As the city battles a housing and homelessness crisis, affordable housing projects could soon receive a VIP pass through the development pipeline. The Board of Supervisors next week will vote on an ordinance that would fast-track affordable housing projects through the lengthy Planning Department process. Mayor Mark Farrell introduced the bill in April to continue the September 2017 executive directive Mayor Ed Lee issued to expedite housing projects. “We cannot let red tape and bureaucracy prevent us from helping our families and residents,” Farrell said in April. Projects that build 100-percent affordable housing would have priority processing, like nixing a review hearing before the Planning Commission. Such projects would also be able eligible to request exceptions to parts of the Planning code that require window exposure and access to open space. A notice 20 days before the date of a hearing or approval would become the standard to reach owners, residents in the immediate area, and neighborhood organizations by mail as well as through online notices and notices posted on a given site.
Read Full Article