Committee advances ballot measure to prioritize affordable housing on surplus city land

The Land Use and Transportation Committee, chaired by Supervisor Malia Cohen, unanimously approved amendments and voted to continue consideration of a ballot measure that would expand the city—s surplus property ordinance to prioritize affordable and middle-income housing on public sites.

Supervisor Jane Kim, the measure—s primary author, told the committee the measure would strengthen an ordinance first adopted by the board in 2002 and amended in 2005 and said the ballot approach would give the public a clearer mandate. "This ballot measure is adding another tool in our toolbox to address the city's housing crisis," Kim said, adding she would introduce a set of clarifying amendments that had been distributed to committee members.

The proposal directs the city to prioritize affordable housing on surplus public lands that do not serve a city function, with special emphasis on units for individuals and households that were formerly homeless. Kim and other speakers referenced the city—s housing goals, including a 33% affordable housing target and a broader 50% goal when middle‑income units are included, as described during committee remarks.

Supporters at the meeting included Gail Gilman, executive director of Community Housing Partnership, who said consensus measures increase the chance of voter approval and praised the measure—s income targeting. "For a measure that prioritize the first use for public sites as being housing for homeless individuals making less than 20% of AMI ... Community Housing Partnership is thrilled that this is moving forward," Gilman said.

Supervisor Scott Wiener praised the reworking of the draft but urged caution about sending a measure to the ballot that could limit future flexibility. "When a measure goes on to the ballot and gets passed by the voters... it then becomes almost impossible to ever make changes to it," Wiener said, and described several drafting concerns, including competitive processes and protections for neighborhood open space.

Supervisor Reiner asked whether land reserved or intended for neighborhood open space could be swept into surplus lists and developed. The city attorney responded that the ordinance—s definition excludes land reserved or intended for open space and that the Board of Supervisors would retain discretion to designate property as not surplus.

Supervisor Kim moved to adopt the distributed cleanup amendments, calling them clarifications of intent; the chair declared the motion adopted unanimously. Because the item is a ballot measure, the committee agreed the amendments require one more hearing; Kim moved to continue the item to the July 27 Land Use Committee meeting and that motion also passed unanimously. The committee adjourned with no further business.

Next step: the item will return to the Land Use Committee for a July 27 hearing before final placement on the November ballot, if approved by the full board and voters.