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Committee moves to sever District 4 changes and continue large Article 7 rewrite
Summary
The committee considered Phase 2 of a multi‑phase Planning Code reorganization (Article 7). Planning staff described standardizing use definitions and reformatting neighborhood commercial district charts. Supervisors requested and won a duplication/severing to send District 4 controls to the full Board while continuing the remaining rewrite to the call of the chair.
The Land Use Committee on April 24 reviewed Phase 2 of the Planning Code reorganization, a large rewrite of Article 7 that planners say will standardize use definitions and reformat neighborhood commercial district (NCD) charts to make the code easier to read and implement.
Aaron Starr, manager of legislative affairs for the Planning Department, said the phase focuses on Article 7 neighborhood commercial district controls and will apply consolidated definitions in section 102 while reformatting the zoning control charts to match Article 2’s layout. Starr said the project aims to remove redundant definitions in sections 7‑90 and 8‑90, delete obsolete tables and maintain existing land‑use outcomes while improving clarity.
"From three different ways of promulgating zoning information, we're going down to one, consistent format for all zoning districts," Starr said, describing outreach that included neighborhood groups, merchant associations and several commissions.
Neighbors and district advocates raised concerns that the rewrite could result in unintended rezoning or undermine locally tailored NCD controls. Eileen Bokin (District 4) urged supervisors to consider unique neighborhood histories and warned against a one‑size‑fits‑all approach; other public commenters flagged potential upzoning of Judah and changes to rear‑yard definitions.
Supervisor Katie Tang proposed duplicating the file and severing a narrow set of District 4 controls (Noriega, Irving, Taraval/Judah NCDs) so those amendments could go forward to the full Board with a positive recommendation while the bulk of the Article 7 rewrite continues to be refined in committee. Deputy City Attorney John Giffner explained the practical mechanics of implementing both tracks so Tang’s specific changes would be incorporated into existing code while the rewrite proceeds.
The committee accepted Planning Department amendments on several pages (clarifications to age‑based definitions and formula retail language) and took Tang’s procedural motion to duplicate and forward the District 4 portion with a positive recommendation; the remaining Article 7 rewrite will be continued to the call of the chair for further review.
What happens next: The District 4 controls were forwarded to the full Board with a recommendation; staff and supervisors will continue to refine the larger Article 7 rewrite and schedule it for return to committee.
