Ordinance amending the Planning Code to exempt 100% affordable housing developments from active use, ground floor commercial use, and mid-block alley requirements; expand temporary use authorizations to 100% affordable housing developments that have not submitted a development application; and facilitate the conversion of Residential Care Facilities to 100% affordable housing developments by exempting such adaptive reuse projects from certain residential use and development standards; 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.

The City adopted the 2022 Update of the Housing Element of the General Plan, committing to meet Regional Housing Needs Allocation goals and remove governmental constraints on housing.

Mayor Lurie introduced an ordinance to amend the Planning Code to exempt 100% affordable housing developments from certain requirements and facilitate conversions of Residential Care Facilities.

The proposed ordinance was referred to the Planning Commission for review.

The Planning Department provided a response regarding the ordinance's compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act.

The Board adopted a resolution extending the Planning Commission's review period for the ordinance by 90 days.

A substitute version of the ordinance was introduced, incorporating feedback and updates from the Planning Commission.

The substitute version of the ordinance was referred back to the Planning Department for further review.