SF Gate: Activists Urge Supervisors To Oppose Bill That Would Add Housing Near Transit

San Francisco housing activists opposing a bill that aims to increase housing near public transit statewide called on the city’s Board of Supervisors today to take a stance against it. But the group’s calls were drowned out at times by other housing activists in support of Senate Bill 827, as the two groups shouted and chanted over each other during a rally held outside San Francisco City Hall. Introduced by Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, SB 827 would exempt approved developers of housing near major transit stops and transit corridors from various local requirements, including controls on density, height limitations, floor area ratio, and minimum parking requirements, among others. At today’s rally, opponents of the bill argued that it takes away power from local jurisdictions and communities by preventing them from participating in decisions regarding land use, zoning, livability and sustainability and applying a one-size-fits-all strategy to the state’s housing shortage.