Planning Department briefs commission on AB 2011 and possible local impacts

Planning Department staff briefed the commission on AB 2011, a state bill the department said could take effect next year if signed by the governor and would allow ministerial approval of certain code-compliant housing projects.

Staff described the bill’s basic applicability: projects of five or more units in eligible zoning districts that meet minimum on-site affordability thresholds (staff cited roughly 13% minimum in the bill language discussed) on streets with rights-of-way wider than about 70 feet from property line to property line. Projects could couple the new ministerial pathway with state density bonuses and would need to meet labor standards, including prevailing-wage requirements, staff said. Height and density increases are capped under the bill text discussed, with a typical cap noted near 65 feet.

Staff said they are mapping where the bill could apply within San Francisco and will return with more detailed analysis and maps. Commissioners requested an informational session to review HCD (California Department of Housing and Community Development) input and to discuss implications for local inclusionary requirements and whether off-site affordability options would disqualify a project from ministerial approval.

Staff emphasized that the department will follow up with maps and a fuller legal and policy analysis before the commission takes action on any projects under the new rules.