Building pressure.(Brief Article)

Developers seeking approvals may have to wait, planning chief says

San Francisco planners are unlikely to approve any large office developments before November's election, but may then rapidly OK up to 1.75 million square feet, depending on the ballot's outcome, says Planning Director Gerald Green.

Developers -- unable to get planning approvals since the city hit its statutory limit for commercial construction in May -- have been anxiously awaiting Oct 17. Under the city's Proposition M growth limit, that's the day that planners can begin doling out another annual allocation of office space. With more than 3 million square feet of projects waiting for approval, developers are eager to see which will get the green light.

But Green said that those developers will probably have to wait …