Update

Since I last posted, there have been a few major events.  Here's the "just-the-facts-ma'am" overview, with links to the relevant documents. Commentary on specific issues will  follow in later posts.  

1.   On June 16^th, the Office of Planning proposed some changes (“alternative text”) to the draft code that was discussed last fall.  These changes were framed as reconsiderations of policy based on public testimony.  The text of OP’s proposals can be found here or by going to IZIS and finding Exhibit 725 on page 16 of the log for ZC Case 08-06A.  This is a 90 page document that may be easier to read online than to print out  (It's not page-numbered consecutively and different sections use different formats and orientations.  My home printer choked on it; a friend's worker printer had no problem).  Topics covered include definitions, lighting, big box retail, accessory apartments (formerly "ADUs"), corner stores, camping in alleys (aka Tiny Houses), theater space in residential areas, parking, and downtown.

2.   On July 10^th, the Zoning Commission discussed the alternative text and ultimately voted 5-0 (Michael Turnbull was not in attendance but submitted a proxy) to set a modified version down for public hearing(s).   The Commissioners all agreed that the Lighting section was not ready for setdown.  And because there was disagreement within the Commission on the merits of some of OP’s proposed alternatives, the Commissioners decided to set down both the new and old versions of the rules regarding accessory apartments and parking requirements.  All other provisions were set down as proposed.

3.  Since that setdown decision, a number of new hearings on the ZRR have been scheduled for September. One additional hearing on the original text has been scheduled for September 4th.  Participation in this hearing is limited to people who have never previously testified on any aspect of the ZRR and to ANC Commissioners (regardless of whether they have previously testified).  Hearings on the newly setdown "alternative" text -- at which anyone may testify -- are scheduled for September 8th-11th.  It’s not clear whether you may testify each night on a different topic (e.g. accessory apartments, big box retail, parking) or whether you’re limited to a single appearance and three minutes of testimony.  All hearings start at 6 pm.

Oddly, a revised draft of the alternative text, reflecting what happened at the July 10th meeting, has not (yet?) been produced.  So the ZC has posted three documents for the September 8th-11th hearings -- the original "alternatives" text (Exhibit 725), OP's pre-hearing correction and summary memo (725A) and another OP post-hearing memo (725B) that makes a few changes to definitions, but says nothing about eliminating the Lighting section or asking people to weigh in on the question of whether the "original" or "alternative' texts on accessory apartments or parking is preferable.  

4. Not news, but a reminder:   The record for written testimony (by anyone, on any topic) on the ZRR remains open until September 15^th.  Written testimony may be submitted via the IZIS system or be mailed, emailed, or faxed to the Office of Zoning. 

5. On July 28^th, OP asked the ZC to set down as-yet-unwritten text amendments that would allow 20 foot tall habitable penthouses to be constructed above the roofline as matter of right in all zones except R1-4. The additional 20 feet of penthouse would not be counted toward the height limit in the zone.  Nor would the square footage in the penthouse count toward limits on floor area ratio (FAR), even though penthouse space could be used for any use permitted in the zone -- so it would be the same kind of space (office, residential, restaurant) as the space below the roofline.  This proposal would represents significant upzoning citywide.  

As you can see from OP's description of its proposals, the only constraint on the area (square footage) of such penthouses would be setback requirements and the limit on the number of stories (one penthouse story will be allowed where the building maxes out the Height Act limit; two stories will be allowed everywhere else).  Restrictions based on FAR and/or roof area would be eliminated.  If the ZC isn't willing to eliminate those restrictions, OP advocates loosening them so that adding penthouse space won't involve subtracting space elsewhere.  

Rather than set down these (non-existent) text amendments (filed as ZC case #14-13), the ZC decided to discuss the issue again on September 4th (prior to the public hearing), at which time OP, presumably, will have actual text to present.

6. There's a third ZC case (#14-11) that proposes more text amendments based on ZRR testimony.  These amendments would be made to the existing code and are offered as ways of addressing the pop-up and condo conversion pressures that are currently being faced in R-4 neighborhoods.  The setdown hearing was July 17th,    Another 5-0 vote (with Peter May absent/voting by proxy) for setdown and, once again, the notion that the public hearing with be advertised with alternative text so "all options are on the table."