*Community & Economic Development Committee - 2026-02-24
Meeting Intelligence Preview
Meeting Summary
The Community & Economic Development Committee approved two planning code amendments for the March 3 City Council public hearing. The first amends the S-14 housing sites combining zone to allow conditional use permits for non-housing developments and updates work/live regulations. The second implements SB 79 (Abundant and Affordable Homes Near Transit Act) by creating a new S-8 combining zone, with the committee rejecting Council Member Ungar's amendment to exclude District 1 BART stations from certain exclusions.
Key Decisions (5)
Draft Minutes Approval - 02/10/2026 Meeting
Committee approved draft minutes from the February 10, 2026 committee meeting.
Outstanding Committee Items Schedule
Committee accepted the determination of scheduled outstanding committee items as presented.
S-14 Housing Sites Combining Zone Amendments
Amendments to Oakland Municipal Code Title 17, Chapter 17.96 to update the definition of development projects, add conditional use permit procedure for non-housing developments on housing element sites, and update work/live and live/work residential to non-residential unit areas to align with California Building Code. Forwarded to March 3 City Council as public hearing.
Council Member Ungar's SB 79 Amendment for District 1
Amendment proposed to not take exclusion one for Ashby, MacArthur, and Rockridge BART stations in District 1, which would have allowed SB 79 density standards along commercial corridors immediately. Amendment failed.
SB 79 Implementation - S-8 Combining Zone Regulations
Adopted ordinance adding Chapter 17.86 S-8 Abundant and Affordable Homes Near Transit combining zone to implement Senate Bill 79. Creates framework identifying sites eligible, ineligible, or excluded from SB 79 property development standards. Applies exclusions for low resource areas, historic sites, and parcels meeting 50% density threshold. Forwarded to March 3 City Council as public hearing.
Zoning Changes (2)
Citywide - S-14 Housing Sites Combining Zone parcels
City of Oakland Planning Department
Half-mile radius around BART stations and BRT stops citywide
City of Oakland Planning Department
Development Activity (1)
SB 79 Transit-Oriented Development Zones
Tier 1 (BART): 95 ft height/160 du/acre within 200 ft, 75 ft at quarter mile, 65 ft at half mile. Tier 2 (BRT): 85 ft within 200 ft, 65 ft at quarter mile, 55 ft at half mile. Effective July 1, 2026.
Market Signals (4)
Housing Demand
Oakland's existing zoning around transit stations already exceeds SB 79 density requirements in most areas, with some TOD zones at 307% of required aggregate density, indicating prior upzoning efforts have positioned the city well for transit-oriented development.
Commercial Demand
Staff noted concerns that S-14 housing site restrictions have constrained activation of vacant or underutilized commercial sites, including blocking a nonprofit expansion and a coffee shop development at 73rd and Bancroft.
Infrastructure
City is engaged in comprehensive general plan update Phase 2 including land use and transportation element with adoption anticipated in 2027, which will include transit-oriented development action planning.
Sentiment
Planning Commission unanimously recommended (6-0) against taking certain exclusions in high-resource North Oakland neighborhoods, suggesting tension between development pressure and neighborhood preservation concerns.