Committee endorses interim zoning controls for parcel-delivery facilities, sends measure to full Board

The Land & Transportation Committee on March 21 voted to forward interim zoning controls that would impose an 18-month moratorium-style framework requiring conditional-use authorization and specified findings for proposed parcel-delivery facilities, commonly known as last-mile distribution centers.

President Walton, the legislation’s sponsor, said the measure is intended to ensure community review of large parcel-delivery operations and to protect neighborhoods from increased pollution, traffic and low-wage job practices. "This legislation is meant to give each parcel delivery service facility project a more thorough review," Walton said, adding the city is "not necessarily saying no to a company, but we are ... trying to make sure community, labor force, the folks that are affected ... are considered before allowing a company to mistreat our residents." (transcript).

Labor groups, including Teamsters Joint Council 7, UFCW locals and building trades, strongly supported the measure in public comment and urged the committee to require that projects create good union jobs and avoid environmental harm. The Sierra Club’s Bay chapter also urged conditions of approval to address greenhouse-gas and localized pollution impacts.

Neighbors from 888 Seventh Street and other nearby buildings described proximity to proposed facilities in Showplace Square and asked for time to study impacts. One resident said the adjacent building contains 225 units (mostly below-market-rate) and presented 175 signatures supporting interim controls. Another caller described expected vehicle activity at a proposed center (a caller stated "over a 175 delivery vans, 20 freight trucks per night, and almost 400 worker cars").

President Walton moved to send the legislation to the full Board as a committee report with a positive recommendation; roll call recorded Walton, Preston and Melgar voting "aye" and the motion passed (3 ayes). The committee did not adopt substantive amendments at the hearing; the measure will appear on the full Board agenda for final consideration.