Costs for many non-residential developments in San Francisco are poised to increase. On September 19, 2019, the Planning Commission approved a proposed ordinance that would more than double the City-wide Jobs Housing Linkage Fee (JHLF) rate for office and laboratory
Unfamiliar Terrain
Navigating the complex Bay Area land use landscape
Unfamiliar Terrain is a blog published by the law firm Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass LLP that focuses on legal developments affecting real estate, land use, and housing policy, particularly in California. The blog covers legislative changes such as housing production laws, zoning reforms, and environmental regulations like CEQA streamlining. It also addresses issues related to commercial and residential tenant protections, public agency meeting procedures, and litigation strategies in land use and development. The content reflects the firm's expertise in corporate, real estate, environmental, and regulatory law, providing updates on state and local government actions impacting property development and management.
Latest from Unfamiliar Terrain - Page 4
COPA Update: Compliance Not Required Until September 3, 2019
San Francisco’s Community Opportunity to Purchase Act (COPA) became effective earlier this month but the Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development (MOHCD) has clarified that sellers of multi-family residential rental properties and certain vacant lots in San Francisco will…
Two Affordable Housing Measures Proposed for November Ballot
SB 50 Update: Vote Postponed to 2020
By Tay Via
The Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee announced that Senator Wiener’s SB 50 is now a two-year bill, which means that it will not be eligible for vote until January. We will continue to track the status of SB 50…
Senator Wiener’s SB 50 Moves Forward with Compromise Amendments
By Tay Via
On April 24, Senator Scott Wiener’s SB 50 passed the Senate Governance and Finance Committee with bipartisan support, incorporating amendments that limit the bill’s scope. It is scheduled to be heard by the Senate Appropriations Committee on May 13. As…
Sellers Beware? San Francisco Adopts Community Opportunity to Purchase Act for Multifamily Properties
The CASA Compact’s Response to the Bay Area Housing Crisis
In 2017, the Metropolitan Transportation Committee (MTC) and the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) mobilized a task force of affordable housing advocates, private developers, local government officials, and other Bay Area leaders and experts to form CASA, or the…
San Francisco’s Next Big Move in Maintaining Housing Affordability: Nonprofits’ First Right to Purchase Multi-Family Rental Properties
Pending legislation introduced by San Francisco Supervisor Fewer would amend the City’s laws to give certain qualified non-profit organizations certified by the City (“Qualified Nonprofits”) the first right to purchase multi-family rental properties and certain vacant lots in San Francisco. …
Update on SF Planning Department’s Streamlined Review Procedures for Development Projects
In February, the San Francisco Planning Department issued the first quarterly performance report for implementation of its Process Improvements Plan, a program intended to overhaul the project review process. The Plan first took effect in June 2018 in response…
State Agencies Release Land Use and Environmental Considerations for Automated Vehicle Deployment
The state of California is keeping a watchful eye on the potential land use, environmental, and social consequences of automated vehicle deployment. On November 16, 2018, the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research announced the release of “Automated Vehicle…