DZLU MEETING DATE: January 24, 2023
1. ONGOING POLICY UPDATES
a. HISTORIC PRESERVATION PLANNING
Planning staff has offered to make a presentation to DZLU on a date to be determined. Discussion at DZLU explored whether this or a separate presentation might be of interest to general RHN membership. Topics might include the benefits of historic designation, applicability of the Mills Act, highlighting significant RH buildings and alleys, our three Historic Districts listed on the National Register, historic aspects of the Polk Street commercial corridor, and the North Beach Historic Context Statement as it pertains to the east slope of RH.
At the 1/5 Planning Commission meeting, Planning Director Hillis relayed that the field survey work by Planning staff on the Citywide Cultural Resources Survey has commenced. Initial efforts are focused on Japantown, and will next proceed to neighborhood commercial districts throughout the city. Completing the entire work is anticipated to take 3-4 years.
b. SF HOUSING ELEMENT
California’s Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) has given preliminary approval to the city’s housing element whose goal is to produce 82,000 units over the next 8 years. The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the plan on 1/24. A rezoning program must be established by 2026 to allow at least 34,000 units; the remaining 48,000 units are in the current pipeline of submitted projects.
RHN had conveyed to the Planning Commission and our Supervisors concerns over several potential rezoning diagrams that impact Russian Hill, as outlined in our December report. Follow up will continue as specific rezoning proposals take shape. The Cow Hollow Association has expressed similar concerns over proposed height increases on Union and Lombard Streets.
https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/s-f-plan-to-build-82-000-new-homes-over-8-years-17739543.php
c. MISCELLANEOUS HOUSING POLICY UPDATES
SB 4: Affordable housing on church and non-profit college properties:
In the fall of 2022 Sen. Wiener initiated legislation to expedite production of 100% affordable housing on church and non-profit college properties by superceding local zoning regulations that may hinder such development and limiting environmental review. Many institutions have excess land potentially suitable for development. The backing of diverse construction trade unions will be necessary and the process is envisioned to be analogous to that undertaken to win agreement on AB 2011 last year which was a significant measure to expedite conversion of underutilized commercial properties to housing, discussed in last year’s minutes.
d. SF CONDO CONVERSION LOTTERY
The condo conversion lottery which is currently suspended is scheduled to return potentially in 2024 under a set of complex rules. DZLU will follow this process and the thinking of diverse stakeholders on this issue.
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