San Francisco, CA - Today, Mayor London N. Breed nominated Amy Campbell and Sean McGarry to the San Francisco Planning Commission. Campbell will replace outgoing Commission President Sue Diamond, and McGarry will replace Commissioner Joel Koppel.
The Planning Commission advises the Mayor, Board of Supervisors, and City departments on San Francisco's long-range goals, policies, and programs on a broad array of issues related to land use, transportation, and current planning. The seven-member body maintains the San Francisco General Plan and approves all permits and licenses subject to the Planning Code. The Commission also oversees and delegates certain approvals to the San Francisco Planning Department.
“In order to deliver world-class housing, transportation, open spaces, and infrastructure for our residents, we need leaders who, not only bring their expertise, but can also build bridges with the community to get things done,” said Mayor Breed. “I am proud to nominate Amy Campbell and Sean McGarry who, I know, will help San Francisco build on our collective effort to plan for a better and more resilient San Francisco into the future.”
With 17 years of experience as an architect, Amy Campbell currently serves as Senior Associate and Studio Director at Gensler where she focuses on building repositioning, rehabilitation, preservation, and repurposing existing structures for new uses. She has a Master of Architecture degree from the University of Pennsylvania and worked at architecture firms in Philadelphia and Copenhagen prior to Gensler.
Since November 2023, Campbell has served in the Planning Department’s Historic Preservation Commission to which she was appointed by Mayor Breed to protect the City’s architectural heritage while promoting growth and revitalization. She would step down from that commission upon her confirmation for the new role by the Board of Supervisors.
Campbell has been a San Francisco resident for over 18 years and lives in the Castro with her family.
“I am honored to receive this nomination from Mayor Breed and to have the opportunity to serve the city of San Francisco in this capacity,” said Commissioner Campbell. “My tenure on the Historic Preservation Commission has been immensely rewarding, and I am eager to
bring the insights I have gained there as well as my professional architectural experience to help advance and guide the evolution of our extraordinary city.”
A member of the Carpenters Union for over 27 years, Sean McGarry has worked to raise the living standards of all carpenters in both the public and private sectors. He currently holds elected office at local and regional levels of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters (UBC). Under the Northern California Carpenters Union (NCCU) umbrella, McGarry is the Senior Field Representative for Carpenters Local 22 in San Francisco, managing a team of field representatives who provide services to the City and County of San Francisco and its 4,000 members.
Prior to his current roles, McGarry had many years of experience in various areas of carpentry, including commercial and residential trim, tenant improvement, apartment remodeling, and structural renovation and remodeling.
Originally from Ireland, he is a 30-year resident of San Francisco, a former board member of the United Irish Societies and lives in the Richmond District with his family.
“I am honored that Mayor London Breed has nominated me to serve on the San Francisco Planning Commission,” said Sean McGarry. “I am committed to working to build more housing in all neighborhoods in a way that enhances residents’ quality of life.”
Outgoing Commissioners Acknowledgement
Mayor Breed appointed Sue Diamond to the San Francisco Planning Commission in 2019. She had an accomplished legal career, working in the land use field since 1983, at both national law firms and later at her own firm.
As a Planning Commissioner, she has focused on increasing predictability in the entitlements process, reducing constraints and moving forward the adoption of the Housing Element. She is the current President of the Planning Commission but had to decline to serve another term given the pending arrival of two grandchildren and her desire to have flexibility in her schedule to spend time with them.
“Sue has worked hard to address complex planning issues and make them work for San Franciscans. She has led on developing our City's critically important Housing Element and has been a fervent voice for making our planning approval processes simpler and more predictable for everyone, from homeowners proposing an addition to sponsors proposing new multi-family housing. I thank her and wish her well on her new chapter with her family,” said Mayor Breed.
Originally appointed to the Planning Commission by Mayor Ed Lee in 2016, Joel Koppel was reappointed by Mayor Breed in 2020. He is a graduate of Lowell High School and the University of San Francisco. An electrician by training, he is currently the Director of Business Development for the Electrical Contractors Association and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 6. During his time on the Commission, he consistently worked hard to find ways to build more housing responsibly and to keep working families in the City.
“I want to thank Joel Koppel for his years of dedicated service on the Planning Commission,” said Mayor Breed. “As a lifelong San Franciscan, Joel has been a passionate and thoughtful champion for our City, its residents and workers. Joel has left an important mark on the future of our City.”
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