Land Use and Transportation Committee Meeting - January 30, 2023
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Land Use and Transportation Committee Meeting - January 30, 2023
This regular meeting of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors' Land Use and Transportation Committee was chaired by Supervisor Mirna Melgar, with Vice Chair Dean Preston and Board President Darren Peskin. The committee considered two items: a planning code amendment to allow nighttime entertainment in the SoMa Leather and LGBTQ Cultural District, and an administrative code waiver to permit two shared spaces parklets on a Valencia Street sidewalk bulb-out. Both items were approved with positive recommendations to the full Board of Supervisors.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Item 1 - SoMa Nighttime Entertainment: Bob Goldfarb, Executive Director of the Leather and LGBTQ Cultural District, urged passage, stating that nightlife venues are the lifeblood of the district and have historically provided safe spaces for the community. He noted that current zoning prevents new nightlife venues in most of SoMa and that the amendment would allow businesses to flourish.
- Item 2 - Valencia Street Shared Spaces: Amparo Vigil, owner of Puerto Alegre Restaurant (50+ years on Valencia Street), expressed gratitude for the shared spaces program, which helped her family business survive the pandemic. Nikki, co-owner of Blondie's Bar (32 years on Valencia Street), echoed the sentiment, stating that the extra outdoor space is essential for small business viability in San Francisco.
Discussion Items
- Item 1 (Ordinance 221104): The committee continued consideration of a planning code amendment that had been amended substantively in a previous meeting. The ordinance would make nighttime entertainment a principally permitted use on properties fronting Folsom Street between 7th and Division Street in the Folsom Street Neighborhood Commercial Transit District, the Regional Commercial District, and the Western SoMa Mixed Use General District, removing certain restrictions. Madison Tam from Supervisor Dorsey's office was present to answer questions. No further discussion occurred.
- Item 2 (Ordinance 221271): Ana Herrera from Supervisor Ronin's office presented the ordinance, which would waive administrative code requirements to allow two food service shared spaces (parklets) on a sidewalk bulb-out on the 500 block of Valencia Street. The bulb-out is located mid-block rather than at an intersection and was never activated for pedestrian use. The parklets are operated by Puerto Alegre Restaurant (546 Valencia) and Blondie's Bar (540 Valencia), both long-standing women-led businesses. The permanent shared spaces program would not otherwise permit parklets on bulb-outs, necessitating this legislation. Robin Abad from the Shared Spaces Program and city attorney John Malmot were available online for questions.
Key Outcomes
- Item 1: The committee voted unanimously (3-0) to approve the ordinance with a positive recommendation to the full Board of Supervisors. The motion was made by Chair Melgar, with all supervisors voting aye.
- Item 2: The committee voted unanimously (3-0) to send the ordinance to the full Board of Supervisors with a positive recommendation. The motion was made by Chair Melgar, with all supervisors voting aye.
Both items were placed on the February 7, 2023 Board of Supervisors' agenda.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon, everyone. This meeting will come to order. Welcome to the January 30th, 2023 regular meeting of the Land Use and Transportation Committee of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. I'm Supervisor Mirna Melgar, Chair of the Committee, joined by Vice Chair Supervisor Dean Preston and Board President Darren Peskin. The committee clerk today is Erica Major. And I would also like to acknowledge Matthew Ignau in Jaime Echeverri at SFGov TV for staffing this meeting. Madam Clerk, do you have any announcements? Yes, the Board of Supervisors and its committees are now convening hybrid meetings that allow in-person attendance and public comment while still providing remote access and public comment via telephone. The board recognizes that equitable public access is essential and we'll be taking public comment as follows. Public comment will be taken on each item on this agenda. Those attending in person will be allowed to speak first, and then we will uh move to the remote call in line. For those watching either Channel 26, 28, 78, 99, or sfgovtv.org. You can see the public call in number on your screen. The number to call in is 415 65501. Again, that number is 415 65501. Then you enter the meeting ID 2480 6762073, then press pound and pound again. When connected, you will hear the meeting discussions, but you will be muted and listening mode only. When your item of interest comes up and public comment is called, those joining us in person should line up to their right near the curtains. And those on the telephone line should press star three to be added to the queue. If you're on your telephone, please remember to turn down your television and all listening devices you may be using. As already indicated, we'll be we will be taking public comment from those in person first and then move on to a remote call in line. Alternatively, you may submit public comment to myself, the uh land use and transportation clerk. My email address is erica.mh at sfgov.org. And if you submit public comment via email, it will be forwarded to the supervisors and also made part of the official file. You may also send your written comments via U.S. Postal Service to our office at City Hall. The address is one Dr. Carlton B. Goodlitt Place, room 244, San Francisco, California. 94102. Finally, items acted upon today will be on the February 7th agenda unless otherwise stated of the Board of Supervisors. Madam Chair. Thank you. Madam Clerk, please call item number one. Item number one is an ordinance amending the planning code to allow nighttime entertainment as a principally permitted use on properties fronting Folsom Street between 7th and uh Division Street in the Folsom Street neighborhood commercial transit district, the regional commercial district, and the Western Soma Mixed Use General District, removing certain restrictions on nighttime entertainment uses and approving appropriate findings. Members of the public who wish to provide public comment on this item should call the number 415-655-0001. The meeting ID today is 2480-676-2076. Then press pound and pound again. And if you have not done so and would like to speak, you just need to press star three, and you'll hear the system indicate that you have raised your hand in confirmation. Madam Chair. Thank you very much, Madam Clerk. Uh colleagues, uh, we continued this item after we amended it uh last time. Uh in the amendments were substantive, so with that for a bit. Uh we have Madison Tam here from uh Supervisor Dorsey's office in case anyone has any questions or further comments. Um if we don't, we should take uh public comment on this. Thank you, Madam Chair. Are there any members of the public who would like to speak on item one? You just need to approach the podium. And we have two minutes. Those online, if you have not already, you just need to press star three.
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