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Planning staff outline housing shortfalls as commission hears draft housing element update
Summary
Planning staff told the commission that San Francisco fell short on affordable production in 2020 and is behind on RHNA goals; the draft 2022 housing element centers racial and social equity and proposes priority geographies, new production in high‑opportunity areas and expanded anti‑displacement efforts.
San Francisco planning staff presented the city’s 2020 housing inventory, housing balance and an initial draft of the 2022 housing element at the April 22 meeting of the Planning Commission. Staff said 4,044 net units were built in 2020, a one‑percent increase in the city’s stock, but that affordable production fell sharply — continuing a multi‑year shortfall against RHNA targets. Oscar Hernandez Gomez told commissioners that the city has permitted about 68% of the RHNA target for the current cycle but is underperforming on low‑ and very‑low‑income categories. Michelle Littlefield, the Planning Department’s data and analytics manager, said staff restructured data teams and hired analysts to improve monitoring and reporting.
The draft housing element, staff said, will center racial and social equity and respond to dramatically higher state RHNA numbers. Kimia Haradan of the department’s community equity division described major policy shifts under consideration: recognizing a “right to housing,” prioritizing deeply affordable housing and supportive units in “priority geographies,” and pushing more affordable options into state‑defined “high opportunity” areas through targeted land‑banking or programmatic tools. Staff warned that missing the state deadline could jeopardize affordable housing funds and trigger fines.
In public comment dozens of residents, community groups and advocates urged changes: many asked the department to pause the update to create community‑led strategies; disability and senior advocates said accessible units and subsidies were underemphasized; tenant groups pressed for preservation and stronger tenant protections; and some residents urged more up‑zoning of single‑family areas to spread housing production. Commissioners asked staff to clarify how site inventories will be counted, how interagency coordination on infrastructure and community facilities will work, and how implementation and monitoring can ensure equity outcomes.
Staff said the next phase will include focused outreach and that the environmental review notice of preparation is expected in the coming months. The commission did not take action on the draft at the informational presentation; staff asked commissioners to weigh in as the element proceeds through additional outreach and later public hearings.
