The beautiful redwood bench on Sanchez Street near the corner of 21st is dedicated to Audrey Rodgers, received a cleaning and refresh from her family members on Saturday, August 2.
Audrey Rodgers, the DHIC chair from the late 70s through early 80s, led the campaign to have Dolores Heights designated as a Special Use District in the planning code. Audrey understood Dolores Heights’ unique characteristics that drew people to walk and enjoy its green spaces and dramatic views. She realized that citywide rezoning proposed in the late 70s would “flatten” the hills and reduce the midblock open spaces. So she and other leaders organized for months to preserve the space and vistas where future generations have lived, enjoyed, and raised their families.
The Dolores Heights Special Use District that Audrey and other neighbors successfully got the City to enact into law in 1980. It will be overridden by the proposed upzoning described in the article above. If you agree that we should sacrifice the many unique characteristics in San Francisco for a massive upzoning for development, please email our supervisor and mayor.
San Francisco Planning has nearly completed its years-long project to meet the quota of 82,000 new housing units imposed on us by the State. (For more information read this primer from SF Planning.) The City’s response is to upzone nearly two-thirds of the City’s residential lots – from Glen Park/Noe Valley to the northeast/northside and all the areas west of Twin Peaks. (See this interactive map with the Lurie Administration’s “Family Zoning Plan” proposed heights.) This blanket upzoning plan includes “waivers” of key planning code requirements – such as current rear yard setbacks and added height bonuses for some blocks and for corner and large properties.
How does this affect Dolores Heights? The table on the DHIC website summarizes the key changes that can be incorporated into new housing projects in our neighborhood. Say hello to 65 foot buildings on corners and to adjacent buildings that extend 20 feet past your home’s rear wall.
DHIC opposes this strategy to upzone hundreds of thousands of lots to meet SF’s goal of only 36,200 additional projects by 2032. And 80% of these projects must be affordable housing (see the primer linked above); however, inclusionary units and subsidies fall short of meeting this goal.
What’s next? On June 24 Mayor Lurie introduced legislation amending the Planning Code rules to incorporate the provisions of the Family Zoning Plan. It will be heard at the Board of Supervisors during the summer and likely voted on in early Fall.
Upzoning: Impact on Dolores Heights 6/24/2025
Incentivizes significantly taller/longer buildings with negative impacts on open space and public views
Zoning Element
DH SUD – the way it’s been since 1980
Proposed Upzoning – the way it will be for multi-unit projects
40 feet – 65 feet heights – see SF Planning map for heights by street, plus up to 50’ on blocks east of Sanchez and north of 20th St.More changes – height, length, etc. below
Impact: taller buildings – 40 feet up to 65 feet, and 50 feet on some blocks – will cast more shadows on nearby homes, reduce public views, and degrade the view of Sanchez Hill. See proposed map
Rear yard setback
45% of lot depth For a standard Dolores Heights lot (114’ deep), required rear yard: 51 feet
Reduce current setback by 18% of lot depth: For a lot depth of 114 feet, required rear yard reduced to: 30.5 feet,
Impact: buildings can extend 20 feet further into the rear yard than the adjacent homes – reducing neighbors’ light, privacy, & the midblock open space in Dolores Heights.
Additional height allowed
None
Corner lots and lots > 8000 sq feet can add two stories, up to 65 feet height. 50 feet allowed on lots east of Sanchez and north of 20th.
Impact: Regardless of “base height”, properties on a corner or on a 8000 sf lot anywhere in Dolores Heights can build to 65 feet height – casting shadows and blocking public views up & down Sanchez Hill
Project review
Hearings for variances and some demolitions
“Ministerial” review: in many cases, no appeal rights or hearing if project meets standards
Impact: New buildings can be approved with no notice to neighbors or hearing to assess impact on neighbors or the neighborhood.
One of our local landmarks is Audrey’s bench – at the southwest corner of Sanchez & 21st Streets. It recognizes the leadership of Audrey Rogers. She led the campaign that secured passage of the Dolores Heights Special Use District in 1980. She also obtained City upgrades, like moving utilities under ground.
The bench was designed by acclaimed wood carver, J.B. Blunk. Her children who grew up at 3732 21st Street help to maintain it. As they worked to clean the area and polish the wood bench on Sunday, August 20, neighbors walking by thanked them. If you haven’t already, spend a few minutes seated in this beautiful memorial to a neighbor who led the effort to preserve the unique character of our neighborhood.
Photo: Members of Audrey Rogers’ family hard at work.
Dolores Heights Improvement Club 