This ordinance allows tourist hotels and motels to be temporarily used for housing without losing their hotel classification and modifies building regulations to support this change. It also removes restrictions on where emergency housing can be located and confirms compliance with environmental and planning standards.
Ordinance amending the Planning Code to allow tourist hotels and motels to be used for Interim Housing without thereby abandoning or discontinuing the hotel use classification under that Code; amending the Building Code to allow Interim Housing without thereby changing the underlying occupancy classification of the property, and amending Appendix P to remove restriction that emergency housing be located on land owned or leased by the City; affirming the Planning Department’s determination under the California Environmental Quality Act; and making findings of consistency with the General Plan, and the eight priority policies of Planning Code, Section 101.1, and findings of public necessity, convenience, and welfare under Planning Code, Section 302.
How it got here
The legislation originated from a need to address homelessness by allowing tourist hotels and motels to be used for Interim Housing without losing their hotel classification.
The Board declared a shelter crisis in San Francisco due to a significant number of persons lacking the ability to obtain shelter, as established in Ordinance No. 57-16.
The Board reaffirmed the ongoing shelter crisis and adopted streamlined approval processes for homeless shelters in Ordinance No. 60-19.
The City created the Places for All Program, committing to provide safe sleeping places for all persons experiencing homelessness.
Mayor Breed introduced the ordinance to amend the Planning and Building Codes to allow tourist hotels and motels to be used for Interim Housing.
The ordinance was referred to the Building Inspection Commission and Planning Commission for review.
The Building Inspection Commission held a public hearing and recommended approval of the ordinance.
The Planning Commission adopted findings that the ordinance is consistent with the City’s General Plan and recommended its approval.
The Board of Supervisors finally passed the ordinance, allowing tourist hotels and motels to be used for Interim Housing.
Reconstructed from attached documents & the official record
The ordinance allows certain tourist hotels and motels to be temporarily used for interim housing while maintaining their hotel classification, and it permits the reestablishment of hotel use for specific Shelter-In-Place hotels. It also amends the Building Code to support this change without altering the property's occupancy classification.
