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San Francisco planning meeting spotlights public concern over repeated continuances and SB 330 protections
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Summary
Public commenters and commissioners debated repeated continuances of housing projects and whether the state housing law SB 330 limits them; staff said most continuances were sponsor‑requested and that a sponsor had waived SB 330 protections in one case, while the commission directed staff to track continuance sources and return cases for further review.
Public opposition to repeated continuances and questions about SB 330 dominated early public comment at the San Francisco Planning Commission’s March 18, 2021 remote meeting. Several neighbors and activists urged commissioners not to keep postponing contested projects, saying continuances have been used to limit meaningful public and Commission review.
‘‘This proposed continuance appears to be a disingenuous trip to hide behind restrictions put into place by SB 330 and prevent adequate public and commission review of a problematic project,’’ said Bruce Bowen of the Dolores Heights neighborhood and the San Francisco Land Use Coalition during the public‑comment period. Callers cited multiple postponements for the same projects and asked the commission to hear the items rather than continue them.
Commissioners and staff discussed whether SB 330 — the state law that took effect Jan. 1, 2020, to limit local delays on housing approvals — applies to projects with long histories. City Attorney counsel told commissioners the statute’s effective date and the application filing date matter to determine whether hearings count toward SB 330’s limits. Director Hillis and planning staff said they are tracking continuance counts and asking sponsors to indicate when they request a postponement.
Commissioner Diamond proposed continuing most items but leaving one on the agenda for possible immediate review; that motion was seconded and carried unanimously. Later in the meeting staff told the commission they had received a written waiver from a project sponsor relinquishing the right to count certain past hearings under SB 330; the commission then approved a one‑week continuance to March 25, 2021.
The commission asked staff to improve tracking of which continuances originate with sponsors and which originate with the department, and several commissioners urged staff to bring informational guidance about how SB 330 applies in local practice. Commissioner Tanner said tracking would help commissioners avoid inadvertent consequences and ensure the public understands procedural rights.
What happens next: The commission directed staff to continue recording the source of continuance requests and to return with clearer guidance so commissioners and the public can better understand when SB 330 protections apply.
