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Planning director outlines 30-part, two-year plan to streamline San Francisco permit and review processes
Summary
John Rahaim, director of the Planning Department, told the Board of Appeals the department will pursue a two-year, 30-item action plan that includes a joint DBI permit-tracking system, expanded GIS and 3D modeling, a consultant pool for environmental review, codified mitigation measures and steps to address preservation workload.
John Rahaim, director of the Planning Department, presented a 30-part, two-year action plan aimed at improving how the department handles project reviews and public engagement.
"We believe that it's important for us to look both internally as to the experience of working for the department, as well as the external experience of those working with the department," Rahaim told the Board of Appeals. He said the plan grew out of prior consultant studies (the Matrix report), AIA reviews and internal interviews with staff and stakeholders.
The director outlined changes intended to reduce delays and increase predictability for applicants. Key items include issuing an RFP for a DBI-integrated permit-tracking system so applicants and the public can see project status; expanded use of GIS and a proposed three-dimensional modeling tool; a single intake and case-management system that assigns one case manager per project; and a planned pool of prequalified consultants to speed environmental reviews.
Rahaim emphasized streamlining environmental review where state law allows: "There is a fairly new provision in state law that allows projects that are located within an adopted plan area to be exempt from CEQA if they are plan compliant," he said, describing a procedure the department is setting up to use that tool for areas such as Eastern Neighborhoods, Market Octavia and Rincon Hill.
On preservation, Rahaim said the department will expand counter staffing and simplify exemptions for historic resources to reduce delays. He also flagged training for staff and commissioners, and improved public-facing communications and website resources.
The board's members asked how the department would determine plan compliance and noted that CEQA appeals remain with the Board of Supervisors. Rahaim said internal consistency checks would be used but appeals from exemptions would not change under state law.
The presentation concluded with Rahaim saying the plan will be implemented through small teams, quarterly stakeholder meetings and an advisory committee; the department intends this to be a multi-year effort and will return with more detailed proposals and any legal memoranda needed for procedural changes.
