco residents. To its proponents, upzoning is a landmark move for the historically anti-growth city. They argue that as taller buildings go up and the city gradually becomes denser, housing costs will decrease for future generations of San Franciscans. Upzoning opponents paint a bleaker future: one where housing developers displace residents and businesses to build up - and there isn't enough new housing to make a dent on affordability."

"Other supervisors intend to introduce amendments that require new buildings to include a larger percentage of units with two or more bedrooms to make the plan more family-friendly, exempt some historical buildings from the increase in height limits and remove areas that have higher concentrations of low-income residents and people of color. Three supervisors - Melgar, Bilal Mahmood, and Chyanne Chen - sit on the committee, but other supervisors can introduce amendments with their support."

"On Monday Oct. 20, many of San Francisco's supervisors will attend the Land Use Committee's weekly meeting to put forward a slew of final amendments to the city's upzoning plan. As it stands, the plan allows housing developers to build taller, denser buildings in the city's northern and western neighborhoods. The amendments range from excluding historical buildings to excluding low-income blocks."

San Francisco supervisors will convene the Land Use Committee on Oct. 20 to propose final amendments to a state-mandated upzoning plan allowing taller, denser buildings in northern and western neighborhoods. Proposed amendments include exemptions for historical buildings, removal of blocks with higher concentrations of low-income residents and people of color, and protections for rent-controlled units. Supporters argue increased density will lower future housing costs, while opponents warn of displacement and insufficient new housing to improve affordability. District 7 Supervisor Myrna Melgar will introduce a rent-control exemption for buildings with three or more units, backed by the mayor's office. Committee amendments will advance to the full Board of Supervisors for a final vote.

Read at Mission Local