Freedom West Co-op Gets Its Day, Permit SF Goes Live, and a Rooftop Airstream Divides Cow Hollow

The San Francisco Planning Commission covered sweeping ground on Feb. 12, from the future of a historically Black housing cooperative to the launch of the city's first modern online permitting system — and closed the night debating whether an Airstream trailer belongs on a Victorian rooftop. Across more than five hours, commissioners approved a department budget bracing for a $400 million citywide deficit, loosened restrictions on a struggling Tenderloin affordable housing building, and split sharply on two projects that tested the line between neighborhood character and new development.

• Freedom West 2.0 Draft EIR draws strong community support at public hearing; comment period open until Feb. 27

• Permit SF, the city's first contemporary online permitting portal, launches with window, fire alarm, and special event permits

• Commission adopts FY2026-2028 budget absorbing ~40 DBI/Permit Center staff while targeting $880K in general fund cuts

• 949 Post Street affordable housing gets new flexibility — senior age restriction dropped, qualifying income raised — but deeply affordable rents preserved

• Vacant historic Willis Polk building on Van Ness approved for self-storage conversion amid 53% corridor vacancy rate

• Rooftop Airstream proposal in Cow Hollow continued after 90+ opposition letters; sponsor warned to redesign or face likely denial