So You Want to Be a Planning Commissioner?

San Francisco provides a case study of the immense challenges and scant rewards that await you in a job as a planning commissioner—planning outcomes suffer as a result.

1 minute read

October 15, 2019, 1:00 PM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


San Francisco, California

Rafael Ramirez Lee / Shutterstock

"Planning commissioners might just have one of San Francisco’s hardest jobs," writes Sasha Perigo in a column for the San Francisco Examiner

"The appointed Planning Commission oversees San Francisco’s Planning Department and has the final say on what gets built in San Francisco and where. In the midst of a severe housing crisis, commissioners face a lot of angry people and have a lot of work."

For their trouble, planning commissioners are "practically unpaid," adds Perigo.

The massive amount of work that goes into attending and preparing for meetings means that many people who get appointed as planning commissioners are often semi-retired or have a great deal of flexibility in their job. That leads to problems of representation. "The Planning Commission is disproportionately white and male compared to San Francisco’s population and is composed of a majority homeowners," for instance.

The discussion is in the new this week because San Francisco Mayor London Breed named a new appointee this week, land use lawyer Sue Diamond, who is well regarded in the city. But the hire still fits a mold of white, well educated, and wealthy. Perigo suggests that planning outcomes suffer when the representation on the commission doesn't mirror the demographics of the city.

Tuesday, October 15, 2019 in San Francisco Examiner.

Sweeping view of Portland, Oregon with Mt. Hood in background against sunset sky.

Oregon Passes Exemption to Urban Growth Boundary

Cities have a one-time chance to acquire new land for development in a bid to increase housing supply and affordability.

March 12, 2024 - Housing Wire

Aerial view of green roofs with plants in Sydney, Australia.

Where Urban Design Is Headed in 2024

A forecast of likely trends in urban design and architecture.

March 10, 2024 - Daily Journal of Commerce

Cobblestone street with streetcar line, row of vintage streetlights on left, and colorful restaurant and shop awnings on right on River Street in Savannah, Georgia.

Savannah: A City of Planning Contrasts

From a human-scales, plaza-anchored grid to suburban sprawl, the oldest planned city in the United States has seen wildly different development patterns.

March 12, 2024 - Strong Towns

Aerial View of Chuckanut Drive and the Blanchard Bridge in the Skagit Valley.

Washington Tribes Receive Resilience Funding

The 28 grants support projects including relocation efforts as coastal communities face the growing impacts of climate change.

March 18 - The Seattle Times

Historic buildings in downtown Los Angeles with large "Pan American Lofts" sign on side of building.

Adaptive Reuse Bills Introduced in California Assembly

The legislation would expand eligibility for economic incentives and let cities loosen regulations to allow for more building conversions.

March 18 - Beverly Press

View from above of swan-shaped paddleboats with lights on around artesian fountain in Echo Park Lake with downtown Los Angeles skylien in background at twilight.

LA's Top Parks, Ranked

TimeOut just released its list of the top 26 parks in the L.A. area, which is home to some of the best green spaces around.

March 18 - TimeOut

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.