Mayor Daniel Lurie, seen here speaking during a news conference in Union Square in February 2025, this week announced his rezoning plan to boost housing in San Francisco.

On Thursday, Mayor Daniel Lurie’s administration unveiled its long-awaited plan to rezone broad swaths of San Francisco to allow denser and taller buildings — a crucial component of the city’s state-mandated plan to accommodate 82,000 new homes by 2031.  

The proposed rezoning is arguably Lurie’s biggest test yet — not just because of its inherent technical challenges, but also because his political future could depend on how residents respond. Few things rile up San Franciscans as much as land use.

Furthermore, the feasibility of Lurie’s plan will determine whether the city keeps control over its development process or cedes that authority to the state — which has demonstrated that it’s willing to take aggressive action to make an example out of San Francisco. 

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“Rezoning is not just a bureaucratic exercise,” Lurie told the editorial board. “It’s about making San Francisco an inclusive city with thriving neighborhoods where future generations can afford to live.” 

Does Lurie’s draft plan achieve this lofty goal and meet the state’s standards? 

Housing advocates largely say yes, and we’re inclined to agree.

The plan leaves untouched much of the east side of San Francisco, which is already zoned for taller and higher-density buildings. Instead, wealthier, low-slung districts that have barely seen development in decades are........

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