Board approves rezoning notice requirement on first reading, 8-3

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed on first reading an ordinance on April 22 that would require direct notice to residents, property owners and businesses near proposed rezonings the Planning Department says are intended to comply with the city’s housing element. The measure passed 8-3 after a round of debate at the board meeting.

Supporters said the requirement is a straightforward transparency measure that helps multilingual and historically under‑informed communities engage in land‑use decisions. “It’s a simple, straightforward right to know legislation,” Supervisor Ahsha Safaí Chan said, describing Planning Department estimates that the rezoning process could affect at least 13,000 acres of San Francisco land.

Opponents argued the notice rule departs from precedent and could needlessly alarm…