Plan to streamline environmental reviews for S.F. development projects hits opposition

By Laura Waxman : bizjournal – excerpt

A San Francisco ordinance aiming to standardize policies and requirements for proposed housing and development projects in a bid to expedite the environmental review process was stalled this week following community pushback.

Under the Standard Environmental Requirements Program Ordinance, introduced earlier this year, pre-determined mitigation requirements would be applied to projects that would otherwise face a longer and more intensive environmental evaluation. Currently, mitigation measures are applied on a project-by-project review basis, and streamlining the process is expected to allow mandated reviews to be conducted “roughly three months faster on average” for certain projects, said Planning Department spokesperson Candace SooHoo… (more)