South San Francisco · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in South San Francisco public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Genentech campus activity and community benefits
Genentech's 2025 report showed flat campus square footage, strong transit alternatives (about a third of trips), 80,000 scooter-share rides, and $3.5 million in housing and transportation fee payments, plus an expanded $250,000 community fund.
Residential Entitlement Extensions Extended to Four Years
Housing projects approved by the city currently have three years to get building permits before starting over. With high interest rates and construction costs, every large residential project since 2020 has needed an extension. The change gives housing — including about 200 affordable units — one more year to secure financing.
Southline Development Wind Concerns
A resident reported dangerous wind tunnels near the six-story Southline development on Tanforan Avenue, including an elderly resident who fell, and asked the city to order an independent wind study and work on mitigation.
616 Maple Avenue six-unit development and tenant relocation
A six-unit for-sale project was approved last year, but the family living in the existing house remains a concern. State SB 330 requires a replacement-housing plan before building permits, and the housing division is working with the owner; commissioners asked for a future update.
Housing Production and RHNA Progress
The city permitted 593 new housing units in 2025, about 19.5% of its nearly 4,000-unit state allocation three years into the cycle. Commissioners discussed why market-rate units outpace affordable ones and how financing delays slow construction.