Opinion | San Francisco Nimbys abuse this law to block development

Key Issue: Misuse of CEQA in San Francisco

The article focuses on how the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) is being abused in San Francisco to block development projects, particularly grocery stores and housing. It highlights several examples, including the delayed opening of a Whole Foods and the obstruction of a 495-unit housing project.

Examples of Abuse

• Whole Foods Delay: A Whole Foods project was delayed due to a CEQA appeal citing environmental concerns, but the author argues the real motive was a labor dispute with Amazon.
• Housing Projects: A 495-unit project and an 11-unit project were delayed by CEQA appeals, citing concerns unrelated to the environment (parking lot replacement and shadows on a basketball court).
• Fillmore Safeway Closure: The impending closure of a Safeway is highlighted as an example of the lack of political will to support essential businesses.

The author argues these appeals are often “drive-by” appeals, leveraging the CEQA process for reasons unrelated to environmental protection.

Proposed Solutions

• Raise the Appeal Threshold: The author suggests requiring signatures from neighbors or posting a bond to discourage frivolous appeals.
• State Legislative Changes: The article calls for state legislation to exempt certain projects from CEQA review, particularly in already developed urban areas.

The central argument is that the current system enables obstructionism that harms the city by creating food deserts and limiting housing supply. The author advocates for changes to prevent further misuse of CEQA to promote timely development.