Neighborhoods United SF

Advocating for Community-Centered Housing Solutions

"Right to Know" Legislation Passed 8-3!

This week, the Board of Supervisors approved long-overdue legislation requiring direct notice to residents and businesses when their property, or one within 300 feet, is proposed for upzoning, specifically increases in height and/or density.

The measure passed with an 8–3 supermajority!

We are especially grateful to Supervisor Chan (D1) for championing this effort, and to the Supervisors who stood with her for transparency and the public’s right to know: Sherrill (D2), Sauter (D3), Engardio (D4), Mandelman (D8), Fielder (D9), Walton (D10), and Chen (D11).

Unfortunately, Supervisors Mahmood (D5), Dorsey (D6), and Melgar (D7) opposed the measure, citing concerns that transparency could “scare residents.” This is deeply troubling—especially given that more than 400,000 homes and businesses could be impacted by sweeping zoning changes. A simple notification should not be controversial.

We urge every Supervisors to host public town halls and explain this permanent shift in land use policy to their constituents. We remain hopeful Supervisors will respond to the growing demand for common sense, fairness, and community involvement as these changes move forward.

Transparency: Baseline Not Battleground

Transparent communication is a cornerstone of good governance—especially when permanent land use changes threaten the fabric of our neighborhoods.

As the mailed notifications go out and residents are directed to a website for more information, we have urged the Planning Department to implement the Commission’s recommendation to upgrade its outdated mapping tool to a modern, user-friendly platform like ArcGIS. This would allow the public to explore interactive 3D visualizations that reveal the real impacts of proposed height increases—including how 6- to 30-story towers would cast shadows and reshape the scale and feel of entire neighborhoods.

But make no mistake: Mayor Lurie’s sweeping upzoning plan is still barreling ahead. It will affect hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses, fuel speculation, drive displacement, and trigger demolitions. It will permanently reshape San Francisco.

City Hall needs to hear from you. Now more than ever, your voice matters.

Share this email with your neighbors and friends across San Francisco!

ABOUT NEIGHBORHOODS UNITED SF

Neighborhoods United SF (NUSF) has rapidly mobilized over 60 neighborhoods across San Francisco to resist extreme state-mandated, locally-implemented height and density increases.

NUSF champions community-led planning to protect vulnerable residents and small businesses from gentrification while ensuring the livability of San Francisco's neighborhoods.