San Francisco Land Use Committee: Shelley Drive Promenade, Affordable Housing Leases, and Housing Production Debate - October 2, 2023
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San Francisco Land Use Committee: Shelley Drive Promenade, Affordable Housing Leases, and Housing Production Debate - October 2, 2023
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors Land Use and Transportation Committee met on October 2, 2023, to consider four items: a permanent closure of a portion of John F. Shelley Drive to vehicles in McLaren Park, delegation of authority to amend ground leases for 100% affordable housing projects, a zoning change for nighttime entertainment in the Castro, and a major housing production ordinance aimed at reducing constraints. The meeting included extensive public comment and deliberation, resulting in several votes and continuances.
Item 1: Park Code – John F. Shelley Drive Road Closure
Discussion: Brian Stokel (Rec & Parks) presented the proposal to permanently restrict private vehicles on a 2,100-foot segment of Shelley Drive in McLaren Park, creating a car-free promenade. The plan has been piloted since 2020 and received unanimous support at a community meeting. The ordinance is co-sponsored by Mayor Breed and Supervisor Walton.
Public Comments: All speakers (Zach Lipton, Linda Stark Lightheiser, Luke Bornheimer, Amy Callender, Scott Feeney, Jake Price, Joseph Nelson, Martha Lindsay, Kate Bloomberg) expressed strong support. One speaker (David Pilpel) suggested the proposal should have been reviewed by the Park, Recreation, and Open Space Advisory Committee (PROZAC) but did not oppose.
Outcome: The committee voted unanimously to forward the ordinance to the full Board of Supervisors with a positive recommendation.
Item 2: Administrative Code – Delegation of Authority to Amend Leases for 100% Affordable Housing
Discussion: Jackie Zhou (MOHCD) presented legislation to streamline approval for amending ground leases for 12 specific affordable housing projects, making residual receipts policy consistent with current practice. Amendments were adopted to narrow the scope and clarify that only lease amendments related to residual receipts are delegated, not changes to term, rent, or other terms.
Public Comments: Supporters (Sam Moss, Chris Cummings, Yelena Zilgrafane, Whitney Jones, Jana Jackson) argued the change allows nonprofits to reinvest residual receipts into capital improvements and other properties. One speaker (David Pilpel) opposed, arguing the delegation violates Charter Section 9.118.
Outcome: The committee adopted two amendments by Supervisor Peskin (deleting “enter into” and adding clarifying language) and then voted unanimously to send the amended ordinance to the full board with a positive recommendation.
Item 3: Planning Code – Nighttime Entertainment in Castro Street Neighborhood Commercial District
Discussion: Supervisor Mandelman requested a two-week continuance because the planning commission’s recommended amendment was not yet prepared.
Public Comments: None.
Outcome: The committee voted unanimously to continue the item to October 16, 2023.
Item 4: Planning Code – Housing Production (Constraints Reduction)
Discussion: This large ordinance (sponsored by Mayor Breed, Supervisor Dorsey) seeks to streamline housing approvals by removing certain conditional use and notification requirements, expanding the HOME-SF program, and creating a Priority Equity Geographies (PEG) Special Use District. Chair Melgar introduced amendments to preserve protections in her Family Housing Opportunity SUD (e.g., maintaining CUs for demolitions, preserving rent control protections). The planning department’s recommended amendments (including adding the Calle 24 Cultural District to the PEG SUD) were also adopted. Supervisor Mandelman raised concerns about potential loss of board-and-care homes, monster homes, and tenant protections, and indicated he would propose further amendments. Supervisor Preston questioned whether the ordinance allows demolition of two rent-controlled units and suggested aligning with Melgar’s SUD (limit to one unit). The mayor’s office and planning director indicated openness to further changes.
Public Comments: Over 50 speakers, with a majority (from the REP Coalition, Anti-Displacement Coalition, tenant groups, and labor) opposing the legislation as a giveaway to developers that undermines tenant protections and affordable housing. Supporters (Housing Action Coalition, architects, YIMBYs) urged passage to meet state housing element commitments and avoid state intervention.
Outcome: The committee voted unanimously to adopt the planning department’s amendments and the Melgar amendments, then continued the item to October 16, 2023, for further discussion and potential additional amendments.
Key Outcomes
- Item 1: Approved to full board (unanimous).
- Item 2: Approved to full board as amended (unanimous).
- Item 3: Continued to October 16, 2023.
- Item 4: Continued to October 16, 2023, after adopting two sets of amendments.
The meeting adjourned at approximately 1:45 PM.
Meeting Transcript
You're unmuted. Good afternoon, everyone. This meeting will come to order. Welcome to the October 2nd, 2023 regular meeting of the Land Use and Transportation Committee of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. I am Supervisor Mirna Melgard, Chair of the Committee, joined by Vice Chair Supervisor Dean Preston and Board of Supervisors President Aaron Paskin. The committee clerk today is John Carroll. Thank you so much for supporting us today, Mr. Carroll. I would also like to acknowledge the folks at SFCup TV for staffing this meeting. And I want to point out that our clerk has this lovely tribute to our departed Senator Diane Feinstein, who is, of course, so important in these chambers and to the history of our city. So with that, uh, Mr. Clerk, do you have any announcements? Yes, thank you, Madam Chair. The Board of Supervisors and its committees are convening hybrid meetings that allow in-person attendance and public comment while still providing remote access and public comment via telephone. The board recognizes that equitable public access is essential, and we will be taking public comment today as follows. We will hear public comment first from those who are attending the meeting in person. If you have comments on any of our agenda items, you can line up along uh the right hand side of the room. And then following that, we will hear remote public comment from folks who follow the following instructions. Dial 415 65501. You'll be prompted to enter the meeting ID. Today's meeting ID is 2664094017. Press the pound symbol twice, and you will hear the meeting discussions, but your line will be in listening mode only. When your item of interest comes up on our agenda and public comment is called, please dial star three, and that will add you to the speaker line. Alternatively, you may submit your public comment in writing in either of the following ways. You may email the comments to myself. I'm the land use and transportation committee clerk, and my email address is J-O-H-N, period C A R R O L L at SFGO V dot O R G. Or you may send your written comments via U.S. Postal Service to our office in City Hall. That's one Dr. Carlton B. Goodlit Place, room 244, San Francisco, California, 94102. And finally, Madam Chair, items acted upon today are expected to appear on the Board of Supervisors agenda of October 17th, 2023, unless otherwise stated. Thank you so much. Uh Mr. Clerk. One more announcement, and that is that many folks are waiting to provide public comment for item number four. Uh I am going to limit uh the uh comment to one minute for item number four. We already heard it. Uh and um we probably will hear it again. You may remember that we heard this item last week, um, and that folks uh were preparing amendments, which uh by uh our laws means that um you know some of them are substantive, they have to sit for a week, uh, and we will be voting on that at some time later, where folks will also have time to give to read the amendments and give further public comments. Uh so with that, uh Mr. Kirk Clerk, please let's go to item one. Agenda item number one is an ordinance amending the park code to restrict private vehicles from a portion of John F. Shelley Drive between the Upper Reservoir Parking Lot and Manzell Street in McLaren Park. U thank you so much. We um have Brian Stokel here with Record Parks. Thank you. Uh good afternoon, Chair, Supervisors, Clerk. The item before you is the John F. Shelley Drive Road Closure in McLaren Park.
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