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Committee continues UMU planning‑code change after widespread requests for grandfathering
Summary
A Planning Code amendment to limit office uses in the Urban Mixed Use district was continued one week after project sponsors and housing advocates urged a grandfathering clause for active projects, including 2300 Harrison, citing potential loss of approvals and fees.
SAN FRANCISCO — The Land Use and Transportation Committee on Monday continued for one week a proposed Planning Code amendment that would restrict office uses in the Urban Mixed Use (UMU) district and allow only neighborhood‑serving services on ground‑floor spaces as conditional uses.
Amy Beinart, legislative aide to Supervisor Hillary Ronan, asked the committee for a one‑week continuance to incorporate Planning Commission recommendations and proposed amendments. Several callers representing project sponsors and housing groups urged that any final ordinance include a grandfathering clause to protect projects that have already invested time and money.
Corey Smith, speaking for the San Francisco Housing Action Coalition, and Tuya Catalano, representing the project sponsor for 2300 Harrison, asked the committee to add a grandfathering clause so that projects already in review can proceed through normal appeal and approval processes. Tim Cohen of the Housing Action Coalition warned the committee that, without grandfathering, the city could ‘‘reject a $3,500,000 fee’’ associated with the 2300 Harrison project and preserve an illegal nonconforming office use and a parking lot if the project failed to proceed under the new rules.
Project sponsors and builders echoed the request. Jonathan Wickman, a sponsor at 2455 Harrison Street, said changing the code mid‑process would be ‘‘inappropriate and unfair’’ to developers who have spent money and time since 2018. Jacob Eddy of the Northern California Carpenters Regional Council said the carpenters supported the Planning Commission’s recommendation to include grandfathering.
After public comment, the committee agreed to continue Item 2 to the May 4 Land Use and Transportation Committee meeting so staff and sponsors could prepare amendments; Supervisors Dean Preston, Asha Safaei and Aaron Peskin voted to continue (3‑0). The item will return to committee next week for further amendments and public comment.
