Committee advances ordinance authorizing interim uses on development sites for up to 36 months

An ordinance to allow interim uses on development project sites for up to 36 months was advanced by the Land Use and Transportation Committee on Jan. 27.

Audrey Marloney of the Planning Department summarized the item and a sponsor-intended amendment that would require an increase in residential density only if the site currently contains residential units. Marloney said the temporary-use authorization applies where an application proposes demolition or a project that is tantamount to demolition and that the permit process remains a Planning Department permit requiring the property owner’s authorization.

Supervisor Dean Preston asked specific questions about whether the proposal shifts decision-making, applicability to private versus publicly owned sites, and whether homeless shelters had been covered in earlier iterations. Planning staff and a colleague identified that the ordinance allows a temporary use if the use is principally permitted in that zoning district and noted homeless shelters are principally permitted where group housing is permitted in most of the city, with caveats for RH-1 and RH-2 zones. Because committee-accepted amendments broadened the legislation beyond the publicly noticed packet language, counsel advised the amendments would require a one-week continuance; the committee accepted the amendments and continued the item as amended for one week.

The committee asked staff to return with finalized red-line language for the Board packet; the item will be considered by the full Board once that process is complete.