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Minutes From Past Meetings

May 15th, 2025, 7:30 to 9:00 PM

Guests

Connie Chan, San Francisco Supervisors for District 1, was unable to come but will be at the May 21 general meeting of the Planning Association for the Richmond (PAR) (see below) and is willing to come to a future meeting with us.

Courtney Damkroger from Neighborhoods United San Francisco (NUSF)

Jean Barish of the Planning Association for the Richmond (PAR)

Minutes

Courtney Damkroger

Courtney Damkroger from Neighborhoods United San Francisco (NUSF) explained the history and purpose of the NUSF group, the background to the current rezoning effort, and the actions we can take to influence the decision makers. She outlined her experience as an urban planner and with historic preservation work. The recent addition of St. Francis Woods on the National Register of Historic Places site was discussed regarding what degree of protection this status would provide to mitigate high density development. Both Jean Barish and Courtney Damkroger felt it would be worthwhile to pursue this for Lincoln Manor since we are one of the historic residential parks in San Francisco. We should collaborate with other residential park neighborhood associations. Ms. Damkroger offered to return to another meeting with us with the NUSF person who worked with St. Francis Woods Neighborhood Association in obtaining their protected status.

A PDF of Cortney's PowerPoint presentation is available for you to read. Key takeaways are

  • In 2017 SB330 or State Housing Crisis act was passed. The Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) is the foundation of the statewide targets for cities with SF targeted for 82,000 units by 2031. In San Francisco there are already roughly 46,000 units already permitted and not yet built. Only about 36,000 units are needed to reach the state mandated 82,000. Why does Lurie’s proposal call for creating 82,000 new units? There have been calls for additional audits and revisions because there are several questions about the assumptions used for the original audit and changing demographics.

  • Lifting height limitations (85' or 6-8 stories along Geary, 65' or 4-6 stories along Clement) is just one aspect of this housing proposal.

  • Density limits will also be lifted so if a developer can acquire a large enough parcel (roughly 2-3 single family lots) they will be able to build much higher density buildings (and not provide sufficient parking).

  • Already passed in 2022 was legislation enabling the building of six unit buildings on single family zoned corner lots and four unit buildings on other non-corner single family lots. This is known as the four/six zoning plan.

  • Among upcoming bills in the California legislature is SB79 which allows seven story buildings at public transit hubs such as train stops and major bus stops and extends the taller building zone to ½ mile surrounding these hubs. It allows transit agencies full authority to develop property and decreases local government oversight.

Next Steps

  • Create an informal Lincoln Manor Neighborhood Association (not necessarily a 503 corporation) for the purposes of joining forces with other neighborhood associations and speak on behalf of our neighborhood. Once created we can register with the city and also join the NUSF in addition to individuals joining.

  • Join NUSF as individuals. See the Neighborhoods United SF web site for further information.

  • Attend government meetings and submit public comments, call, email or write letters to the SF Planning Department, Mayor Lurie, the Board of Supervisors including our district supervisor Connie Chan, and on a state level Scott Weiner and other members of the California legislature. Letters to news media will also be helpful.

  • Invite Connie Chan and the planning department staff to another meeting with us.

Jean Barish

Jean Barish, President of the Planning Association for the Richmond (PAR) gave the history of PAR and previous efforts by PAR and others including a former District 1 supervisor to ban “Richmond Specials” – demolition of single family homes and replacing them with poorly designed/constructed multi-unit buildings. During Art Agnos tenure as mayor height limits on the western side of SF were enacted. All these successful efforts will be overturned by passage of this up zoning plan.

The April 8, 2025 letter to the SF Planning Commission from PAR regarding Mayor Lurie’s proposed up zoning was distributed at the meeting. Her concern is that “sea of blue (multi-unit buildings)” caused by the lifting of single family restrictions, 4-6 current zoning changes, the proposed increase in height limits and removal of density limits threatens to severely change the character of the Sunset and Richmond neighborhoods. Key takeaways are:

  • The target of 82,000 new units is based on faulty projections of the housing gap. Many organizations have questioned the housing audit that resulted in the state mandated target numbers.

  • The loss of small businesses who will be forced to close or relocate since they primarily lease in older smaller buildings and not newly developed high density buildings with the attendant higher rents.

  • No protections for existing tenants, even in rent controlled units with the demolition of single family homes.

  • The failure to create housing for low and middle income renters/buyers by developers who need to have a project be financially feasible. They instead target higher income residents (She used as an example the current proposed development at the former Fleur de Lys site at 777 Sutter where a 26 story skinny infill tower will provide a few lower floors for low/moderate income residents but the top stories will be full floor penthouses). Speculators (not residents) tend to invest in these types of luxury development as a place to park money. In SF developers can “buy” their way out of creating low to moderate income units by donating money to non-profit organizations who do build them, often in lower property value neighborhoods they can afford to purchase and develop.

Next Steps

  • Attend the PAR general meeting May 21, 7-9 pm at 251 19th Avenue. Invitations were sent by separate email. This will be your opportunity to meet with Connie Chan (district 1 supervisor), Lori Brooke, (NUSF), Sean Kim, owner Joe’s Ice Cream (Geary Blvd Merchants Association), Rachel Tanner (SF Planning Department), Joseph Smooke (Coordinator, Race & Equity in all Planning Coalition and Co-Founder, People Power Media)

  • Join PAR as an individual https://www.sfpar.org/site/PAR%20membership%20flyer.pdf

General Discussion From The Group

  • Recognition that one of the causes of an affordable housing shortage is owners taking units off the rental market because of the burden of being a landlord in San Francisco. This is occurring despite the vacancy tax designed to encourage landlords to rent their properties.

  • The closure of the Great Highway has significantly increased the burden of commuting north/south for Richmond district residents and adding 32,000-82,000 more units will stress the traffic situation even more. The lack of off street parking requirements for new development will compound the increasing loss of street parking from bike rentals, the Geary Muni quick build, creation of bicycle lanes, etc.

  • The relative lack of public transit for west side residents to go north/south and the proposed cost cutting decreased service on the already existing east/west bus lines means we are increasingly car-dependent than these plans recognize and address. Building higher density housing near transit seems less justifiable given the inadequate public transportation options for westside residents to easily reach SFO, the Peninsula, the southern parts of SF.

  • The Richmond district which is mostly sand and will require pilings down at least 40 feet. The hammering required will cause excessive noise, vibrations, and possible damage to adjacent buildings.

Minutes taken by Christina Shih.