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

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."
FULL STORY: After being rejected by S.F. supervisors, a charter to streamline housing could go to the voters

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

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

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.

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.

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.

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.
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.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie