San Francisco committee continues twin rezoning bills after inheritance and reporting amendments

The Land Use and Transportation Committee of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors on May 16 considered two linked ordinances to rezone most RH‑1 residential districts to a new residential 2‑family classification and to create density exceptions for qualifying owners. Chair Supervisor Mirna Melgar called the items and said the measures aim to expand housing while protecting neighborhoods.

Supervisor Aaron Peskin offered amendments to item 2 that narrow an inheritance‑based eligibility carve‑out for density exceptions to cases where the property was inherited ‘‘from blood, adoptive, or step family relationships’’ — listing grandparents, parents, siblings, children, grandchildren, spouses and registered domestic partners. Peskin said the change is intended to support ‘‘intergenerational or intragenerational accumulation of wealth’’ among family members rather than broaden eligibility to nonfamily inheritances. The committee adopted Peskin’s amendment by roll call (Peskin, Preston, Melgar — ayes).

City Attorney Pearson explained the draft language focuses on the relationship between the prior and new owner and is silent on form of ownership, including trusts; Pearson said the intent was to include inheritances conveyed through family trusts but recommended tightening the language with an additional amendment if members want to make that explicit.

Several members debated whether to keep two separate files or consolidate into a single ordinance. Supporters of consolidation said a single file reflects the consensus the committee has forged; others said keeping both on the table preserves flexibility for sponsor offices to propose targeted changes. Jacob Bintliff, representing Supervisor Mandelmann, asked that if the items are continued they be continued to the same meeting so amendments affecting both remain coordinated.

Multiple public commenters on the rezoning items urged safeguards against speculation and asked for equity monitoring. Charlie Shamas (BODESH; Race and Equity in Planning Coalition) and speakers from the San Francisco Tenants Union and Young Community Developers urged owner‑occupancy look‑back and look‑forward rules, rent‑control protections and an annual equity and racial impact report prepared by the Planning Department that would track outcomes such as length of ownership, effects on existing tenants and rents by unit size and AMI.

Chair Melgar proposed continuing the items to June 6 to permit staff and sponsors to incorporate reporting language; the city attorney advised that adding a reporting requirement would be non‑substantive. The committee voted to continue item 2 to June 6 and to continue item 1 to the call of the chair, with the clerk noting that zoning map amendments require a 10‑day public renotice.

Next steps: Item 2 was continued to the committee meeting of June 6 for further amendments and to incorporate reporting; item 1 was continued to the call of the chair to allow the sponsor time to consult with colleagues.