The Frisc
@thefrisc.bsky.social
Original 💯 San Francisco journalism, nonprofit & passionate about civic issues, holding people accountable, and fighting for a more affordable, inclusive city.
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Donate: tinyurl.com/46yvtxak
One opponent of the FZP asks why the city's rich neighborhoods aren't being upzoned. True - some of them aren't on the map. (Forest Hill, Sea Cliff.) But swaths of Presidio Heights and Pacific Heights are.
November 18, 2025 at 1:00 AM
One opponent of the FZP asks why the city's rich neighborhoods aren't being upzoned. True - some of them aren't on the map. (Forest Hill, Sea Cliff.) But swaths of Presidio Heights and Pacific Heights are.
@myrnamelgard7.bsky.social also leads up to public comment with a gentle dressing-down of those trying to kneecap the zoning plan, noting there are plenty of good-faith efforts and changes to build protections for tenants and small business.
We now go to public comment - one minute each
We now go to public comment - one minute each
November 18, 2025 at 12:51 AM
@myrnamelgard7.bsky.social also leads up to public comment with a gentle dressing-down of those trying to kneecap the zoning plan, noting there are plenty of good-faith efforts and changes to build protections for tenants and small business.
We now go to public comment - one minute each
We now go to public comment - one minute each
Sup. Chen says most people don't care about "capacity" - that's tone deaf she says, and blames state regulators who have "designed an exercise as just a math problem." The real concern is "affordability." She wants more thoughtful in-fill development without displacement.
November 18, 2025 at 12:28 AM
Sup. Chen says most people don't care about "capacity" - that's tone deaf she says, and blames state regulators who have "designed an exercise as just a math problem." The real concern is "affordability." She wants more thoughtful in-fill development without displacement.
Now time for supervisor comments. Several who aren't on the Land Use Committee have shown up. First is Sup. Mandelman: exempt from density and height increases all listed "Article 10" landmarks
November 18, 2025 at 12:20 AM
Now time for supervisor comments. Several who aren't on the Land Use Committee have shown up. First is Sup. Mandelman: exempt from density and height increases all listed "Article 10" landmarks
FYI @sfplanning.bsky.social is working to tweak an accepted amendment -- an incentive of extra square footage to developers who keep commercial space or preserve historic storefront. Chen calls these "nonsubstantive" changes
November 18, 2025 at 12:11 AM
FYI @sfplanning.bsky.social is working to tweak an accepted amendment -- an incentive of extra square footage to developers who keep commercial space or preserve historic storefront. Chen calls these "nonsubstantive" changes
Switzky passes the baton to planner Lisa Chen, who recaps: @sfplanning.bsky.social is confident with its methodology for calculating "realistic capacity." Each of the current amendments will affect capacity in different ways. Each needs to be "net neutral" to pass HCD muster
November 18, 2025 at 12:11 AM
Switzky passes the baton to planner Lisa Chen, who recaps: @sfplanning.bsky.social is confident with its methodology for calculating "realistic capacity." Each of the current amendments will affect capacity in different ways. Each needs to be "net neutral" to pass HCD muster
Switzky: we're "in good shape" that the FZP exceeds the capacity of SB 79 and can be officially deemed an alternative plan, providing the FZP doesn't substantially change
November 18, 2025 at 12:06 AM
Switzky: we're "in good shape" that the FZP exceeds the capacity of SB 79 and can be officially deemed an alternative plan, providing the FZP doesn't substantially change
One scenario: If the FZP provides roughly the same upzoning, it can be an alternative to SB 79. There are different flavors of this, Switzky explains
November 18, 2025 at 12:03 AM
One scenario: If the FZP provides roughly the same upzoning, it can be an alternative to SB 79. There are different flavors of this, Switzky explains
Switzky now moves to SB 79, the @scottwiener.bsky.social bill that just passed and allows taller development along or near public transit. How does it overlap with or affect the Family Zoning Plan?
November 18, 2025 at 12:03 AM
Switzky now moves to SB 79, the @scottwiener.bsky.social bill that just passed and allows taller development along or near public transit. How does it overlap with or affect the Family Zoning Plan?
Bluesky ate a few of our posts, unfortunately. We're now in the midst of @sfplanning.bsky.social's presentation. Deputy director Joshua Switzky is giving quite a bit of detail about how the agency has calculated the capacity of the Family Zoning Plan. He's paused on the 3rd method they've used
November 18, 2025 at 12:03 AM
Bluesky ate a few of our posts, unfortunately. We're now in the midst of @sfplanning.bsky.social's presentation. Deputy director Joshua Switzky is giving quite a bit of detail about how the agency has calculated the capacity of the Family Zoning Plan. He's paused on the 3rd method they've used
The "soft sites" method. It filtesr out site that @sfplanning.bsky.social doesn't consider developeable (like historic sites or ones with multifamily housing already)
November 17, 2025 at 11:55 PM
The "soft sites" method. It filtesr out site that @sfplanning.bsky.social doesn't consider developeable (like historic sites or ones with multifamily housing already)
Switzky: our methods of calculating capacity have been deemed sufficient by @california-hcd.bsky.social. Three methods of calculation. First one is citywide:
November 17, 2025 at 11:55 PM
Switzky: our methods of calculating capacity have been deemed sufficient by @california-hcd.bsky.social. Three methods of calculation. First one is citywide:
@sfplanning.bsky.social's Joshua Switzky starts his presentation with a reminder of three key tenets of the Family Zoning Plan
November 17, 2025 at 11:55 PM
@sfplanning.bsky.social's Joshua Switzky starts his presentation with a reminder of three key tenets of the Family Zoning Plan
Time for the Family Zoning Plan. The indefatigable clerk will read all the items into the record -- for those of you scoring at home, it's items 4 through 9 sfbos.org/sites/defaul...
November 17, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Time for the Family Zoning Plan. The indefatigable clerk will read all the items into the record -- for those of you scoring at home, it's items 4 through 9 sfbos.org/sites/defaul...
Local architect Remi Tan says make sure the TPO only protect lower and middle class. Not wealthy tenants. He also warns that if you make demolitions impossible, it will be nearly impossible to build more of the housing that SF dearly needs
November 17, 2025 at 11:36 PM
Local architect Remi Tan says make sure the TPO only protect lower and middle class. Not wealthy tenants. He also warns that if you make demolitions impossible, it will be nearly impossible to build more of the housing that SF dearly needs
More comments roll in calling for the TPO to go farther. Gen Fujioka of Chinatown Community Development Center: "It's about mitigating the impacts of demolition, but it still retains within it the mechanics of streamlining" development
November 17, 2025 at 11:17 PM
More comments roll in calling for the TPO to go farther. Gen Fujioka of Chinatown Community Development Center: "It's about mitigating the impacts of demolition, but it still retains within it the mechanics of streamlining" development
Now @bilalmahmood.bsky.social asks @sfplanning.bsky.social if they're ok with Chen and Melgar's amendments. Planning's Rachael Tanner says they're "almost in alignment" -- she praises the spirit of the TPO. We're still "fine tuning" but the department is supportive.
November 17, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Now @bilalmahmood.bsky.social asks @sfplanning.bsky.social if they're ok with Chen and Melgar's amendments. Planning's Rachael Tanner says they're "almost in alignment" -- she praises the spirit of the TPO. We're still "fine tuning" but the department is supportive.
@myrnamelgard7.bsky.social now has what she calls "friendly amendments" to "enhance not compete with" the TPO. There are 4. One is about better data; one is about priority equity geographies; one is to line up the TPO with state bill SB 423; one has to do with some kind of technical criteria
November 17, 2025 at 10:36 PM
@myrnamelgard7.bsky.social now has what she calls "friendly amendments" to "enhance not compete with" the TPO. There are 4. One is about better data; one is about priority equity geographies; one is to line up the TPO with state bill SB 423; one has to do with some kind of technical criteria
More changes. (Please note, we're not catching every slide here. There's a TON of stuff in the TPO.) We are trying to get a hold of the slide deck and will add it to this thread
November 17, 2025 at 10:20 PM
More changes. (Please note, we're not catching every slide here. There's a TON of stuff in the TPO.) We are trying to get a hold of the slide deck and will add it to this thread
The staffer is going through technical changes, like a shift in how to define "existing occupant" -- and greater benefits for low-income residents facing relocation
November 17, 2025 at 10:17 PM
The staffer is going through technical changes, like a shift in how to define "existing occupant" -- and greater benefits for low-income residents facing relocation
Simplify and replace language that defines "residential demolition" -- it should catch more projects that are in fact demolitions, says the planner
November 17, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Simplify and replace language that defines "residential demolition" -- it should catch more projects that are in fact demolitions, says the planner
@sfplanning.bsky.social staff is presenting. The staffer (sorry, missed her name) notes that SF already has some of the state's strongest tenant protections. Her presentation isn't posted, so we'll snap some of the slides here. Here are main changes the bill (the "TPO") makes to the planning code
November 17, 2025 at 10:17 PM
@sfplanning.bsky.social staff is presenting. The staffer (sorry, missed her name) notes that SF already has some of the state's strongest tenant protections. Her presentation isn't posted, so we'll snap some of the slides here. Here are main changes the bill (the "TPO") makes to the planning code
Chen is now reading through the various parts of the bill. As Adam Brinklow reported a few weeks ago, it largely clarifies existing tenant protection laws, such as making sure tenants know their rights if they face eviction. thefrisc.com/sfs-big-hous...
November 17, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Chen is now reading through the various parts of the bill. As Adam Brinklow reported a few weeks ago, it largely clarifies existing tenant protection laws, such as making sure tenants know their rights if they face eviction. thefrisc.com/sfs-big-hous...
Now item #3. We have a correction to make. We've previously described this item as an amendment to the Family Zoning Plan. It's related, but it is a separate bill. @myrnamelgard7.bsky.social thanks committee member Chyanne Chen and staff for working hard on this very complicated legislation.
November 17, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Now item #3. We have a correction to make. We've previously described this item as an amendment to the Family Zoning Plan. It's related, but it is a separate bill. @myrnamelgard7.bsky.social thanks committee member Chyanne Chen and staff for working hard on this very complicated legislation.
Item #2: Rafael Mandelman wants to make changes to some old legislation -- over a year old -- related to "monster homes" in a few central SF neighborhoods including Corona Heights. @myrnamelgard7.bsky.social asks Mandelman to explain in plain English what he's trying to solve
November 17, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Item #2: Rafael Mandelman wants to make changes to some old legislation -- over a year old -- related to "monster homes" in a few central SF neighborhoods including Corona Heights. @myrnamelgard7.bsky.social asks Mandelman to explain in plain English what he's trying to solve