San Francisco Proposition J
Year: 2008
Location: San Francisco, California
Status: Passed
On November 4, 2008, San Francisco voters approved Proposition J by a margin of 57%. The ballot measure will adopt best practices and national standards of historic cities around the country.
Proposition J would adopt best practices and national standards of historic cities around the country - including New York, Boston, Chicago, and Philadelphia - that have independent preservation commissions with jurisdiction over historic buildings and neighborhoods.
The proposed measure would replace the current nine-member Landmarks Preservation Advisory Board with a seven-member Historic Preservation Commission. The amendment would generally transfer to the Commission existing functions from the current Landmarks Preservation Advisory Board, and would confer additional authority to make recommendations directly to the Board of Supervisors, bypassing the Planning Commission, on the designation of landmark buildings, historic districts and significant buildings.
The seven members of the Historic Preservation Commission would be appointed by the Mayor subject to confirmation by the Board of Supervisors. Six members would be required to have professional backgrounds in planning, architecture, historical conservation and related fields.
Proposition J was drafted collaboratively with the City's Planning Department, Mayor's Office, Landmarks Board and the California Office of Historic Preservation.
Update
San Francisco voters approved Proposition J by a margin of 57% on November 4, 2008.
