Welcome to the 2009 Housing Element Website! Here you will find the timeline for completing the Element, the work completed to date, ways for you to be involved in the process. The tabs to the right are there to guide you through the website's content.   PART I (DRAFT 2) Data & Needs Analysis PDF 10 MB (Updated 6-18-2010)   PART II (DRAFT 2) Objectives, Policies, and Implementation Programs PDF 1 MB (Updated 6-10-2010)

Project Update

The department is pleased to announce the second draft of Part II Objectives, Policies and Implementation Programs is available. A summary of changes to the first draft can be found here. A draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) has been prepared for the project. The draft EIR can be found here.

Project updates and other related communication are regularly sent out to our listserve as the project progresses. Please use the form to the right to be added to that list. As always, please contact Planning Department staff for any questions or comments you might have concerning the 2009 Housing Element.

Project Summary

The Housing Element is the component of the City’s General Plan that provides a five year vision for housing. San Francisco, along with all municipalities, is required by state law to update the Housing Element of the General Plan every five years. The State requires that a complete and approved draft be submitted by June 26, 2009. Additionally the Planning Department will be completing a full Environmental Impact Report on the 2009 Housing Element update.

The State of California Housing Element law, enacted in 1969, mandates that local governments adequately plan to meet the existing and projected housing needs of all economic segments of the community. The law acknowledges that, in order for the private market to adequately address housing needs and demand, local governments must adopt land use plans and regulatory systems which provide opportunities for, and do not unduly constrain, housing development.

This process will conclude with an effective housing element that provides the necessary conditions for preserving and producing an adequate supply of affordable housing. Among other things, the housing element provides an inventory of land adequately zoned or planned to be zoned for housing, certainty in permit processing procedures, and a commitment to assist in housing development through regulatory concessions and incentives.

In addition, to this fundamental framework, the housing element update process provides a vehicle for establishing and updating housing and land-use strategies reflective of changing needs, resources and conditions. The housing element also provides a powerful tool to address the special housing needs of Californians including the homeless and persons with disabilities. The inclusive planning process ensures that San Francisco promote a variety of housing types including multifamily rental units, transitional and other types of supportive housing. Finally, the housing element update process can also provide a vehicle for San Francisco to adopt housing and land-use strategies to address climate change and the reduction of green house gas emissions, by facilitating housing locations that can significantly contribute to reductions in green house gas emissions.

Update

The second draft of the 2009 Housing Element is now available. Revisions were made based on public comment on the first draft. All comments on the draft document are included in the 2009 Housing Element Comments and Responses Document, and will be presented to the Planning Commission during their deliberations on the draft 2009 Housing Element.

Summary

The Planning Department is committed to a community based planning effort that meets the State’s deadline, and intends to work closely with community leaders, stakeholders, relevant city agencies, and community members to adequately incorporate their housing policy ideas into the 2009 Housing Element update. The outreach strategy is composed of a three equally critical components:

Community Advisory Body
During the first phase of the project, this Planning Department-appointed Community Advisory Body (CAB) advised staff on the development and refinement of policies and implementation programs. The body worked with staff and stakeholder groups to complete the first draft of the 2009 Housing Element Update. CAB members participated nearly 10 working sessions and participated in ongoing outreach to the larger community for up to one year.

Stakeholder Sessions
Stakeholder sessions were held midway through the CAB process in order to gain an understanding of the needs and policy interests of groups and organizations related to housing or housing services– for-profit & non-profit developers, housing advocacy groups, and homelessness and social service providers. These sessions, facilitated by City staff and members of the CAB, directly influenced the draft policies written by the CAB.

Citywide Outreach
Broad neighborhood outreach focused on key goals of the draft 2009 update is a critical aspect of the Housing Element update. Elements of the citywide outreach include:

• Over 30 community workshops with neighborhood organizations on housing priorities, to guide the framework of the draft Housing Element
• Office hours for interested citizens to engage with staff on housing issues
• Gathering public input through the project website
• Public hearings at Planning Commission and Board of Supervisor’s Land Use Committee.

Environmental Review

The Planning Department has completed a draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) on the 2009 Housing Element. The draft EIR is available for review or purchase at the Plannning Department, Planning Information Counter at 1660 Mission, and at several public libraries, and can be reviewed online here.

The materials presented at the EIR Scoping Meeting on October 6, 2009 meeting can be found here.

Calendar of Events

At this time there are no calendared events related to the Housing Element. This section will be updated when the Draft Listening Session and Planning Commission Hearings have been scheduled.

Project Timeline

This overall timeline outlines the process to date: