This Week In San Francisco Land Use - August 19, 2009
8/19/2009 - Andrew J. Junius, John Kevlin
New Dwelling Unit Demolition Legislation Would Require One-for-One Replacement
Yesterday, Supervisor Mirkarimi introduced a bill at the Board of Supervisors that would limit the Planning Commission’s discretion in approving dwelling unit demolitions. The bill would prohibit the Planning Commission from approving a project calling for the demolition of structurally-sound dwelling units unless they are replaced on a one-for-one basis with new dwelling units of similar affordability. The replacement units could be provided on- or off-site. The bill would also require the Planning Commission to find its approval consistent with at least a majority of the existing dwelling unit demolition criteria…
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NC Districts: A Look Back, And Ahead
8/12/2009 - Andrew J. Junius, John Kevlin
In San Francisco, neighborhood commercial zoning (“NC Districts”) have been around since 1987. These zoning controls attempted to clarify various desirable and undesirable uses within the naturally occurring neighborhood commercial strips throughout the City. These zoning districts run along some of the busiest streets in the City (Geary Boulevard and Van Ness Avenue, for example), as well as some of the more “neighborhoody” streets like Union Street, 25th Street, and Chestnut Street. There are also a vast number of very small NC Districts that cover a single intersection or one block. After 20 years of these zoning controls being in…
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