San Francisco supervisors approve Mayor Lurie’s ‘Family Zoning’ housing plan

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday in favor of Mayor Daniel Lurie’s controversial “Family Zoning Plan,” a proposal aimed at making it easier for developers to build taller, denser housing in the city.

The plan comes as San Francisco faces increasing pressure from the state to meet California’s housing goals. If cities don’t comply, state officials — not local leaders — will decide where new homes will be built. For San Francisco, the city faces a Jan. 31 deadline to update its zoning rules to meet housing demand. The city must also create enough capacity to accommodate nearly 83,000 new housing units over the next six years to avoid state intervention.

“This is a critical step in keeping San Francisco in control of what is built in our city,” Lurie said earlier at the groundbreaking for a new affordable housing building in the SoMa neighborhood. “Too many families and young people wonder if they will be able to stay in the city where they live.”

Currently, most neighborhoods restrict mid-rise multi-family housing. Lurie’s plan would target areas like Marina, Richmond and Sunset — neighborhoods that have seen little development in recent decades.

MORE: San Francisco Mayor Proposes Denser Housing to Combat Affordability Crisis

Some residents welcome the idea, citing affordability concerns.

“I just finished college and it’s very difficult to find affordable housing,” said Sunset resident Aisha Williamson-Raun. “As long as they’re affordable and they make sense to what people are doing, then yes. But if it’s just going to crowd out the people already in the community, then no.”

Supervisors debated how to balance housing capacity and affordability, with opponents criticizing that the measure does not provide funding for new housing.

“This is a response to state intimidation disguised as results orientation,” said Supervisor Shamann Walton. “Maybe if it included a financial package or a proposal to build housing. Maybe if it guaranteed not to displace families and businesses…we could do better.”

MORE: Rethinking megaprojects: Will SF reach its construction quota of 82,000 new housing units in 5 years?

In a statement after the council vote, small business owners in the Haight Ashbury neighborhood expressed concern about the ordinance’s impact on rent-controlled tenants. Small Business Forward predicts between 10 and 40 property owners could be displaced under the new zoning plan.

“The Mayor and Board of Supervisors have paid lip service to supporting small businesses and their workers affected by the inevitable displacement of dozens, if not hundreds, of businesses over the next few years. However, without a funding commitment, there is no plan in place to help small businesses deal with the displacement they will experience due to their lease not being renewed. said Christin Evans, co-owner of Booksmith and Alembic, co-founder and board member of Small Business Forward.

Supporters pushed back, arguing that rejecting the ordinance would further delay the reforms needed for the city to catch up in expanding its housing capacity.+

“I reject the idea that we have to choose between building more housing and protecting tenants,” Supervisor Danny Sauter said. “We can do both, and that’s what this plan does.”

The measure passed 7-4, with Supervisors Connie Chan, Chyanne Chen, Shamann Walton and Jackie Fielder voting no.

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