Committee forwards interim parking controls for Market Street Hub to curb new parking in transit-rich area

The Land Use & Transportation Committee voted to send to the full Board an 18‑month interim zoning ordinance intended to limit off‑street parking in new development within the Market Street Hub. The measure would bar conditional use authorizations to increase parking unless a project sponsor commits to providing a minimum on‑site inclusionary affordable housing share (25% of units on‑site as below‑market‑rate housing in the version discussed).

Supervisor Jane Kim framed the controls as a tool for managing growth in a transit‑rich area and to discourage increased car use where dense transit, walking and biking options already exist. "This is just a set of interim controls, that would prohibit any type of conditional use authorization to increase the parking...unless there is a minimal commitment by the project sponsor to build 25% of its units on‑site as affordable housing," Kim said during her remarks.

Public comment was largely supportive of interim limits but skeptical of the proposed loophole allowing extra parking in exchange for on‑site affordable units. Andy Thornley urged eliminating the loophole entirely, citing examples from other cities and stressing safety and transit performance. A nearby neighbor argued that allowing additional parking would increase congestion and compromise bicycle and pedestrian safety. Planning staff said they would follow up with promised written comments.

Supervisor Tang moved to send the item to the full Board with a positive recommendation; the committee advanced the item 'reluctantly without objection.' The motion as discussed in committee does not yet include a recorded roll-call tally; any final zoning language and legal findings will be set when the Board considers the interim controls.