Score: +3 (6/0/3)
San Francisco County Grand Jury • 2017-2018

Report Title Finding Respondent Assigned by

Published: April 01, 2019 11 pages
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Findings and Recommendations 14 findings

F1
Housing Crisis: market rate housing to satisfy market demand Accessory Dwelling using traditional building practices, but not Units and Modular nearly enough below market rate housing. Housing Taking better advantage of alternative Published: July 5 construction methods can increase the City's 2018] ability to narrow the below-market housing gap Construction of ADUs can add a meaningful Mitigating the
No recommendations for this finding
F2
Planning Department Agree with the Recommends the Planning Department and the Planning Department Will be implemented Over the last six months, DBI, Planning, Fire [F2, F8] Department of Building Inspection jointly review [Response due: September Housing Crisis: number of moderately priced rental housing Response due: September finding Department, PLIC, Public Works-RSM and Accessory Dwelling nits in San Francisco, with no significant burden 3, 2018] heir codes and submit joint recommendations 3, 2018] representatives from the Mayor's Office and to the Board of Supervisors no later than April 1, Units and Modular on City finances, Therefore, encouraging ADU Board of Supervisors have been meeting to Housing development is of value to San Francisco. 2019 for code amendments designed to review codes and develop recommendations to Published: July 5, encourage homeowners to build more ADUs. encourage ADU construction. Through this 20181 interagency working group, staff have developed prelimenary checklists for each respective department's requirements to expedite and streamline ADU approval. Several rounds of amendments have increased flexibility for property owners to add units to their property. Still, further analysis is warranted to analyze City codes for further recommendations. Planning and DBI will jointly review their codes and submit joint recommendations to the Board of Supervisors no later than April 1, 2019 for code amendments designed to encourage omeowners to build more ADU's. Will be implemented Over the last six months, DBI, Planning, Fire Mitigating the
Related Recommendations (2)
R1
Recommends the Planning Department and the Department of Building Housing Crisis: number of moderately priced rental housing nspection [F2, F8] Department of Building Inspection jointly review Inspection Department, PUC, Public Works-BSM and ndine Accessory Dwelling units in San Francisco, with no significant burden (Response due: Septembe their codes and submit joint recommendations (Response due: September representatives from the Mayor's Office and Inits and Modular on City finances. Therefore, encouraging ADU 3, 2018) to the Board of Supervisors no later than April 1, 3, 2018] Board of Supervisors have been meeting to development is of value to San Francisco. 2019 for code amendments designed to review codes and develop recommendations to Housing Published: July 5, encourage homeowners to build more ADUs. encourage ADU construction. Through this 2018] interagency working group, staff have developed prelimenary checklists for each respective department's requirements to expedite and streamline ADU approval. DBI is participating in a working group with Supervisor Tang to address improvements to the ordinance which expands the OTC approval process to include other city agencies (PUC, Public Works- RSM. Fire Department and Planning). Planning and DBI will jointly review their codes and submit joint recommendations to the Board of Supervisors no later than April 1, 2019 for code amendments designed to encourage homeowners to build more ADU's. Mitigating the
R2
Housing Crisis: number of moderately priced rental housing [Response due: October 3.
F3
R6 lousing Crisis: ADU construction, and as a result, the number of nspection [F3, F4] Inspection work with the Department of the with the Department of the Controller to ndine nspection Accessory Dwelling ADU permit applications has been growing [Response due: September Controller to develop meaningful, outcome- [Response due: September develop meaningful, outcome- based 3. 2018] Units and Modular dramatically. Further improvements to this based performance metrics on ADU permit 3. 20181 performance metrics on ADU permit approval lousing program will help ADU construction to continue approval duration, to be reported on OpenData duration, to be reported on OpenData starting [Published: July 5. on a successful trajectory. January 2019. starting January 2019. 2018] Mitigating the The length of the permitting process for ADUs is Planning Department Recommends the five agencies involved with DBI, Planning, SFFD, DPW, and PUC currently
Related Recommendations (1)
R6
lousing Crisis: ADU construction, and as a result, the number of nspection [F3, F4] Inspection work with the Department of the with the Department of the Controller to ndine nspection Accessory Dwelling ADU permit applications has been growing [Response due: September Controller to develop meaningful, outcome- [Response due: September develop meaningful, outcome- based 3. 2018] Units and Modular dramatically. Further improvements to this based performance metrics on ADU permit 3. 20181 performance metrics on ADU permit approval lousing program will help ADU construction to continue approval duration, to be reported on OpenData duration, to be reported on OpenData starting [Published: July 5. on a successful trajectory. January 2019. starting January 2019. 2018] Mitigating the The length of the permitting process for ADUs is Planning Department Recommends the five agencies involved with DBI, Planning, SFFD, DPW, and PUC currently
F4
The length of the permitting process for ADUs is Department of Building Agree with the
Related Recommendations (2)
R4
Recommends the five agencies involved with Planning Department Has been Housing Crisis: umber of moderately priced rental housing Response due: Septembe inding [F2, F4, F5] ADU permitting establish a shared meeting Response due: September implemented have staff members located together at a share units in San Francisco, with no significant burden 3, 20181 space by January 1, 2019, and not wait for the meeting space on the fifth floor at 1660 Mission Accessory Dwelling 3. 20181 Jnits and Modular on City finances. Therefore, encouraging ADU completion of the new shared agency building. Street to expedite the ADU permit approval development is of value to San Francisco. This space would be used by point persons from Housing process. [Published: July 5, each of the five permitting agencies to expedite 20181 the ADU permit approval process. Mitigating the Housing Crisis: Accessory Dwelling Units and Modular Housing 2017-2018 CIVIL GRAND JURY FINDINGS, RECOMMENDATIONS, AND RESPONSES TO FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Report Title
R6
lousing Crisis: ADU construction, and as a result, the number of nspection [F3, F4] Inspection work with the Department of the with the Department of the Controller to ndine nspection Accessory Dwelling ADU permit applications has been growing [Response due: September Controller to develop meaningful, outcome- [Response due: September develop meaningful, outcome- based 3. 2018] Units and Modular dramatically. Further improvements to this based performance metrics on ADU permit 3. 20181 performance metrics on ADU permit approval lousing program will help ADU construction to continue approval duration, to be reported on OpenData duration, to be reported on OpenData starting [Published: July 5. on a successful trajectory. January 2019. starting January 2019. 2018] Mitigating the The length of the permitting process for ADUs is Planning Department Recommends the five agencies involved with DBI, Planning, SFFD, DPW, and PUC currently
F5
R4 Housing Crisis: one-stop permit center in its new building, nspection measures to expedite ADU approvals are needed [F2, F4, F5] ADU permitting establish a shared meeting Inspection implemented have staff members located together at a share Accessory Dwelling which would bring together all agencies involved Response due: Septembe shead of the opening of the one stop permit space by January 1, 2019, and not wait for the Response due: Septembe meeting space on the fifth floor at 1660 Mission center in 2020. The Department disagrees with Units and Modular 3. 2018 completion of the new shared agency building. in the permit process, and thereby expedite 3, 20181 Street to expedite the ADU permit approval Housing approvals, but the new building won't be ready the characterization that the Planning This space would be used by point persons from process. [Published: July 5, until 2020; therefore, interim measures to Department will be the entity establishing the each of the five permitting agencies to expedite 20181 expedite ADU approvals are needed. one stop permit center and the characterization the ADU permit approval process. that the new building will belong to the planning department, Rather, the one stop permit center will be established and run by the City Administrator. The building at 49 South Van Ness will belong to the City and will be managed by the Department of Real Estate. DBI, Planning, SFFD, DPW, and PUC currently Mitigating the
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
Recommends the five agencies involved with Planning Department Has been Housing Crisis: umber of moderately priced rental housing Response due: Septembe inding [F2, F4, F5] ADU permitting establish a shared meeting Response due: September implemented have staff members located together at a share units in San Francisco, with no significant burden 3, 20181 space by January 1, 2019, and not wait for the meeting space on the fifth floor at 1660 Mission Accessory Dwelling 3. 20181 Jnits and Modular on City finances. Therefore, encouraging ADU completion of the new shared agency building. Street to expedite the ADU permit approval development is of value to San Francisco. This space would be used by point persons from Housing process. [Published: July 5, each of the five permitting agencies to expedite 20181 the ADU permit approval process. Mitigating the Housing Crisis: Accessory Dwelling Units and Modular Housing 2017-2018 CIVIL GRAND JURY FINDINGS, RECOMMENDATIONS, AND RESPONSES TO FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Report Title
F6
The City's ADU program acknowledges the value Department of Building More research is required on the reasons more Disagree, partially Housing Crisis: to the City of increasing ADU construction. nspection single-family homeowners are not applying for Accessory Dwelling Homeowners who construct ADUs do so ADUs in San Francisco, which may mirror larger [Response due: September Units and Modular voluntarily and at their own expense. The 3, 2018] state and national trends. In our experience, Housing additional burden of heavy permit fees is ees have not been noted as a key barrier. The [Published: July 5, cost of building materials and construction labor counterproductive to the City's goal of 2018] increasing the rate of ADU construction, in that drive the cost of the ADU project, as these hard t represents an additional barrier to building costs plus the soft costs such as designer fees ADUs for single family homeowners, and and permit fees (which are often a percentage therefore likely reduces the number of of the hard costs) form a bulk of project costs; applications other project fees may include water and power connection charges, development impact fees, school district fees, which are dependent on scope of project. Anecdotal reasons that are discussed frequently as barriers include: the lack of financing through existing mechanisms, the burden of construction loan payments, limited public outreach, and the duration of ermit review Mitigating the Housing Crisis: Accessory Dwelling Units and Modular Housing 2017-2018 CIVIL GRAND JURY FINDINGS, RECOMMENDATIONS, AND RESPONSES TO FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Report Title Finding Respondent Assigned by Finding Response Finding Response Text
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
Housing Crisis: [F2, F6, F7] fees separately for ADUs in single family number of moderately priced rental housing Response due: October 3. housing crisis and the majority of the new Response due: October 3. analysis San Francisco Planning Department, and the inding Accessory Dwelling units in San Francisco, with no significant burden 2018] accessory dwelling housing stock will offer rent esidences and ADUs in multi-unit buildings, 2018] Office of the Controller should study the Units and Modular on City finances. Therefore, encouraging ADU controlled units. [Resolution No. 342-18] specifically designed to ease the permitting correlation between a reduction in permitting Housing development is of value to San Francisco. costs for single family homeowners. fees and an increase in ADU construction. [Published: July 5, Resolution No. 342-18 2018] DBI, Planning, SFFD, DPW, and PUC currently Mitigating the
F7
Cities that lower permitting fees for ADUs, as Department of Building Agree with the Housing Crisis: Portland, Seattle and Vancouver, BC have done, nspection nding Accessory Dwelling Response due: Septembe see an increase in the number of permit Jnits and Modular applications by single family homeowners; if San 3, 2018] Francisco reduces permitting fees for that type Housing [Published: July 5, of ADU permit applications, they are likely to 20181 ncrease. Mitigating the
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
Housing Crisis: [F2, F6, F7] fees separately for ADUs in single family number of moderately priced rental housing Response due: October 3. housing crisis and the majority of the new Response due: October 3. analysis San Francisco Planning Department, and the inding Accessory Dwelling units in San Francisco, with no significant burden 2018] accessory dwelling housing stock will offer rent esidences and ADUs in multi-unit buildings, 2018] Office of the Controller should study the Units and Modular on City finances. Therefore, encouraging ADU controlled units. [Resolution No. 342-18] specifically designed to ease the permitting correlation between a reduction in permitting Housing development is of value to San Francisco. costs for single family homeowners. fees and an increase in ADU construction. [Published: July 5, Resolution No. 342-18 2018] DBI, Planning, SFFD, DPW, and PUC currently Mitigating the
F8
The ADU program already includes much Will be implemented Over the last six months, DBI, Planning, Fire The City's Building and related construction Disagree, partially
No recommendations for this finding
F9
The Planning Department's current public
Related Recommendations (1)
R10
Recommends the Planning Department expand Planning Department Planning Department Housing Crisis: umber of moderately priced rental housing Response due: September [F2, F9] its public outreach on ADUs to increase Response due: September onducted the following to market and publicize
F10
While the idea to use the 1068 site for While the idea to use the 1068 site for Disagree, wholly
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
lousing Crisis: Mission Bay Block 9 homeless housing projects and Community onstruction trades training for residents is a [F10] managers of 1068 Mission Street and possibly and Community mplemented construction trades training for residents is a Accessory Dwelling may be suitable for construction trade "soft good one, the space has already been Mission Bay Block 9 to reserve ground floor Development because it is not good one, the space has already been Development Units and Modular skills" training—preparatory training for Response due: Septembe programmed to be used for the CHEF's program space for use in training construction workers. Response due: September warranted or programmed to be used for the CHEF's program , 2018] including training in ADU construction methods 3, 2018] Housing construction work. This could be facilitated by The CHEF's program is currently in operation at reasonable The CHEF's program is currently in operation at [Published: July 5. DHSH as part of the CityBuild program. The end other locations, replicable by ECS at the 1068 and modular unit construction work. other locations, replicable by ECS at the 1068 2018] result could be a strengthened labor force. site, and has a proven track record regarding site, and has a proven track record regarding employment for formerly homeless persons. employment for formerly homeless persons. Additionally, restrictions bestowed on the site Additionally, restrictions bestowed on the site when transferred from the federal when transferred from the federal government government mandate that the site be used only mandate that the site be used only to serve to serve formerly homeless individuals, which formerly homeless individuals, which would limi would limit participation in a construction participation training program. in a construction training program. Mission Bay Block 9 is similarly not available for Mission Bay Block 9 is similarly not available for a construction training program because the a construction training program because the demand for robust supportive services at demand for robust supportive services at Mission Bay South Block 9 requires the entirety Mission Bay South Block 9 requires the entirety of the project's ground floor space not of the project's ground floor space not otherwise used for mechanical and utility uses. otherwise used for mechanical and utility uses. The non-mechanical/utility ground floor uses The non-mechanical/utility ground floor uses include suites to accommodate supportive include suites to accommodate supportive services, property management functions, exam services, property management functions, exam rooms, community room and kitchen, and a rooms, community room and kitchen, and a lounge. lounge. Mitigating the Housing Crisis: Accessory Dwelling Units and Modular Housing 2017-2018 CIVIL GRAND JURY FINDINGS, RECOMMENDATIONS, AND RESPONSES TO FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Report Title
F11
Mayor's Office of Housing Disagree, partially Factory-built housing is required to be certified
Related Recommendations (1)
R8
Will not be It is critical that housing units built in factories Housing Crisis: constructed modules from outside the City, the [F11] Inspection regularly inspect modular factories outside of San Francisco comply with our local and Community and receive a State insignia of approval to show and Community implemented Accessory Dwelling factory construction of those modules is subject ompliance with State building code outside the City, if those factories are building Development ecause it is not code and are built to a standard that ensures Development Units and Modular to state building codes but not local building requirements. The City's goal is to have fully safety and quality. However, it will be far more housing for the City, to ensure construction is Response due: September warranted or Response due: September codes. If local building codes are not taken into 3. 2018 built to comply with City codes. 3. 20181 efficient to have DRI participate in reviewing Housing code-compliant modular housing that is high reasonable [Published: July 5, quality and long lasting. To accomplish this, account at the factory, there can be code and approving the plans and inspection 2018] during production of housing modules bound compliance problems at the project site. procedures at the factory before manufacturing for San Francisco, City codes will be adhered to begins. at the factory to ensure there is no code ompliance issue at the project site. Mitigating the Housing Crisis: Accessory Dwelling Units and Modular Housing 2017-2018 CIVIL GRAND JURY FINDINGS, RECOMMENDATIONS, AND RESPONSES TO FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Report Title
F12
Some current trade union contracts prevent the While opposition from some building trades has Housing Crisis: City from using modular construction for City- and Community lowed adoption of modular housing Accessory Dwelling sponsored below market housing projects, and Development technologies, no specific trade contracts exist Inits and Modular further slow progress on below market housing. Response due: September that prevent the City's use of modular housing. Housing 3. 2018 [Published: July 5 2018] Mitigating the
Related Recommendations (1)
R11
Recommends the Mayor support the Mayor Has been In January 2018, Mayor Breed announced her [F12, F14] establishment of a union-staffed modular City from using modular construction for City- Response due: September Housing Crisis: Response due: Septembe lowed adoption of modular housing implemented support of the development of a plan to Accessory Dwelling sponsored below market housing projects, and technologies, no specific trade contracts exist housing factory in San Francisco. 3, 2018] establish a modular housing factory within the 3, 2018 City limits staffed by union labor. The City has Units and Modular further slow progress on below market housing. that prevent the City's use of modular housing. Housing hired a consultant to review whether a modular Published: July 5, factory staffed by 20181 union workers is feasible. The city expects the consultants to work to conclude by the end of this year Mitigating the
F13
It may take as many as five residential modular Mayor's Office of Housing Agree with the Housing Crisis: onstruction projects for the City to accurately and Community nding Accessory Dwelling assess this alternate construction method. Development Jnits and Modular including an assessment of cost and time Response due: Septembe 3, 2018] Housing benefits. In addition to the 1068 Mission project, Published: July 5, it will be helpful to this assessment if the 20181 pending homeless housing project at Mission Bay Block 9 is built using modular construction methods Mitigating the It may take as many as five residential modular Office of Community Recommends the Office of Community Office of Community In OCII's Request for Proposals for Mission Bay
Related Recommendations (1)
R7
Has been South Block 9 issued in 2017, OCII included a Housing Crisis: construction projects for the City to accurately [F13] Investment and Infrastructure make its best nvestment and inding nvestment and mplemented Accessory Dwelling assess this alternate construction method, effort to encourage the developer to use requirment for developers to pursue alternative nfrastructure Infrastructure Units and Modular including an assessment of cost and time Response due: Septembe modular construction for the Mission Bay Block Response due: Septembe construction technologies such as modular. As a Housing benefits. In addition to the 1068 Mission project. 3, 2018] 9 homeless housing project. 3, 20181 result, the selected developer team's architect [Published: July 5, it will be helpful to this assessment if the has designed the project for modular 20181 pending homeless housing project at Mission construction to comply with the RFP. Bay Block 9 is built using modular construction methods Mitigating the
F14
The building trade unions are open to talks with Mayor's Office of Housing Agree with the Housing Crisis: the City to establish a factory for modular unit and Community ndine Accessory Dwelling construction in San Francisco, staffed by union evelopment) Units and Modular workers, and committed to best practices, and Response due: September Housing this is a promising start to trade union 3, 2018] Published: July 5, acceptance of modular construction technology 20181 Mitigating the Housing Crisis: Accessory Dwelling Units and Modular Housing 2017-2018 CIVIL GRAND JURY FINDINGS, RECOMMENDATIONS, AND RESPONSES TO FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Respondent Assigned by Finding Response Report Title F# Finding Finding Response Text R#
Related Recommendations (1)
R11
Recommends the Mayor support the Mayor Has been In January 2018, Mayor Breed announced her [F12, F14] establishment of a union-staffed modular City from using modular construction for City- Response due: September Housing Crisis: Response due: Septembe lowed adoption of modular housing implemented support of the development of a plan to Accessory Dwelling sponsored below market housing projects, and technologies, no specific trade contracts exist housing factory in San Francisco. 3, 2018] establish a modular housing factory within the 3, 2018 City limits staffed by union labor. The City has Units and Modular further slow progress on below market housing. that prevent the City's use of modular housing. Housing hired a consultant to review whether a modular Published: July 5, factory staffed by 20181 union workers is feasible. The city expects the consultants to work to conclude by the end of this year Mitigating the

Additional Recommendations 1

These recommendations are not explicitly linked to specific findings.

Agency Responses 1

Government agencies' official responses to this report's findings and recommendations. Click on a response to see the structured breakdown.