By Michael Durand
On May 9, we posted a commentary from a reader titled "The (Not so) Subtle Takeover of Private Property by the City."
I heard from District 4 Supervisor Joel Engardio who said some of the claims were not true. Here is Supervisor Engardio's comment that can be found at the end of the original commentary:
I would like to clarify some points in this article. First, it is important to note that the Family and Senior Housing Opportunity Special Use District (SUD) was unanimously supported by the Board of Supervisors, including the members of the Land Use Committee: Supervisor Melgar, Supervisor Dean Preston and Board President Aaron Peskin.
This SUD doesn't change baseline zoning, which is still single family residential for most communities across the west side. It creates a local density bonus program to allow for the construction of a few additional units where single family homes are permitted.
Couples, aging parents and young families now have options to build generational wealth through their single family homes: there's a state density bonus program that allows the construction of non-rent controlled ADUs, and there are several local density bonus programs that allow the construction of additional units under rent control.
Everything in this SUD is voluntary. It allows private property owners to decide for themselves what they want to do with their property. The SUD doesn't require any single-family homes to build three or four new housing units per lot. It doesn't require anyone to accommodate an ADU in their backyard.
It's also important to note that the SUD did not change 2022's Prop. M residential vacancy tax and residential unit registration requirements. If a spare unit is occupied by friends, family or neighbors for half the year, it is not considered a "vacant unit" and won't be taxed. Lastly, the SUD can't change the rules around property tax re-assessments, which are enshrined in California's state constitution.
This SUD provides solutions that can benefit families who choose to use it. For some, this SUD allows single family homeowners the flexibility to build generational wealth and add new housing in the westside communities they love. Everything about the SUD is voluntary and if a family wishes not to use it, that is their right.
We have a lot to fix in San Francisco and that's why I ran for supervisor. I believe we should address today's challenges and not leave them for future generations to deal with.
I welcome constructive dialogue on our city's most pressing issues. I welcome everyone who wants to bring solutions to the table and help fix our city. Learn more at engardio.com.
Michael Durand is the editor and publisher of the Richmond Review and Sunset Beacon newspapers and the RichmondSunsetNews.com website. He can be reached at Editor@RichmondSunsetNews.com.
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