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Board amends HomeSF housing ordinance, adopts several program changes and continues item for next week
Summary
Supervisor Tang offered amendments to the HomeSF affordable‑housing bonus program — changes on unit mix, minimum unit sizes and marketing rules for below‑market units — and the board continued the item to the May 23 meeting for final consideration.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors on May 16 considered amendments to the HOME SF affordable‑housing bonus program and related planning‑code changes. Supervisor Katie Tang circulated a set of amendments that the board adopted on the floor and then continued the ordinance for final action on May 23.
Key amendments included:
- Unit mix: language to require that, for HomeSF projects electing the program, at least 40% of units be two‑ and three‑bedroom units, with at least 10% of total units be three‑bedroom units. Planning staff and MOHCD confirmed unit mix requirements will be applied so affordable units are distributed across sizes rather than concentrated in smaller floorplans.
- Minimum unit sizes: the board adopted language tying HOME SF below‑market unit minimum floor areas to the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee (TCAC) 2017 minimums (e.g., approximately 450 sq. ft. for a one‑bedroom, 700 sq. ft. for a two‑bedroom), with the 2017 TCAC numbers used as a floor.
- Unit pricing: HOME SF below‑market units must be marketed at least 20% below nominal market rate for the unit size and neighborhood, with MOHCD authorized to set AMI tiers to achieve that pricing.
- Hybrid/state density bonus: Tang’s amendments also ensure programmatic alignment for the analyzed state density bonus (a hybrid option that marries state density bonus law to local procedures) and explicitly add the same unit‑size protection to that hybrid pathway.
The board did not finalize a set of formula‑retail rules that were also discussed and asked staff and supervisors to refine language; supervisors agreed to continue that narrow portion of the discussion to the May 23 meeting rather than attempt additional substantive drafting on the floor.
After questioning from several supervisors — including concerns that HomeSF not function as an unintended alternative to an updated citywide inclusionary policy — the board voted to continue the item to the May 23 meeting. Planning and MOHCD staff told the supervisors they will provide a revised ordinance and technical clarifications during the intervening week.
Why it matters: HomeSF is a voluntary bonus program designed to deliver additional affordable units by offering zoning concessions. The amendments adopted by the board strengthen protections for family‑sized units and set minimum floor areas for below‑market units, steps intended to prevent creation of very small affordable apartments.
What’s next: Supervisors continued the ordinance to the May 23 meeting for final consideration; planning and MOHCD will return with a redlined ordinance that incorporates the adopted amendments and clarifies the outstanding formula‑retail language.
