An audit by the County budget analyst revealed that San Francisco's Planning Department and Planning Commission have acted arbitrarily in decision making and imposed fees greater than those allowed.
San Francisco's Planning Department, a target for critics in the neighborhood gentrification wars, victimizes big developers and small homeowners alike by sitting on applications endlessly, making arbitrary decisions and in some cases charging higher fees than state law allows. The audit affirms what homeowners and builders have complained about for years: The permit process takes so long that many applicants need to hire attorneys or consultants to expedite their projects.
Thanks to Daniel Hamilton
FULL STORY: Planning Dept. misses deadlines, overcharges fees

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

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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
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Planning for Universal Design
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