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Mayor and supervisors spar over inclusionary housing changes; mayor urges independent economic study
Summary
Mayor Edwin Lee urged that any major change to the city’s inclusionary housing rules be based on economic feasibility studies, while several supervisors pushed for faster increases. The board scheduled further committee review of proposed ballot measures and ordinances.
A debate over raising San Francisco’s inclusionary housing requirements surfaced in the Jan. 26 Board of Supervisors hearing, as Mayor Edwin Lee urged measured, data-driven changes and several supervisors pressed for more rapid increases to address the affordable housing crisis.
Key exchange: Supervisor John Avalos asked whether the mayor would support Supervisor Jane Kim’s proposed charter amendment to increase the inclusionary requirement (a measure Kiм had circulated for the June ballot). Mayor Lee said he supported the goal of requiring market-rate developers to provide substantially more affordable units, but he said that changes should be based on independent economic analysis and stakeholder input. "Our housing crisis calls for a significant increase to the city's inclusionary requirements," Lee said, but he added that "increases should be based on professional independent economic data and stakeholder input. I cannot support an approach that arbitrarily sets inclusionary percentages for projects citywide regardless of building size or geography challenges." Lee said he had proposed a companion ballot measure requiring planning and controller staff to conduct economic feasibility analysis before setting new inclusionary rates.
Why it matters: The city is grappling with housing affordability for low- and middle-income households. Supervisors who favor immediate charter changes say faster, more aggressive inclusionary rates would produce more units; opponents and the mayor warn that inflexible citywide floors could chill production and lead to fewer overall new units.
Board actions and next steps: The Board scheduled a Committee of the Whole hearing on inclusionary/affordable housing proposals (Item 55), but the scheduling and format drew procedural debate on Jan. 26. The item was continued for further consideration (the scheduling/continuance process included a request for committee review and, after floor debate, the item was continued to a Feb. 2 Board meeting for additional work and scheduling clarity). The mayor urged collaboration among supervisors, city departments and stakeholders to reach an approach that expands affordable housing without unintended consequences.
Quotes and context - Mayor Edwin Lee (Mayor): "I cannot support an approach that arbitrarily sets inclusionary percentages for projects citywide regardless of building size or geography challenges...economic feasibility needs to be our guiding principle." - Supervisor Jane Kim (Supervisor): Has proposed a charter amendment to expand the inclusionary requirement (referenced in the hearing); the mayor said staff and stakeholders were invited to a consensus process.
Ending: The board left the matter open for further committee consideration, signaling continuing negotiations in which independent economic findings, geography, building size and stakeholder input will be weighed before any citywide, binding percentage changes are adopted or placed on the ballot.
