Shall the City adopt new controls on office development, including office space for computer-based services?
This proposition would make changes to the Planning Code which would affect the construction of new office space in San Francisco. Currently there are controls and limits on new office space development in the City. The Planning Code sets forth an annual limit of 950,000 square feet of new office space. This proposition would make many changes in the Planning Code including:
- a redefinition of what type of business may occupy office space to include multimedia/computer companies.
- specifications that new office developments over 25,000 sq. ft. in size be approved through a competitive process.
- a provision that federal, state, and local agencies, non-profit groups, and areas of the Presidio, Hunter's Point, Mission Bay, and the Port of San Francisco be exempt from the office space cap.
- elimination of the authority of the Board of Supervisors to reduce the annual office cap.
- institution of new rules for office development in the Mission District, and provision for impact studies in the Mission, Portrero Hill, and the South of Market neighborhoods.
- the establishment of a growth manager coordinator position to be appointed by the Mayor for a ten year term.
- doubling developer fees used for transit programs, affordable housing, art enrichment, child care, elder care, and high tech job training.
Should the proposed ordinance be adopted, in my opinion, it would substantially increase revenue dedicated for affordable housing, dependent care, public transit, and art enrichment. It would also create new revenue sources dedicated for long-range planning, job training, and affordable office space for non-profit corporations.
In addition, it would require significant one-time costs to complete three required studies of South of Market, Mission and Portrero Hill neighborhoods.
- Summary of Arguments FOR Proposition K:
- Proposition K would improve the Planning Code by making it more specific to the needs of San Francisco neighborhoods.
This proposition would raise much needed funding to help finance public transit, affordable housing, arts, child care and high-tech job training.
The Mission Bay office development and other developments already approved could proceed as scheduled.
By establishing the growth manager coordinator position, this proposal would ensure sound, appropriate development.
- Summary of Arguments AGAINST Proposition K:
- Proposition K would create loopholes allowing dot-com companies to move into areas where new offices are banned.
Proposition K would remove the authority of the Board of Supervisors to limit office development projects. We could lose an important "check" in the balance of government.
The growth manager coordinator position would be appointed by the Mayor for a ten year term. This may not provide enough independence from the executive branch of government.
The office development fee now dedicated to child care would be split between child care and elder care. This would put child care and elder care recipients in competition with each other since this pool of funds does not increase.
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