Planning and zoning: density bonus: affordable housing ordinances: City and County of San Francisco.
If enacted, AB 915 would result in local developments potentially contributing more significantly to affordable housing stock as compared to previous regulations. By aligning density bonuses with local affordable housing ordinances, it ensures that any additional units granted through the bonus are subject to the same affordable housing percentage requirements. This could lead to a more integrated approach to developing low- and moderate-income housing alongside market-rate units, supporting San Francisco's efforts to combat its severe housing shortages.
Assembly Bill 915, introduced by Assembly Member Ting, aims to address the affordable housing crisis in San Francisco by modifying the application of density bonus provisions for housing developments. The bill permits the City and County of San Francisco to apply its existing affordable housing minimum percentage ordinance to the total number of housing units in developments that receive density bonuses, unless exempted by the city. This legislative approach is specifically tailored to tackle the unique housing shortage challenges faced by San Francisco, supported by findings that justify a special statute for the city.
The sentiment around AB 915 appears to be cautiously optimistic among supporters, who emphasize the need for innovative solutions in the face of a housing crisis. Proponents view the bill as a pragmatic step towards increasing affordable housing availability in one of the most expensive real estate markets in the country. However, there might be concerns from certain stakeholders over the potential implications on development costs and timelines, particularly if additional regulations are seen to complicate the existing processes.
Notably, a point of contention is the requirement for the Department of Housing and Community Development to affirm the feasibility of the affordable housing minimum percentage for density bonus projects. This requirement could lead to uncertainty about whether or not developments would meet local demands, depending on the department's assessments. Additionally, the bill does not apply to density bonus applications submitted or processed before January 1, 2018, which raises questions regarding the cutoff date's fairness and potential advantages to existing projects.