San Francisco is currently undergoing a state-mandated rezoning of the city. According to the Housing Element, the city must adopt a rezoning map that will result in the construction of roughly 36,000 new homes by 2031. This rezoning, combined with the construction of already approved projects and projects already allowed under current zoning, gets the city to the state mandated 82,000 homes. Importantly, the city is tasked with affirmatively furthering fair housing, by focusing rezoning efforts in high-opportunity neighborhoods.
On April 3, Mayor Breed sent a letter to the Planning Department directing them to expand the rezoning by removing density limits in single family neighborhoods, and adding significantly more 6-8 story apartment buildings.
We need to build on this momentum by calling on the city to approve a map that focuses on the following core principles of good urbanism and smart housing policy:
- 8 stories within ¼ mile, and 5 stories within ⅓ mile, of BART, CalTrain, Muni Rail, and Muni Rapid Bus Stops (workhorse bus lines like 38R, 5R, 49, etc)
- 8 stories within 1/8 mile of large college campuses where teaching occurs (CCSF, SF State, UCSF, etc)
- 5-6 stories within 1/8 mile of large parks with an area of 4 or more city blocks (Golden Gate + Panhandle, Dolores, Alamo, McLaren, Presidio, etc.)
- Legalize apartment buildings everywhere by removing density limits in all residential districts, including midblock and RH-1,2,3 regardless of parcel size. Eliminating density limits could produce 4 story apartment buildings without additional height increases.
- No change in priority equity geographies
Why This is Important
San Francisco’s built environment is the result of decades of exclusionary zoning and redlining, which has led to vast inequities, and the affordability crisis we see today. Rezoning high-income neighborhoods to allow for more housing types is an essential step in righting these wrongs, and will allow the city to grow more equitably and sustainably.
