Committee sends Environmental Justice Framework and General Plan introduction to full board

The Planning Department presented the proposed Environmental Justice (EJ) Framework and an updated General Plan introduction developed over three years with extensive community outreach. Lisa Chen, principal planner, described the EJ Communities map — a local supplement layered on CalEnviroScreen data — and explained how planning staff incorporated local air‑pollution, income and demographic layers to identify neighborhoods experiencing disproportionate environmental and health burdens.

Staff emphasized the EJ Framework responds to SB 1000 and related commission resolutions; it sets six policy topics (healthy and resilient environments; physical activity and public facilities; healthy food access; safe, healthy and affordable homes; equitable and green jobs; and empowered neighborhoods) and is intended as a citywide policy to guide agencies and future implementation. The map highlights areas such as Bayview, Treasure Island, portions of SoMa and the Tenderloin and is meant to be used flexibly (e.g., with buffers or in tandem with other data).

Supervisors questioned how layered factors changed neighborhood categorizations and how general‑plan guidance becomes actionable for departments and capital planning. Planning staff said phase 2 work will focus on implementation and offered follow‑up to show layer‑specific map outputs. Community members and organizations who participated in the EJ Working Group spoke in favor of adoption and urged continued funding and phase 2 work. The committee voted unanimously to send the framework and General Plan introduction to the full Board with a positive recommendation.

Next steps: Planning staff will begin phase 2 implementation work, coordinate on departmental uses of the EJ map, and follow up with supervisors on map layers and data.