The ordinance allows for the conversion of non-residential spaces to residential use in Downtown San Francisco, streamlining various requirements and permitting new types of commercial uses to help revitalize the area. It also simplifies sign permitting and historic preservation reviews, while increasing flexibility for large projects and adaptive reuse of buildings.
Ordinance amending the Planning Code to 1) facilitate residential uses Downtown by authorizing the conversion of non-residential uses to residential use in C (Commercial) zoning districts, and exempting such projects from requirements for rear yard, open space, streetscape improvements, dwelling unit exposure, off-street freight loading, curb cuts for vehicular access, bike parking, transportation demand management, dwelling unit mix, and Intermediate Length Occupancy controls, permitting live work units in such project, streamlining administrative approvals for projects in the C-3 zoning district, and modifying the dimensional limits on exemptions to height restrictions for mechanical equipment, elevator, stair, and mechanical penthouses; 2) economically revitalize Downtown by adding Flexible Workspace as a defined use, authorizing large scale retail uses in the C-3 zoning district, allowing window displays in the C-3 zoning district, allowing Flexible Workspace as an active ground floor commercial use along certain street frontages in C-3 zoning districts, allowing accessory storage in any C zoning district, allowing the temporary installation for 60 days of certain signs in the C-3-R district, allowing temporary non-residential uses in vacant spaces for up to one year, including formula retail, reducing density limits for Residential Dwelling Units and Senior Housing in the C-2 zoning districts east of or fronting Franklin Street/13th Street and north of Townsend Street, principally permitting Laboratory, Life Science, Agricultural and Beverage Processing, and Animal Hospitals in C-2 zoning districts, principally permitting Senior Housing, Residential Care Facilities, Outdoor Entertainment, Open Recreation Areas, Animal Hospitals, and Trade Schools in the C-3 zoning district, allowing formula retail as a ground floor use on Market Street, principally permitting office and design professional uses on the second floor and higher in the C-3-R zoning district, and requiring consideration of office vacancy in consideration of granting exceptions in the Transit Center Commercial Special Use District; 3) streamline sign permitting citywide and in the C-3 and portions of the C-2 districts by allowing for the repair and rehabilitation of certain neon signs, and exempting existing business signs in the C-3 zoning district from certain zoning controls; 4) streamline Historic Preservation review of minor permits to alter for awnings, as may be delegated by the Historic Preservation Commission; 5) increase threshold for large projects subject to commercial to residential ratios in the C-3-O district, and provide alternatives to on-site open space in certain C-3 districts by allowing for payment of an in lieu fee as an alternative to providing open space; 6) facilitate residential adaptive reuse by amending the Building Code to add standards for adaptive reuse of non-residential buildings; and 7) principally permit formula retail and waive size limitations for such uses on a portion of Showplace Square Area (555-9th Street, Assessor’s Parcel Block No. 3781, Lot No. 003); affirming the Planning Department’s determination under the California Environmental Quality Act; making findings of consistency with the General Plan, and the eight priority policies of Planning Code, Section 101.1; and making findings of public necessity, convenience, and welfare pursuant to Planning Code, Section 302.
How it got here
The ordinance allows for the conversion of non-residential spaces to residential use in Downtown San Francisco, streamlining various requirements and permitting new commercial uses to help revitalize the area. It also simplifies sign permitting and historic preservation reviews, while increasing flexibility for large projects and adaptive reuse of buildings.
The resolution urges the City Attorney and the Mayor to ask the State Department of Housing and Community Development to extend deadlines and revise their review policies to align with San Francisco's housing goals. It emphasizes the city's commitment to both creating new housing and preserving existing housing while ensuring compliance with fair housing laws.