Planning Commission adopts rezoning to convert scattered M1/M2 industrial parcels to PDR

The San Francisco Planning Commission voted unanimously to adopt an ordinance that rezones a set of M1 and M2 industrial parcels to production, distribution and repair (PDR) districts and amends planning code retail limits to preserve ground-floor PDR uses.

Diego Sanchez of the Planning Department told the commission the measure clarifies where industrial uses should be preserved and refines retail limits in PDR zones. Staff said the change will reclassify some rail‑adjacent and public‑use properties to PDR or public districts and add a time‑limited note allowing certain self‑storage uses where those projects include a minimum amount of ground‑floor PDR space. Sanchez said staff evaluated potential housing capacity impacts and believes any reduced housing capacity would be offset by planned upzoning elsewhere, and that the city has coordinated its approach with the City Attorney on compliance with SB 330, the state ‘‘no‑net‑loss’’ law.

Deputy City Attorney Kristen Jensen and staff answered commissioners’ questions about SB 330 timing and whether previously enacted upzonings could be used to meet the law’s requirements; the legal team said concurrence is determined by whether the ordinances go into effect concurrently, and staff indicated they would broaden proposed language to encompass forthcoming upzonings if necessary.

Commissioners discussed the differences between M districts and the narrower PDR category and asked staff to clarify where housing would remain allowed by conditional use. After deliberation, the commission moved and approved the ordinance as amended by staff; the motion carried 6–0.

The ordinance will be transmitted as adopted by the Planning Commission and proceed to the Board of Supervisors as the next legislative step.