Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Planning Department wins commission support for two‑year pilot of 'Doctor' reforms
Summary
The Planning Commission voted to start a two‑year pilot to reform discretionary review: a stronger pre‑application packet, mandatory internal design‑team review and a written definition of "exceptional and extraordinary" that will filter which cases reach the commission. The package includes an 18‑month evaluation with a report to the Board of Supervisors.
The San Francisco Planning Commission voted on June 18, 2009 to adopt a package of Phase 1 reforms to the city’s discretionary‑review process — commonly called "Doctor" — creating a two‑year trial with clear administrative steps before a case reaches the full commission.
Under the new policy, applicants and community members will use a standardized pre‑application packet and staff will run an enhanced internal review using a Residential Design Team (RDT) checklist with measurable triggers. If a case does not meet the written definition of "exceptional and extraordinary" (for example: unusual lot configuration, complex topography or an issue not addressed by existing design standards), the RDT will issue a written decision and staff will process the permit administratively. Cases that do meet the definition will be…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
