Commission approves changes to ease office‑to‑housing conversions downtown

The Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend approval—with staff‑recommended modifications—of proposed changes to the city’s commercial‑to‑residential adaptive reuse program. Staff said the ordinance builds on the 2023 program (Planning Code §210.5) and aims to remove planning‑code barriers that can prevent conversions of underused office and commercial buildings to housing.

Lily Langlois, planning staff, explained three technical modifications and one additional clarifying modification read into the record: bike‑parking waivers would apply only when a project does not provide accessory off‑street auto parking; the street frontage waiver would apply only where a project provides ground‑floor accessory off‑street parking; a technical consolidation of off‑street loading code references; and a clarification for C3 districts to allow retention of existing off‑street parking to serve new residential uses if on the same lot. "By adjusting these requirements, this ordinance removes a small but very real barrier," Madison Tam said on behalf of Supervisor Dorsey.

Developers and advocates told commissioners the code changes are needed for feasibility. "We found a building that works — 150 Hayes — and with modest fixes it can yield about 104–105 units in Civic Center," said Mark Babson of Emerald Fund. Commissioners sought clarification about preserving a pedestrian‑friendly ground‑floor interface; staff confirmed transparency and active‑use requirements would remain in effect where applicable. The motion to approve with modifications passed unanimously, recorded 6‑0.