Committee adopts amendments to repeal oil-and-gas land-use rules, advances ordinance to Nov. 8

Supervisor Chan presented amendments to an ordinance that would repeal Planning Code Article 12 — the city’s land-use regulations governing oil and gas exploration, development and processing — and replace language to explicitly exclude oil and gas production or processing for fuel as an allowable industrial use in specified heavy-manufacturing classifications.

Planning staff assisted with the language changes; staff clarified the amendments apply to specific heavy-manufacturing categories. The committee took public comment from climate advocates, including a speaker who urged additional legislation to address potential sales of Kern River oilfield land and to avoid ‘outsourcing’ extraction to other owners.

The committee voted to adopt the substantive amendments (3–0) and then voted to continue the item to the November 8 meeting (the one-week sit required for substantive amendments). Both motions passed with supervisors Peskin, Chan and Melgar voting "aye."

Paul Wirmer of the San Francisco Climate Emergency Coalition told the committee the coalition was pleased to see the Planning Department's recommended amendment adopted and urged follow-up that would address land sale scenarios for oilfield parcels.

The item will return on November 8 for additional committee consideration and formal referral steps.