Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning Commission adopts Central SoMa plan with board-referred changes, urges added study of affordability and implementation details
Summary
The Planning Commission voted unanimously to approve the Board‑referred amendments to the Central SoMa plan, adding site‑specific exceptions and directing staff to explore living‑wall feasibility, POPOS design guidance and community stabilization funding options while asking for more work on implementation timelines.
The San Francisco Planning Commission on Sept. 27 approved a package of board‑referred amendments to the Central SoMa plan, a major rezoning and public‑benefits program intended to guide development in a large swath of South of Market. The commission voted unanimously to adopt the planning code, administrative code and zoning map changes as amended and asked staff to explore additional measures to protect neighborhood needs.
The plan, as amended and certified by the commission, includes a strengthened Housing Sustainability District (HSD) that tightens on‑site affordability requirements for projects using streamlining benefits, site‑specific exceptions for several key development parcels, and a new PDR (production, distribution and repair) relocation fund to help industrial tenants displaced by development. During deliberations commissioners added direction to staff to study living‑wall requirements, develop design guidance to make privately owned public open spaces (POPOS) more accessible and family friendly, and to explore mechanisms for community stabilization and land‑banking of at‑risk rent‑controlled properties.
Why it matters: Central SoMa is one of the city’s largest area plans. Planning staff used zoning and public‑benefit tools in the package to aim for both job growth and community benefits — including targeted affordable housing, green infrastructure and funding for cultural preservation. The Controller’s office presented an economic analysis projecting sizable city‑wide employment and GDP gains over a 25‑year build‑out if the plan is implemented as modeled.
Supporters said the plan creates an unusual public benefits package and provides tools to manage growth. Spur, an urban policy group, urged conservation of the sustainability and resilience funding for green infrastructure. Supervisor Jane Kim — who introduced many of the board amendments — told the commission she wants the plan to prioritize housing and family‑friendly amenities while protecting jobs. “We really have to think about how we can prioritize housing — affordable housing —” she said during remarks to the commission.
Opponents and many community groups pressed the commission for stronger on‑site affordable housing requirements, more protections for industrial uses and for firm guarantees that the public benefits will materialize. Speakers called for a higher allocation to the Old Mint rehabilitation and a clearer plan for childcare, schools and open space that will serve South of Market’s families.
What the commission did: The vote (7–0) adopted staff and board amendments and included additional direction to staff on the new items the commission discussed. Commissioners specifically asked staff to return with feasibility studies on potential value‑recapture mechanisms for expedited approvals, and to work with the board and community on a citizen advisory committee to oversee implementation of the benefits package.
Next steps: The city will proceed to finalize implementing ordinances and to coordinate with the Board of Supervisors on any outstanding items. Staff told the commission that many of the implementation steps — development agreements, site‑specific design reviews, and funding allocations — will be addressed as projects come forward under the plan.
