Planning Commission adopts updated Safety and Resilience Element, adding environmental‑justice and climate policy

At its Sept. 29 hearing the Planning Commission voted unanimously to adopt amendments to the General Plan’s Safety and Resilience Element that incorporate climate resilience, environmental justice and racial and social equity considerations.

Staff explained the amendment aligns the safety element with state laws (SB 379 and SB 1000) and incorporates the city’s Hazard & Climate Resilience (HCR) plan and the 2021 Climate Action Plan by reference so those more frequently updated technical documents can guide implementation. The update adds two new goals and revises recovery policies to emphasize interagency coordination, lifelines (redundant water and energy) and actions that prioritize “environmental justice communities” — a locally calibrated map that identifies areas facing higher cumulative burdens.

Speakers from the Office of Resilience and Capital Planning and the Department of Environment endorsed the update and noted its stronger emphasis on implementation and accountability, including integration with the city’s capital plan. A technical commenter from the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute supported “functional recovery” policies to ensure buildings remain usable after a major seismic event.

Public commenters asked how the element will stay current with emerging science (for example groundwater response to sea‑level rise), how FEMA eligibility will be preserved for projects, and whether language about a ‘right to housing’ should be retained. Staff said the safety element is intended as a high‑level policy container while the HCR and other incorporated plans — updated more frequently and stewarded by other departments — will be the living technical resources used to implement policy.

Commissioner Imperial moved to approve the general plan amendment; the motion was seconded and the commission adopted the update unanimously, 7‑0. Staff will transmit the resolution to the Board of Supervisors, which has 90 days to act. If the Board does not act within 90 days the amendment is deemed approved.