After a contentious debate, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted 7–4 to approve Mayor Daniel Lurie’s sweeping rezoning initiative, the Family Zoning Plan, which aims to enable taller buildings across large swaths of the city and add roughly 36,000 homes by 2031 to meet state housing mandates. The legislation—now requiring a second vote before reaching Lurie’s desk—marks one of the most significant land-use shifts in decades, targeting the historically low-density north and west sides for major upzoning.

Lurie, who has warned that the state could take over local zoning authority if the city failed to act, called the vote “a historic moment” that will expand affordable housing, support small businesses, and preserve neighborhood character. Supervisor Myrna Melgar, who helped negotiate amendments, said the plan positions San Francisco to finally address its affordability crisis after years of political gridlock.

The measure faced strong opposition from NIMBY groups and tenant advocates who fear displacement and neighborhood disruption. Progressive supervisors—Connie Chan, Shamann Walton, Jackie Fielder, and Chyanne Chen—voted no, arguing for stronger tenant protections and exemptions for vulnerable communities. But moderates prevailed, adding amendments to shield rent-controlled buildings, incentivize mixed-use development, and protect certain historic sites and community facilities.

Under the plan, major corridors such as Geary Boulevard and Van Ness Avenue could see buildings rise from 20 to 60 stories, with some intersections reaching 40 stories. Most residential neighborhoods will retain four-story limits, though demolished single-family homes could be rebuilt as multi-unit apartments. Developers may build even higher if they meet affordable-housing bonus criteria.

Pro-housing groups, including Abundant San Francisco, celebrated the outcome as long overdue in a city with an estimated 82,000-unit housing shortage. Volunteers campaigned for months, framing the plan as essential for keeping families in the city.

If implemented, the Family Zoning Plan would reshape San Francisco’s skyline and its long-standing approach to urban growth—setting up a new phase in the city’s protracted battle over housing.

Read more at The San Francisco Standard.