Housing Initiative Inches Closer to San Francisco Voters

Housing advocates hope a charter amendment that would streamline the development approval process will make it to the November ballot.

1 minute read

April 7, 2022, 8:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


After multiple failed efforts by San Francisco Mayor London Breed to put a charter amendment streamlining the city's development approval process before voters via the Board of Supervisors, the amendment's supporters are working to gather the 52,000 necessary signatures to get it on November's ballot. As J.K. Dineen reports, "The initiative, which proponents are calling Affordable Homes Now, would speed up housing production by allowing some qualified projects to circumvent the city’s discretionary review process, cutting several years from the multiyear timeline it takes to get housing approved in San Francisco."

According to Dineen, "The charter amendment would streamline three types of projects: those that are 100% affordable; those catering to teachers; and those that include 15% more below-market-rate units than is required under the city’s affordable housing requirements." Supporter "YIMBY Action executive director Laura Foote said the polling shows that more than 60% of voters would back the amendment, which requires only a simple majority to pass."

Critics say the amendment will only support more market rate housing, "and that the level of affordability of the units in most market-rate development is too high for workers most at risk of being displaced." 

Monday, April 4, 2022 in San Francisco Chronicle

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 16, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Green vintage Chicago streetcar from the 1940s parked at the Illinois Railroad Museum in 1988.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails

Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

July 13, 2025 - WTTV

Blue and silver Amtrak train with vibrant green and yellow foliage in background.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail

The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

July 14, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

Worker in yellow safety vest and hard hat looks up at servers in data center.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power

Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

July 18 - Inside Climate News

Former MARTA CEO Collie Greenwood standing in front of MARTA HQ with blurred MARTA sign visible in background.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns

MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

July 18 - WABE

Rendering of proposed protected bikeway in Santa Clara, California.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant

A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.

July 17 - San José Spotlight