Committee hears EV‑charging zoning changes; supervisors press for limits on fleet charging

The committee considered an ordinance to amend the planning code to create a new land‑use classification for electric vehicle charging locations and to define a separate 'fleet charging' use. Department of the Environment clean‑transportation manager Lowell Chu and Planning legislative manager Aaron Starr said the ordinance is intended to cut permitting red tape, establish clear zoning pathways to convert auto uses such as gas stations and parking garages into EV charging locations, and accelerate deployment of public and fleet charging.

Staff emphasized the gap between existing chargers and need: a 2021 analysis cited in the presentation recommended roughly 5,000 public chargers by 2030; presenters said the city currently has a little over 1,000 public chargers. The planning changes would principally permit conversion of existing auto uses to EV charging in many districts, make EV charging an as‑of‑right use where gas stations are currently principally permitted, and restrict new EV charging locations in residential districts that do not already have an automotive use.

The ordinance also creates a new 'fleet charging' definition for non‑retail uses such as delivery and autonomous vehicle fleets and contemplates allowing fleet charging principally in industrial (PDR) districts while requiring conditional use authorization in some buffer and neighborhood districts. Planning staff said fleet charging would be regulated more narrowly because it is likely to be a more intensive land use.

Supervisors pressed staff on multiple fronts: Supervisor Erin Paskin warned against allowing autonomous‑vehicle firms or large fleet operators to use the ordinance to bypass public review, raising equity and pedestrian‑safety concerns. Supervisor Dean Preston and labor callers expressed worry that permitting conversions without conditional‑use review could displace blue‑collar jobs in PDR districts. In response, planning and zoning staff said definitions can be refined and conditional‑use controls applied where appropriate; staff proposed edits including changing single‑port language to allow multiple ports, making fleet charging conditional in specific districts, and removing accessory‑use language that would allow fleets to reserve one‑third of charging stands at some sites.

Public commenters included EV industry representatives, climate advocates and unions. Many supported the zoning clarification for EV charging; labor and community groups urged stronger conditional‑use review and analysis of jobs and equity impacts. The committee deferred final action to July 11 so the City Attorney and staff could finalize non‑substantive and substantive edits and ensure code tables are consistent.

What happens next: Staff and the City Attorney will return with finalized amendments and revised zoning tables on July 11. Committee members signaled they want explicit limits on accessory fleet uses and additional zoning safeguards in several districts.