California Proposes Exemption from Environmental Reviews to Revitalize Downtown San Francisco

State Sen. Scott Wiener introduces SB1227, aiming to bypass CEQA for a decade to expedite development and recovery in San Francisco's downtown area.

State Sen. Scott Wiener's new bill, SB1227, seeks to exempt most new real estate projects in downtown San Francisco from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for ten years.
The proposal targets revitalizing the city's core by facilitating quicker development, including housing, academic institutions, and mixed-use projects.
Mayor London Breed supports the bill, emphasizing the need for new investments to rejuvenate the struggling downtown corridors.
Critics argue the bill could undermine environmental protections, while supporters argue it's necessary for the city's economic recovery.
The bill also proposes expanding tax breaks for affordable and middle-income housing projects to encourage development.