Committee adopts accessory-use amendments, advances discussion on fleet charging restrictions for EV ordinance

The committee considered an ordinance to create EV charging location and fleet‑charging definitions and to revise zoning controls to facilitate electrification. Staff presenters said the ordinance would allow conversion of service stations to EV charging locations without conditional use in many zones, principally permit fleet charging in PDR, and require annual reporting by the Planning Department.

Supervisor Rafael Paskin (transcript spelling varied) proposed amendments to remove fleet charging as an accessory use to retail and to make fleet charging conditional in certain zones. He also proposed conditional‑use criteria for fleet charging to ensure the uses do not induce low‑occupancy vehicle demand in congested/transit‑rich areas, do not unduly impact pedestrian and transit movement, and that ownership entities secure parking when vehicles are off duty.

Public comment included labor (Teamsters Local 665) supportive of EV expansion but urging stronger review of fleet charging, EV industry representatives advocating faster permitting timelines, and community groups warning about impacts on blue‑collar jobs and PDR space. The committee voted to adopt the accessory‑use amendments and to continue a duplicate file with conditional‑use findings to a subsequent hearing for referral to Planning and City Attorney review; the accessory amendments passed with recorded ayes.