The barrier to new development in SF isn't red tape per se, but democracy. The existing residents don't want to alter their neighborhoods through a massive increase in population, demographic shift, blocked views, etc. They vote in policies that artificially restrict the housing stock (40ft height limit, endless community generated red tape, low income housing requirements in new buildings, restrictions on evicting rent controlled tenants). This leads to dated, unmaintained buildings, higher rent, and decreased labor mobility, ultimately shooting everyone of the in the foot.

To 'disrupt' this you would need to eminent domain a good chunk of the city a la the Western Addition in the '50s.