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Committee amends planning code to authorize interim uses during project approvals, narrows scope and shortens maximum term
Summary
Supervisors advanced an amendment to the planning code to allow temporary uses (TUA) on development sites, narrowed eligible areas, limited most interim activities to principally permitted uses while preserving arts/entertainment/light manufacturing as exceptions, and reduced total possible term from six to five years; the amended item was sent to the full Board.
The committee considered an ordinance amending the planning code to permit temporary uses on development project sites (a Temporary Use Authorization, or TUA). Audrey Marloney of the Planning Department summarized the commission’s recommendations and the types of allowed uses, and the committee debated mapping, eligible districts and the precise list of permitted interim activities.
Chair Peskin and Planning staff clarified that the eligible area would cover commercial and mixed-use districts within an area bounded by Market Street, Thirteenth Street, Duboce/Division and King Street (SoMa) and that neighborhood commercial transit (NCT) districts are included; the committee agreed to clarify the NCD language so it reflects the intended coverage.
Supervisors and staff agreed on amendments to: (1) add the words "deemed complete" to the definition of eligible development site; (2) limit most interim activities to uses that are principally permitted in the underlying zoning, but allow general entertainment, arts activities and light manufacturing/metalworking to be permitted whether principally, conditionally or not permitted; and (3) shorten the total authorization period by one year (from up to six years to up to five years with two extensions). Planning and multiple public commenters (developers, event producers, nonprofit operators) testified in support of using vacant project sites for community events, arts, nonprofits and commercial activation during entitlement delays.
The committee took the amendments "without objection" and forwarded the amended ordinance to the full Board for final action.
