Supervisor Amiano advances proposal to require air‑quality mitigation for near‑road residential projects

The commission heard a briefing from Supervisor Amiano’s office on proposed legislation to require air‑quality assessment and mitigation for residential developments in mapped, high‑traffic areas.

Pilar Schiavo, legislative aide to Supervisor Amiano, said the proposal would require developers of residential projects of 10 or more units located in a Department of Public Health‑defined zone to submit an air‑quality assessment and, where needed, install engineered ventilation or other mitigation measures. "Applicants for building permits for residential developments of 10 units or more, which are within that zone, will need to do an air quality assessment of their site," Schiavo said. The draft shifts responsibility for technical assessment to engineers and gives DPH authority to inspect mitigation systems after construction.

DPH and planning staff reviewed experience from the Eastern Neighborhoods and noted that an earlier program released developers from mitigation in about 75 percent of cases after site reviews; the proposed ordinance would create a consistent review path and mitigation standards for high‑exposure projects. Commissioners asked for more technical detail, cost estimates (staff cited a broad range of $1,000–$10,000 per unit depending on mitigation), and time to review the draft; staff said a CAC workshop was scheduled for Oct. 31 and that Board deadlines made timing tight.

Several commissioners asked that the commission hold a special meeting or otherwise prioritize a full technical review so their comments could be incorporated before the Board of Supervisors takes action. DPH public‑health testimony highlighted research linking near‑road vehicle particulates to asthma and other health harms and urged the city to adopt mitigation standards for infill development adjacent to busy roadways.