Chair Thomas-Henry and panelists discuss nuances of convening the IBZ Boundary Commission

Thank you.

I have a question or just a point of clarity.

Lacey, you mentioned convening the commission may be too risky, but then it sounds like you guys are in favor of the commission.

Of the revisions proposed in this legislation.

I think there's a nuance.

It's like convening the commission is not really something that we need to do right now.

And I think we're worried that if we were to do that, given the makeup of the commission, even with these changes, there might be a push to shrink the zones.

And that's the opposite of what we want to do.

However, in the case that the commission were to be convened, this legislation will help.

With making sure that they're looking at a robust set of criteria for any changes.

It adds appointees from outside of the administration.

That might end up being a check on that effort, depending on the admin's priorities.

So it's yes, but.

Anyone else want to give input into the pros and cons of the legislation?

Yeah, I agree.

I think it's...

Not time.

There isn't a reason right now, I think, to convene the Boundary Revision Commission.

But I really like the ideas to broaden the representation and raise the bar to pulling pieces out of the industrial business zones.

And I will also just like share this bit.

of neighborhood intel, you know, since the Department of City Planning released their industrial action plan and,

you know, kind of raised the question about the future of industrial business zones, they sent a message to the real estate market.

My office is getting visits.

From developers asking us how we would feel about residential in just a little corner of the industrial business zone.

And so I think we're going to be seeing private applications come through.

Asking for residential conversion in the industrial business zones, and it's going to beg the question, like, what now?

What is our commitment moving forward as a city?

So I think this legislation takes a step to try and prepare us for that, but I can tell you the developers are...

On their way in.

And just to add to that, to shout out both Councilmember Gutierrez and all of the IBSPs who really did a lot of advocacy from the draft to the final version of that plan to convey that

they wanted to see changes and to see their districts protected and were able to be successful with that.

Got it.

All right.

This panel is excused.

Thank you.

We will.