Yesterday I again spent an afternoon with the Land Use & Economic Development Committee of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. While I would love to report that the goal of Discretionary Review Reform has been achieved, it once again has been tabled for further discussion. What follows is a quick summary of what has changed in the past few months since I last wrote.
In the slow process that is our city government, each successive meeting is a series of the Supervisors asking the Planning Department for more information, then asking for more at the next meeting. Planning has done it’s best to present their case for reforming DR. Director John Rahaim reiterated the 5 benefits he sees coming out of this reform: Better Design, Consistent Design, Clarity and Transparency in the Planning Process, Improved Design Standards, and a Planning Commission focused on policy instead of individual projects. They’re simply trying to do what we always ask of Bureaucracies - become more efficient by getting rid of waste and excess. Planners saddled by frivolous DRs are not able to actually do their job, and instead have to referee spats between neighbors.
The big new was proposed amendments by Supervisor Mar. Some were no big deal, such as codifying the 2 year sunset of the trial reform, and improving the design standards (nee guidelines). He also wanted to have a written policy for the Planning Commission to call a project up by the vote of 2 commissioners. The biggest waves had to deal with Neighborhood Associations. Mr. Mar’s first proposed amendment was to always allow Neighborhood Groups the right to DR a project. Typically this is not a problem, because associations have a history of working with architects and planners. Many issues arose when Supervisor Mar asked for an additional 60 day period for Neighborhood Groups to finalize a DR, after the 30 initial period. Everyone was so confused at first that it required the Deputy City Attorney to step in and clarify – Neighborhood Groups were to be given 90 days, instead of the 30 they’ve dealt with for the past dozens of years.
Much discussion was had on both sides, with the typical talking points raised by everyone. Architects, consultants, neighborhood groups and owners all spoke their piece. Some were wildly off topic, and others mentioned by everyone at the podium. You can hardly blame the Supervisors for working on their anti-smoking legislation instead. After public comment was done, the commission (surprise!) asked for more information from the Planning Department, but I do feel like we’re getting closer. Supervisor Maxwell made several comments which to me signal that she understands many of the more issues at play. Hopefully once Mar’s amendments get addressed, we can get some actual work done, and help the Planning Department approve some projects!
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San Francisco News: “The Scoop” » Blog Archive » Linkage: Hayes Valley’s Latest Sculpture, and Homeless Housing On Track on 02.24.2010
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