Additionally, Brown challenged the Board of Supervisors, which opposes his planning policies, to help solve the city's housing issues. He urged board members to forward a legislation that contains a reasonable, long-term solution to the live/work housing issue.
The elements of the board's plan would include classifying live/work lofts as housing, which means developers would have face tougher land-use and off-street parking rules, thus requiring developers to pay more in fees and toughening rules banning lofts from being used as office space.
Critics have blasted the loft developments because it has driven up the cost of housing. Furthermore, they say the lofts, originally intended for artists, are actually being used as office space for dot-com and high technology companies.
Developers, however, favor the loft developments because it exempts them from some of the typical fees associated with pure residential construction projects, such as school fees and affordable housing requirements.
Brown expects the Board to respond within the next 60 days.
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