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"Visitacion Valley." The area bounded by Carter Street and McLaren Park to the west, Mansell Street to the north, Route 101 between Mansell Street and Bayshore Boulevard to the northeast, Bayview Park to the north, Candlestick Park and Candlestick Point Recreation Area to the east, the San Francisco Bay to the southeast, and the San Francisco County line to the south.
"Visitor services." An economic activity category under the TIDF that includes, but is not limited to, Hotel use; Motel use, as defined in Section 102 of this Code; and time-share projects, as defined in Section 11003.5(a) of the California Business and Professions Code.
W
"Waiver Agreement." An agreement acceptable in form and substance to the City Attorney and the Planning Department under which the City agrees to waive all or a portion of the Community Improvements Impact Fee.
(Added by Ord. 108-10, File No. 091275, App. 5/25/2010; amended by Ord. 270-10, File No. 100917, App. 11/5/2010; Ord. 312-10, File No. 100046, App. 12/23/2010; Ord. 321-10, File No. 101095, App. 12/21/2010; Ord. 3-11, File No. 101247, App. 1/7/2011; Ord. 25-11, File No. 101464, App. 2/24/2011; Ord. 196-11
, File No. 110786, App. 10/4/2011, Eff. 11/3/2011; Ord. 188-12
, File No. 111374, App. 9/11/2012, Eff. 10/11/2012; Ord. 247-12
, File No. 120523, App. 12/18/2012, Eff. 1/17/2013; Ord. 42-13
, File No. 130002, App. 3/28/2013, Eff. 4/27/2013; Ord. 62-13
, File No. 121162, App. 4/10/2013, Eff. 5/10/2013; Motion M13-097, File No. 130647, Ad. 7/23/2013, Eff. 8/22/2013; Ord. 22-15, File No. 141253, App. 2/20/2015, Eff. 3/22/2015; Ord. 50-15
, File No. 150149, App. 4/24/2015, Eff. 5/24/2015; Ord. 52-15
, File No. 141266, App. 4/30/2015, Eff. 5/30/2015; Ord. 164-15
, File No. 150348, App. 9/23/2015, Eff. 10/23/2015, Retro. 5/20/2015; Ord. 188-15
, File No. 150871, App. 11/4/2015, Eff. 12/4/2015; Ord. 200-15
, File No. 150790, App. 11/25/2015, Eff. 12/25/2015; Ord. 222-15
, File No. 155521, App. 12/18/2015, Eff. 1/17/2016; Ord. 2-16
, File No. 150793, App. 1/19/2016, Eff. 2/18/2016; Ord. 83-17, File No. 170003, App. 3/24/2017, Eff. 4/23/2017; Ord. 202-18, File No. 180557, App. 8/10/2018, Eff. 9/10/2018; Ord. 296-18, File No. 180184, App. 12/12/2019, Eff. 1/12/2019; Ord. 7-19, File No. 180917, App. 1/25/2019, Eff. 2/25/2019; Ord. 63-20, File No. 200077, App. 4/24/2020, Eff. 5/25/2020; Ord. 126-20, File No. 200559, App. 7/31/2020, Eff. 8/31/2020; Ord. 210-21, File No. 210868, App. 11/19/2021, Eff. 12/20/2021; Ord. 193-23, File No. 230764, App. 9/15/2023, Eff. 10/16/2023; Ord. 258-24, File No. 240802, App. 11/14/2024, Eff. 12/15/2024)
AMENDMENT HISTORY
Definition amended; Ord. 196-11
, Eff. 11/3/2011. Definition amended; definitions deleted; Ord. 188-12
, Eff. 10/11/2012. Definitions added, amended, and deleted; Ord. 247-12
, Eff. 1/17/2013. Definition amended; Ord. 42-13
, Eff. 4/27/2013. Definitions amended; Ord. 62-13
, Eff. 5/10/2013. Definition added; Motion M13-097, Eff. 8/22/2013. Definitions amended; Ord. 22-15, Eff. 3/22/2015. See individual definitions for subsequent history notes.
Editor's Note:
Ordinance 155-15 (File No. 150348, App. 8/6/2015, Eff. 9/5/2015) purported to amend this section. At the direction of the Office of the City Attorney, Ord. 155-15 was never codified (and accordingly is not referenced in the history notes above). Its provisions effectively were superseded by Ord. 164-15 (File No. 150348, App. 9/23/2015, Eff. 10/23/2015, Retro. 5/20/2015).
Ordinance 155-15 (File No. 150348, App. 8/6/2015, Eff. 9/5/2015) purported to amend this section. At the direction of the Office of the City Attorney, Ord. 155-15 was never codified (and accordingly is not referenced in the history notes above). Its provisions effectively were superseded by Ord. 164-15 (File No. 150348, App. 9/23/2015, Eff. 10/23/2015, Retro. 5/20/2015).
(a) General Findings. The Board makes the following findings related to the fees imposed under Article 4.
(1) Application. The California Mitigation Fee Act, Government Code Section 66000 et seq. may apply to some or all of the fees in this Article 4. While the Mitigation Fee Act may not apply to all fees, the Board has determined that general compliance with its provisions is good public policy in the adoption, imposition, collection, and reporting of fees collected under this Article 4. By making findings required under the Act, including the findings in this Subsection and findings supporting a reasonable relationship between new development and the fees imposed under this Article 4, the Board does not make any finding or determination as to whether the Mitigation Fee Act applies to all of the Article 4 fees.
(2) Timing of Fee Collection. For any of the fees in this Article 4 collected prior to the issuance of the certificate of occupancy, the Board of Supervisors makes the following findings set forth in California Government Code Section 66007(b): the Board of Supervisors finds, based on information from the Planning Department in Board File No. 150149, that it is appropriate to require the payment of the fees in Article 4 at the time of issuance of the first construction document because the fee will be collected for public improvements or facilities for which an account has been established and funds appropriated and for which the City has adopted a proposed construction schedule or plan prior to the final inspection or issuance of the certificate of occupancy or because the fee is to reimburse the City for expenditures previously made for such public improvements or facilities.
(3) Administrative Fee. The Board finds, based on information from the Planning Department in Board File No. 150149, that the City agencies administering the fee will incur costs equaling 5% or more of the total amount of fees collected in administering the funds established in Article 4. Thus, the 5% administrative fee included in the fees in this Article 4 do not exceed the cost of the City to administer the funds.
(b) Specific Findings. The Board of Supervisors has reviewed the San Francisco Citywide Nexus Analysis (“Nexus Analysis”) and the San Francisco Infrastructure Level of Service Analysis (“Level of Service Analysis”), both on file with the Clerk of the Board in File No. 230764 and adopts the findings and conclusions of those studies, specifically the sections of those studies establishing levels of service for and a nexus between new development and four infrastructure categories: Recreation and Open Space, Childcare, Complete Streets, and Transit Infrastructure. The Board of Supervisors finds that, as required by California Government Code Section 66001, for each infrastructure category analyzed, the Nexus Analysis and Infrastructure Level of Service Analysis: identify the purpose of the fee; identify the use or uses to which the fees are to be put, including a reasonable level of service; determine how there is a reasonable relationship between the fee’s use and the type of development project on which the fee is imposed; determine how there is a reasonable relationship between the need for the public facility and the type of development project on which the fee is imposed; and determine how there is a reasonable relationship between the amount of the fee and the cost of the public facility or portion of the facility attributable to the development. Specifically, as discussed in more detail in and supported by the Nexus Analysis and Infrastructure Level of Service Analysis the Board adopts the following findings:
(1) Recreation and Open Space Findings.
(A) Purpose. The fee will help maintain adequate park capacity required to serve new service population resulting from new development.
(B) Use. The fee will be used to fund projects that directly increase park capacity in response to demand created by new development. Park and recreation capacity can be increased either through the acquisition of new park land, or through capacity enhancements to existing parks and open space. Examples of how development impact fees would be used include: acquisition of new park and recreation land; lighting improvements to existing parks, which extend hours of operation on play fields and allow for greater capacity; recreation center construction, or adding capacity to existing facilities; and converting passive open space to active open space including but not limited to through the addition of trails, play fields, and playgrounds.
(C) Reasonable Relationship. As new development adds more employment and/or residents to San Francisco, it will increase the demand for park facilities and park capacity. Fee revenue will be used to fund the acquisition and additional capacity of these park facilities. Each new development project will add to the incremental need for recreation and open space facilities described above. Improvements considered in the Nexus Study are estimated to be necessary to maintain the City's effective service standard.
(D) Proportionality. The new facilities and costs allocated to new development are based on the existing ratio of the City’s service population to acres of existing recreation and open space. The scale of the capital facilities and associated costs are proportional to the projected levels of new development and the existing relationship between service population and recreation and open space. The cost of the deferred maintenance required to address any operational shortfall within the City’s recreation and open space provision will not be financed by development fees.
(2) Childcare Findings.
(A) Purpose. The fee will support the provision of childcare facility needs resulting from an increase in San Francisco's residential and employment population.
(B) Use. The childcare impact fee will be used to fund capital projects related to infant, toddler, and preschool-age childcare. Funds will pay for the expansion of childcare slots for infant, toddler, and preschool children.
(C) Reasonable Relationship. New residential and commercial development in San Francisco will increase the demand for infant, toddler and preschool-age childcare. Fee revenue will be used to fund the capital investment needed for these childcare facilities. Residential developments will result in an increase in the residential population, which results in growth in the number of children requiring childcare. Commercial development results in an increase of the employee population, which similarly require childcare near their place of work. Improvements considered in this study are estimated to be necessary to maintain the City's provision of childcare at its effective service standard.
(D) Proportionality. The costs allocated to new development are based on the estimated childcare demand generated by future development 1 Capital costs required to provide these childcare spaces to accommodate the new population are based on the City’s cost of funding new childcare facilities and assigned to new housing units and new non-residential development on a per-square-foot basis. The scale of the capital facilities and associated costs are directly proportional to the expected levels of new development and the corresponding increase in childcare demands.
(3) Complete Streets Findings.
(A) Purpose. “Complete Streets” encompass sidewalk improvements, such as lighting, landscaping, and safety measures, and sustainable street elements more broadly, including bike lanes, sidewalk paving and gutters, lighting, street trees and other landscaping, bulb-outs, and curb ramps. The primary purpose of the Complete Streets impact fee is to fund capital investments in bicycle, streetscape, and pedestrian infrastructure to accommodate the growth in street activity.
(B) Use. The Complete Streets fees will be used to implement the Better Streets Plan (2010), on file in Board File No. 230764, including enhancement of the pedestrian network in the areas surrounding new development – whether through sidewalk improvements, construction of complete streets, or pedestrian safety improvements – and development of new premium bike lanes, upgraded intersections, additional bicycle parking, and new bicycle sharing program stations..1
(C) Reasonable Relationship. New residential and non-residential development brings an increased demand for new or expanded and improved Complete Streets infrastructure. This relationship between new development, an influx of residents and workers, and a demand for complete streets infrastructure provides the nexus for an impact fee. Complete Streets impact fees, imposed on new development, fund the construction of new and enhanced complete streets infrastructure for the additional residents and workers directly attributable to new development.
(D) Proportionality. The fees allocated to new development are based on the existing ratio of the City’s service population to a conservative estimate of its current Complete Streets infrastructure provision to date – in the form of square feet of Complete Streets sidewalk per thousand service population units. The costs associated with this level of improvement are drawn from the cost per square foot associated with constructing Complete Streets elements based on data from the San Francisco Planning Department, Department of Public Works, Public Utilities Commission, and Municipal Transportation Agency. Due to the locational variation in the cost of building Complete Street elements, the fee calculation includes a 20 percent markup for the downtown area..1
The scale of the capital facilities and associated costs are directly proportional to the expected levels of new development and the existing relationship between service population and Complete Streets infrastructure. The cost of the deferred maintenance required to address any operational shortfall is not allocated to be funded by new development.
(4) Transit Infrastructure Findings.
(A) Purpose. Transit Infrastructure funds will be used to meet the demand for transit capital maintenance, transit capital facilities and fleet, and pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure generated by new development in the City.
(B) Use. Transit Infrastructure fees will fund transit capital maintenance and transit capital facilities to maintain the existing level of service. Revenues for capital maintenance operating costs will improve vehicle reliability to expand transit services. Revenues for capital facilities will be used for transit fleet expansion, improvements to increase SFMTA transit speed and reliability, and improvements to regional transit operators. Though the fees are calculated based on transit maintenance and facilities, fee revenues may be used for pedestrian and bicycle improvements to complement revenue from the Complete Streets fee, including Area Plan complete street fees.
(C) Reasonable Relationship. The Transit Infrastructure fee is reasonably related to the financial burden that development projects impose on the City. As development generates new trips, the SFMTA must increase the supply of transit services and therefore capital maintenance expenditures to maintain the existing transit level of service. Development also increases the need for expanded transit facilities due to increased transit and auto trips.
(D) Proportionality. The existing level of service for transit capital maintenance is based on the current ratio of the supply of transit services (measured by transit revenue service hours) to the level of transportation demand (measured by number of automobile plus transit trips). The fair share cost of planned transit capital facilities is allocated to new development based on trip generation from new development as a percent of total trip generation served by the planned facility, including existing development. The variance in the fee by economic activity category based on trip generation, and the scaling of the fee based on the size of the development project, supports proportionality between the amount of the fee and the share of transit capital maintenance and facilities attributable to each development project.
(5) Additional Findings. The Board finds that the Nexus Analysis and Level of Service Analysis establish that the fees are less than the cost of mitigation and do not include the costs of remedying any existing deficiencies. The City may fund the cost of remedying existing deficiencies through other public and private funds. The Board also finds that the Nexus Analysis and Level of Service Analysis establish that the fees do not duplicate other City requirements or fees. The Board further finds that there is no duplication in fees applicable on a Citywide basis and fees applicable within an Area Plan. Moreover, the Board finds that these fees are only one part of the City’s broader funding strategy to address these issues. Residential and non-residential impact fees are only one of many revenue sources necessary to address the City’s infrastructure needs.
(Added by Ord. 50-15
, File No. 150149, App. 4/24/2015, Eff. 5/24/2015; amended by Ord. 188-15
, File No. 150871, App. 11/4/2015, Eff. 12/4/2015; Ord. 200-15
, File No. 150790, App. 11/25/2015, Eff. 12/25/2015; Ord. 222-15
, File No. 155521, App. 12/18/2015, Eff. 1/17/2016; Ord. 193-23, File No. 230764, App. 9/15/2023, Eff. 10/16/2023)
AMENDMENT HISTORY
Nonsubstantive changes; Ord. 188-15
, Eff. 12/4/2015. Division (b) amended; new division (b)(5) added; former division (b)(5) redesignated as (b)(6) and amended; Ord. 200-15
, Eff. 12/25/2015 and Ord. 222-15
, Eff. 1/17/2016. Divisions (b), (b)(1)(D), (b)(2)(D), (b)(3)-(b)(3)(D) amended; (b)(4)-(b)(4)(D) deleted; (b)(5)-(6) amended as (b)(4)-(5); Ord. 193-23, Eff. 10/16/2023.
CODIFICATION NOTE
1. So in Ord. 193-23.
(a) Collection by the Development Fee Collection Unit. Except as otherwise authorized in Section 411.9, all development impact and in-lieu fees authorized by this Code shall be collected by the Development Fee Collection Unit at DBI in accordance with Section 107A.13 of the San Francisco Building Code.
(b) Required Department Notice to Development Fee Collection Unit; Request to Record Notice of Fee.
(1) Required Notice. When the Planning Department determines that a development project is subject to one or more development fees or development impact requirements as set forth in Section 402(e), the Department shall send written or electronic notification to the Development Fee Collection Unit at DBI, and also to MOH, MTA or other applicable agency that administers an applicable development fee or development impact requirement, that:
(i) identifies the development project,
(ii) lists which specific development fees and/or development impact requirements are applicable and the legal authorization for their application,
(iii) specifies the dollar amount of the development fee or fees that the Department calculates is owed to the City or that the project sponsor has elected to satisfy a development impact requirement through the provision of physical or "in-kind" improvements, and
(iv) lists the name and contact information for the staff person at each agency or department responsible for calculating the development fee or monitoring compliance with the development impact requirement for physical or in-kind improvements.
(2) Amended Notices. The Department shall send an amended notice to the Development Fee Collection Unit, and also to any department or agency that received the initial notice, if at any time subsequent to its initial notice:
(i) any of the information required by subsection (1) above is changed or modified, or
(ii) the development project is modified by the Department or Commission during its review of the project and the modifications change the dollar amount of the development fee or the scope of any development impact requirement.
(3) Optional Recordation of Notice of Special Restrictions Prior to Issuance of Building or Site Permit. Prior to issuance of a building or site permit for a development project subject to a development fee or development impact requirement, the Department may request the Project Sponsor to record a notice with the County Recorder that a development project is subject to a development fee or development impact requirement. The County Recorder shall serve or mail a copy of such notice to the persons liable for payment of the fee or satisfaction of the requirement and the owners of the real property described in the notice. The notice shall include:
(i) a description of the real property subject to the development fee or development impact requirement,
(ii) a statement that the development project is subject to the imposition of the development fee or development impact requirement, and
(iii) a statement that the dollar amount of the fee or the specific development impact requirement to which the project is subject has been determined under Article 4 of this Code and citing the applicable section number.
(c) Process for Revisions of Determination of Development Impact Fee(s) or Development Impact Requirement(s). In the event that the Department or the Commission takes action affecting any development project subject to this Article and such action is subsequently modified, superseded, vacated, or reversed by the Board of Appeals, the Board of Supervisors, or by court action, the building permit or building permit application for such development project shall be remanded to the Department to determine whether the development project has been changed in a manner which affects the calculation of the amount of development fees or development impact requirements required under this Article and, if so, the Department shall revise the requirement imposed on the permit application in compliance with this Article within 30 days of such remand and notify the project sponsor in writing of such revision or that a revision is not required. The Department shall notify the Development Fee Collection Unit at DBI if the revision materially affects the development fee requirements originally imposed under this Article so that the Development Fee Collection Unit update the Project Development Fee Report and re-issue the associated building or site permit for the project, if necessary, to ensure that any revised development fees or development impact requirements are enforced.
(d) Timing of Fee Payments. All impact fees are due and payable to the Development Fee Collection Unit at DBI at the time of, and in no event later than, issuance of the “first construction document” as defined in Section 401 of this Code and Section 107A.13.1 of the Building Code provided that a project sponsor may defer payment of the fee, excluding any fees that must be deposited in the Citywide Affordable Housing Fund (Administrative Code Section 10.100-49), to a later date pursuant to Section 107A.13.3 of the Building Code.
(e) Amount and Applicability of Impact Fees. When the Planning Department determines that a project is subject to development impact fees established in the Planning Code, with the exception of the Inclusionary Housing Fee as set forth in Section 415 et seq., the assessment shall be based on the types of fees and the rates of those fees in effect at the time of Final Approval. After Final Approval, the City shall not impose subsequently established development impact fees or increase the rate of existing fees on the development project, including annual inflation adjustments pursuant to Section 409, except as provided in subsection (e)(1)-(2) of this Section 402. The Planning Department shall transmit the fee assessment to the Development Fee Collection Unit at DBI in accordance with this Section 402.
(1) Modification, Renewal, Extension for Projects. After the Final Approval, if a development project requires a modification to, renewal, or extension of a previously approved Development Application, the Planning Department shall reassess development impact fees pursuant to subsection (e)(2). For the purposes of this subsection (e)(1), a “modification” shall not include a legislatively-authorized reduction or waiver of fees, including any waivers pursuant to Section 406.
(2) Amount of Reassessment. For any development project that requires a modification to, renewal, or extension pursuant to subsection (e)(1), the Planning Department shall reassess fees as follows:
(A) Modified Projects. For projects increasing Gross Floor Area of any use, the Planning Department shall assess the new or increased Gross Floor Area by applying the types of impact fees in effect at the time of Final Approval at the rates in effect at the time of modification. For projects reducing Gross Floor Area, the Planning Department shall assess the types and rates of fees in effect at the time of Final Approval only on the remaining Gross Floor Area. If the modified project would result in a new type of fee or a different rate based on applicable thresholds in effect at the time of Final Approval, the entire project square footage is subject to the new type of fee or different rate in effect at the time of modification. The City shall refund fees, if any, without interest, based on the fees in effect at the time of Final Approval.
(B) Renewal and Extended Projects. For projects receiving a renewal or extension, the Planning Department shall reassess fees for the entire project’s Gross Floor Area based on the type of fees and rates of those fees in effect at the time of renewal or extension.
(3) Projects Approved Prior to Effective Date of Ordinance in Board File No. 230764. For projects that have obtained a Final Approval, but that have not yet obtained a first site or building permit prior to the effective date of the ordinance in Board File No. 230764, the assessed types and rates of impact fees shall not be increased after that effective date, unless such project requires a modification, extension, or renewal pursuant to subsection (e)(1)-(2) of this Section 402. For projects that have obtained a Final Approval and a site or building permit prior to the effective date of the ordinance in Board File No. 230764, the types and rate of fees are those assessed at the time of site or building permit issuance, subject to legislative reduction or waiver of fees, unless such project requires a modification, extension, or renewal pursuant to subsection (e)(1)-(2) of this Section 402.
(4) Applicability to Development Agreements.
(A) For projects subject to development agreements executed prior to the effective date of the ordinance in Board File No. 230764, the Planning Department shall assess the applicable fees pursuant to the development agreement and no later than the earlier of site or building permit issuance.
(B) Except as may otherwise be agreed to by the parties, for a project subject to a development agreement executed on or after the effective date of the ordinance in Board File No. 230764, the Planning Department shall assess the applicable fees at the earlier of site or building permit issuance.
(C) The procedures set forth in subsection (e)(1)-(2) shall govern the modification, renewal, or extension of a project subject to a development agreement.
(D) In the event of a conflict between this Section 402(e) and the terms of a development agreement, the terms of the development agreement shall apply, unless the development agreement is modified pursuant to the terms of that agreement.
AMENDMENT HISTORY
In addition to any other condition of approval that may otherwise be applicable, the Department or Commission shall require as a condition of approval of a development project subject to a development fee or development impact requirement under this Article that such development fee or fees be paid prior to the issuance of the first construction document for any building or buildings within the development project, in proportion to the amount required for each building if there are multiple buildings, with an option for the project sponsor to defer payment of 85 percent of the fees, or 80 percent of the fees if the project is subject to a neighborhood infrastructure impact development fee, to prior to issuance of the first certificate of occupancy, as provided by Section .13.3 of the San Francisco Building Code (“Fee Deferral Program”). The Fee Deferral Program shall not apply to fees that must be deposited in the Citywide Affordable Housing Fund (Administrative Code Section 10.100-49). Projects subject to development agreements executed pursuant to Chapter 56 of the Administrative Code shall be eligible for the Fee Deferral Program, except as may otherwise be agreed to by the parties to the development agreement. The Department or Commission shall also require as a condition of approval that any development impact requirement imposed on a development project under this Article shall be satisfied prior to issuance of the first certificate of occupancy for any building or buildings within the development project, in proportion to the amount required for each building if there are multiple buildings.
Temporary Fee Reduction Program. The following development fees assessed on or before November 1, 2026 shall be reduced by 33% for (1) projects that receive a First Construction Document, as defined in Building Code Section 107A.13.1, within 30 months of Final Approval, as defined in Section 415A.2; and (2) for Pipeline Projects as defined in Section 415A.2, if such Pipeline Projects receive a First Construction Document on or before May 1, 2029. Projects approved pursuant to a development agreement under Chapter 56 of the Administrative Code shall not be eligible for a fee reduction under this Section 403. Upon receipt of a First Construction Document, the Planning Department shall determine whether the project is eligible for the Temporary Fee Reduction Program, and update the fees assessment as applicable. If the project is found eligible, the following fees shall be reduced:
(1) The Transportation Sustainability Fee (Section 411A);
(2) The Downtown Park Fee (Section 412);
(3) The Jobs Housing Linkage Program (Section 413);
(4) The Childcare Requirement for Office and Hotel Development Projects (Section 414);
(5) The Childcare Requirements for Residential Projects (Section 414A);
(6) Market and Octavia Area Plan and Upper Market Neighborhood Commercial District Affordable Housing Fee (Section 416);
(7) Eastern Neighborhoods Area Plan Affordable Housing Requirement (Section 417);
(8) Rincon Hill Community Improvements Fund and SOMA Community Stabilization Fund (Section 418);
(9) Visitation Valley Community Facilities and Infrastructure Fee and Fund (Section 420);
11 Balboa Park Community Improvements Fund (Section 422);
12 Eastern Neighborhood Impact Fees and Public Benefits Fund (Section 423);
13 Van Ness & Market Affordable Housing and Neighborhood Infrastructure Fee and Program (Section 424);
15 Van Ness and Market Community Facilities Fee and Fund (Section 425);
17 Public Art Fee (Section 429);
18 Bicycle Parking fee (Section 430);
19 Central SOMA Community Services Facilities Fees and Fund (Section 432);
20 Central SOMA Infrastructure Fee and Fund (Section 433);
21 Union Square Park, Recreation, and Open Space Fee (Section 435);
Fees eligible for reduction under this section, including the amount with a reduction, shall be included in the Controller’s Citywide Development Fee and Development Impact Requirements Report described in Section 409(a).
AMENDMENT HISTORY
CODIFICATION NOTE
(a) Project Development Fee Report. Under Section 107A.13.7 of the San Francisco Building Code, prior to issuance of the building or site permit for a development project subject to any development fees or development impact requirements, the Development Fee Collection Unit at DBI shall prepare and provide to the project sponsor, or any member of the public upon request, a Project Development Fee Report.
(b) Resolution of Development Fee or Development Impact Requirement Dispute; Appeal to Board of Appeals. If a dispute or question arises concerning the accuracy of the final Project Development Fee Report, including the calculation of any development fee listed thereon, the dispute shall be resolved or appealed to the Board of Appeals in accordance with Section 107A.13.9 of the San Francisco Building Code. The jurisdiction of the Board shall be strictly limited to determining the accuracy of the Report and the mathematical calculation of the development fee or scope of the physical or "in-kind" requirement. The Board has no jurisdiction to: (1) review the scope or amount of the development fee or requirement established by the Code, (2) reduce, adjust, or waive a development fee or requirement on the ground that there is no reasonable relationship or nexus between the impact of development and either the amount of the fee charged or the physical requirement, (3) reduce or waive the development fee or requirement based on housing affordability, duplication of fees, or any other issue related to fairness or equity, or (4) review the nexus studies that support the development fee or requirement and the City's legal authority to impose it.
(c) Public Notice of the Project Development Fee Report. Any public notice issued by the Department of an approval action on a development project that is subject to a development fee or a development requirement under this Article shall notify the public of a right to request a copy of the Project Development Fee Report from the Development Fee Collection Unit at DBI. In addition to this notice, DBI shall provide final notice of the availability of the Project Development Fee Report as part of its standard notice of the issuance of a building or site permit for any project and of the right to appeal the accuracy of the Project Development Fee Report to the Board of Appeals as part of the underlying building or site permit in accordance with Section 107A.13.9 of the San Francisco Building Code.
(Added by Ord. 108-10, File No. 091275, App. 5/25/2010; amended by Ord. 50-15
, File No. 150149, App. 4/24/2015, Eff. 5/24/2015)
AMENDMENT HISTORY
If a project sponsor cancels or withdraws a building or site permit prior to completion of work and commencement of occupancy of a development project, or a building or site permit expires prior to completion of work and commencement of occupancy so that it will be necessary to obtain a new permit to carry out any new work on the development project, any obligation to comply with this Article shall be cancelled, and any development fee previously paid to the Development Fee Collection Unit at DBI shall be refunded to the project sponsor. If and when the project sponsor applies for a new building or site permit, the procedures set forth in this Article shall be followed for the new development project.
(Added by Ord. 108-10, File No. 091275, App. 5/25/2010)
(a) Waiver or Reduction Based on Absence of Reasonable Relationship.
(1) The sponsor of any development project subject to a development fee or development impact requirement imposed by this Article may appeal to the Board of Supervisors for a reduction, adjustment, or waiver of the requirement based upon the absence of any reasonable relationship or nexus between the impact of development and either the amount of the fee charged or the on-site requirement.
(2) Any appeal authorized by this Section shall be made in writing and filed with the Clerk of the Board no later than 15 days after the date the Department or Commission takes final action on the project approval that assesses the requirement. The appeal shall set forth in detail the factual and legal basis for the claim of waiver, reduction, or adjustment.
(3) The Board of Supervisors shall consider the appeal at a public hearing within 60 days after the filing of the appeal. The appellant shall bear the burden of presenting substantial evidence to support the appeal, including comparable technical information to support appellant's position. The decision of the Board shall be by a simple majority vote and shall be final.
(4) If a reduction, adjustment, or waiver is granted, any change in use within the project shall invalidate the waiver, adjustment, or reduction of the fee or inclusionary requirement. If the Board grants a reduction, adjustment or waiver, the Clerk of the Board shall promptly transmit the nature and extent of the reduction, adjustment or waiver to the Development Fee Collection Unit at DBI and the Unit shall modify the Project Development Fee Report to reflect the change.
(b) Waiver or Reduction, Based on Housing Affordability.
(1) An affordable housing unit shall receive a waiver from the Rincon Hill Community Infrastructure Impact Fee, the Market and Octavia Community Improvements Impact Fee, the Eastern Neighborhoods Infrastructure Impact Fee, the Balboa Park Impact Fee, the Visitacion Valley Community Facilities and Infrastructure Impact Fee, the Transportation Sustainability Fee, the Residential Child Care Impact Fee, the Central South of Market Infrastructure Impact Fee, and the Central South of Market Community Facilities Fee if:
(A) the affordable housing unit is affordable to a household earning up to 120% of the Area Median Income (as published by HUD), including units that qualify as replacement Section 8 units under the HOPE SF program;
(B) the affordable housing unit will maintain its affordability for a term of no less than 55 years, as evidenced by a restrictive covenant recorded on the property’s title;
(C) the Project Sponsor demonstrates to the Planning Department staff that a governmental agency will be enforcing the term of affordability and reviewing performance and service plans as necessary, and
(D) all construction workers employed in the construction of the development that includes the affordable housing unit are paid at least the general prevailing rate of per diem wages for the type of work and geographic location of the development, as determined by the Director of Industrial Relations pursuant to Sections 1773 and 1773.9 of the Labor Code, except that apprentices registered in programs approved by the Chief of the Division of Apprenticeship Standards may be paid at least the applicable apprentice prevailing rate under the terms and conditions of Labor Code Section 1777.5.
(2) Projects that meet the requirements of this subsection are eligible for a 100 percent fee reduction until an alternative fee schedule is published by the Department.
(3) Projects that are located within a HOPE SF Project Area are eligible for a 100 percent fee reduction from the TSF, applicable both to the affordable housing units and the market-rate units within such projects, and to any Non-Residential or PDR uses. Projects within a HOPE SF Project Area are otherwise subject to all other applicable fees per Article 4 of the Planning Code.
(4) Residential uses within projects where all residential units are affordable to households at or below 150% of the Area Median Income (as published by HUD) shall not be subject to the TSF. Non-residential and PDR uses within those projects shall be subject to the TSF. All uses shall be subject to all other applicable fees per Article 4 of the Planning Code.
(c) Waiver for Homeless Shelters. A Homeless Shelter, as defined in Section 102 of this Code, is not required to pay the Rincon Hill Community Infrastructure Impact Fee, the Transit Center District Impact Fees, the Market and Octavia Community Improvements Impact Fee, the Eastern Neighborhoods Infrastructure Impact Fee, the Balboa Park Impact Fee, the Visitacion Valley Community Facilities and Infrastructure Impact Fee and the Transportation Sustainability Fee.
(d) Waiver Based on Duplication of Fees. The City shall make every effort not to assess duplicative fees on new development. In general, project sponsors are only eligible for fee waivers under this Subsection if a contribution to another fee program would result in a duplication of charges for a particular type of community infrastructure. The Department shall publish a schedule annually of all known opportunities for waivers and reductions under this clause, including the specific rate. Requirements under Section 135 and 138 of this Code do not qualify for a waiver or reduction. Should future fees pose a duplicative charge, such as a Citywide open space or childcare fee, the same methodology shall apply and the Department shall update the schedule of waivers or reductions accordingly.
(e) Waiver or Reduction of Fees for a Public Park in the Central SoMa Plan Area. A development project may elect to provide land and other resources in order to construct a public park on an approximately 40,000 square-foot portion of Block 3777 as called for in the Central SoMa Plan, and in doing so may be eligible for a waiver against all or a portion of fees otherwise applicable to such development as set forth in this subsection 406(e). As part of the approval process for such a project, the Planning Commission may waive all or a portion of the Eastern Neighborhoods Infrastructure Impact Fee, the Central SoMa Infrastructure Impact Fee, the Transit Impact Development Fee, and the Transit Sustainability Fee, and may specify how such waiver would be distributed among the aforementioned fees, provided such total amount does not exceed the value of the park, which shall be calculated based on actual costs to acquire the land.
(f) Waiver Based on Calamity. The replacement of existing Residential, Non-Residential, or PDR uses on a lot subject to, and meeting all the provisions of, Planning Code Section 188(b) for the replacement of buildings damaged or destroyed by fire or other calamity, or by Act of God or the public enemy, shall not be considered in the determination of applicability of any impact fee in Article 4 of this Code and new Gross Floor Area within a building subject to and meeting all the provisions of Section 188(b) shall not be subject to any impact fee in Article 4. However, any additional land uses or addition of Gross Floor Area beyond what is needed to replace the damaged or destroyed building(s) shall be subject to any applicable Article 4 impact fees.
(g) Waiver for Projects in PDR Districts. In a PDR District, a development project that meets the eligibility criteria in subsection (g)(1) of this Section 406 shall receive a waiver from any development impact fee or development impact requirement imposed by this Article.
(1) Eligibility. To be eligible for the waiver in this subsection (g), the project shall:
(A) be located in a PDR District;
(B) contain a Retail Use or PDR Use and no residential uses;
(C) propose the new construction of at least 20,000 square feet of Gross Floor Area and no more than 200,000 square feet of Gross Floor Area;
(D) be located on a vacant site or site improved with buildings with less than a 0.25 to 1 Floor Area Ratio as of the date a complete Development Application is submitted;
(E) submit a complete Development Application on or before December 31, 2026, including any projects that have obtained Final Approval prior to the effective date of the ordinance in Board File No. 230764 that have not already paid development impact fees.
(2) Extent of Waiver. The waiver in this subsection (g) shall be limited to development impact fees or development impact requirements for the establishment of any new Gross Floor Area of PDR or Retail Use.
(3) Sunset. This subsection (g) shall expire by operation of law on December 31, 2026, unless the duration of the subsection has been extended by ordinance effective on or before that date. Upon expiration, the City Attorney shall cause subsection (g) to be removed from the Planning Code.
(h) Waiver for Projects in the C-2 and C-3 Districts. In the C-2 and C-3 Districts, a development project that meets the eligibility criteria in subsection (h)(1) of this Section 406 shall receive a waiver from any development impact fee or development impact requirement imposed by this Article.
(1) Eligibility. To be eligible for the waiver in this subsection (h), the project shall:
(A) be located in a C-2 or C-3 District;
(B) contain any of the following uses: Hotel, Restaurant, Bar, Outdoor Activity, or Entertainment;
(C) submit a complete Development Application on or before December 31, 2026, including any projects that have obtained Final Approval prior to the effective date of the ordinance in Board File No. 230764 that have not already paid development impact fees.
(2) Extent of Waiver. The waiver in this subsection (h) shall be limited to development impact fees or development impact requirements for the establishment of any new Gross Floor Area of the Hotel, Restaurant, Bar, Outdoor Activity, or Entertainment Use.
(3) Sunset. This subsection (h) shall expire by operation of law on December 31, 2026, unless the duration of the subsection has been extended by ordinance effective on or before that date. Upon expiration, the City Attorney shall cause subsection (h) to be removed from the Planning Code.
(i) Conditional Waiver or Reduction of Fees for Central SoMa Plan Area Projects Impacted by the Downtown Rail Extension. A development project that enters into an agreement with the Transbay Joint Powers Authority to construct foundation and shoring systems that will reduce the lateral force from the project onto the tunnel and not encroach on the tunnel alignment required for the Downtown Rail Extension, which agreement is to the satisfaction of the Department of Building Inspection, and submits a building or site permit application that includes the agreed-upon foundation and shoring systems, may be eligible for a conditional waiver of the Transportation Sustainability Fee (Sections 411A et seq.) and the Eastern Neighborhoods Infrastructure Impact Fee (Sections 423 et seq.), as set forth in this subsection (i). As part of the approval process for such a project, the Planning Commission may conditionally approve waiver of all or a portion of the Transportation Sustainability Fee and of the Eastern Neighborhoods Infrastructure Impact Fee, provided that such waiver is conditioned on the satisfaction of the actions in the preceding sentence. If the final approved building permit or site permit foundation addendum includes the agreed-upon foundation and shoring systems, the project shall receive a waiver of those fees in an amount commensurate with the net increase in cost of the agreed-upon foundation and shoring system as compared to a baseline foundation system, as calculated by the Planning Department. If the final approved building permit or site permit foundation addendum does not include the agreed upon foundation and shoring systems, the City shall withhold issuance of the first certificate of occupancy until the conditionally waived fees are paid.
(Added by Ord. 108-10, File No. 091275, App. 5/25/2010; amended by Ord. 3-11, File No. 101247, App. 1/7/2011; Ord. 47-11, File No. 110009, App. 3/16/2011; Ord. 14-15
, File No. 141210, App. 2/13/2015, Eff. 3/15/2015; Ord. 200-15
, File No. 150790, App. 11/25/2015, Eff. 12/25/2015; Ord. 222-15
, File No. 155521, App. 12/18/2015, Eff. 1/17/2016; Ord. 2-16
, File No. 150793, App. 1/19/2016, Eff. 2/18/2016; Ord. 26-18, File No. 171193, App. 2/23/2018, Eff. 3/26/2018; Ord. 296-18, File No. 180184, App. 12/12/2019, Eff. 1/12/2019; Ord. 63-20, File No. 200077, App. 4/24/2020, Eff. 5/25/2020; Ord. 47-21, File No. 201175, App. 4/16/2021, Eff. 5/17/2021; Ord. 193-23, File No. 230764, App. 9/15/2023, Eff. 10/16/2023; Ord. 248-23, File No. 230446, App. 12/14/2023, Eff. 1/14/2024; Ord. 39-24, File No. 231164, App. 3/7/2024, Eff. 4/7/2024)
AMENDMENT HISTORY
New division (c) added and former division (c) redesignated as (d); Ord. 14-15
, Eff. 3/15/2015. Division (b)(1) amended; new divisions (b)(3) and (4) added and former division (b)(3) redesignated as (b)(5); division (c) amended; Ord. 200-15
, Eff. 12/25/2015 and Ord. 222-15
, Eff. 1/17/2016. Divisions (b)(1) and (b)(1)(B) amended; Ord. 2-16
, Eff. 2/18/2016. Division (b)(1)(B) amended; Ord. 26-18, Eff. 3/26/2018. Division (e) added; Ord. 296-18, Eff. 1/12/2019. Division (b)(1)(B) amended; division (f) added; Ord. 63-20, Eff. 5/25/2020. Division (b)(1) amended; Ord. 47-21, Eff. 5/17/2021. Divisions (g)-(h)(3) added; Ord. 193-23, Eff. 10/15/2023. Divisions (b)(1), (b)(1)(A), and (b)(5) amended; divisions (b)(1)(B)-(C) deleted; new divisions (b)(1)(B)-(D) added; Ord. 248-23, Eff. 1/14/2024. New division (i) added; Ord. 39-24, Eff. 4/7/2024.
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