Planning Commission approves Environmental Justice Framework to guide General Plan updates
March 02, 2023 | San Francisco City, San Francisco County, California
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The San Francisco Planning Commission unanimously approved an amendment to the city’s General Plan introduction to adopt an Environmental Justice Framework and an EJ communities map meant to guide departmental investments and priorities.
Planning Department staff told the commission the framework implements state law SB 1000 by identifying areas that face concentrated environmental burdens and social vulnerability and by setting policy priorities to address those compounded risks. "Today, we seek to address the compounded health risk that are geographically specific," a Planning Department presenter said during the adoption hearing.
The framework includes a public-facing data portal and a user guide intended to help other city departments apply the map when allocating resources. Staff said the proposal incorporates community input collected over more than two years, references recent planning updates such as the Safety and Resilience and Housing elements, and reserves further, more technical amendments for a later phase of the General Plan modernization.
Public testimony included both organized support and brief technical questions. Antonio Diaz of POLAR (People Organizing to Demand Environmental and Economic Rights) said he participated in the working group and urged adoption to advance environmental justice across San Francisco.
Commissioners praised the user guide and data portal and asked clarifying questions about how the "top third" designation was presented on maps; staff said they had relabeled a legend entry from "top 30%" to "top one‑third" for clarity. Commissioner Koppel moved to approve the amendment; the motion passed 6–0.
The Planning Commission’s approval transmits the resolution to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, which has 90 days to act on the General Plan amendment. Staff noted that the Board’s vote on a general plan amendment is up or down; if the Board does not act within 90 days the amendment is deemed approved.
Planning Department staff told the commission the framework implements state law SB 1000 by identifying areas that face concentrated environmental burdens and social vulnerability and by setting policy priorities to address those compounded risks. "Today, we seek to address the compounded health risk that are geographically specific," a Planning Department presenter said during the adoption hearing.
The framework includes a public-facing data portal and a user guide intended to help other city departments apply the map when allocating resources. Staff said the proposal incorporates community input collected over more than two years, references recent planning updates such as the Safety and Resilience and Housing elements, and reserves further, more technical amendments for a later phase of the General Plan modernization.
Public testimony included both organized support and brief technical questions. Antonio Diaz of POLAR (People Organizing to Demand Environmental and Economic Rights) said he participated in the working group and urged adoption to advance environmental justice across San Francisco.
Commissioners praised the user guide and data portal and asked clarifying questions about how the "top third" designation was presented on maps; staff said they had relabeled a legend entry from "top 30%" to "top one‑third" for clarity. Commissioner Koppel moved to approve the amendment; the motion passed 6–0.
The Planning Commission’s approval transmits the resolution to the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, which has 90 days to act on the General Plan amendment. Staff noted that the Board’s vote on a general plan amendment is up or down; if the Board does not act within 90 days the amendment is deemed approved.
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