CH Planning Pulls New Ace Up It’s Sleeve in Attempt to Build 50-story Residential Tower in SF’s Outer Sunset

The developer behind the plan to construct a 50-story condominium tower in San Francisco's Outer Sunset has initiated a new approach: leveraging a new law designed to expedite affordable housing projects.

CH Planning, headquartered in Reno and led by John and Raelynn Hickey, has included Assembly Bill 2011 in two lawsuits aimed at challenging the rejected development proposal for 2700 Sloat Boulevard, as reported by the San Francisco Business Times.

The New Goal: Under the recently enacted law that came into effect on July 1, the couple is seeking a streamlined approval process to redevelop the Sloat Garden Center, a project that involves constructing a controversial high-rise amidst low-lying residential homes and businesses, just a few blocks from the beach.

The Gist of Assembly Bill 2011: Assembly Bill 2011, also known as the Affordable Housing and High Road Jobs Act, expedites the approval of housing projects on commercial properties by allowing for ministerial approval if specific housing and labor standards are met.

How it May Apply to Sloat: AB 2011 applies to projects containing a minimum of five units, which must either consist of 100-percent affordable housing or include between 13 percent and 30 percent of on-site below-market units. Developers are also required to provide workers with prevailing wages and other benefits. Qualifying projects are exempt from complying with the California Environmental Quality Act.

The bill establishes specific timelines for project reviews and approvals. Projects with 150 units or fewer must undergo a review for code compliance within 60 days and receive approval within 90 days. Larger projects are subject to respective timelines of 90 and 180 days.

What’s Next for CH Planning: Dan Sider, Chief of Staff for the Planning Department, confirmed that the Sloat application is under review. He stated, "They've submitted an application for the project to be considered under AB 2011, concurrently with their lawsuits. They are essentially proposing that the project be evaluated under an entirely different pathway, coming in with a new project, enjoying ministerial approval and the density bonuses provided under that act."