San Francisco Land Use and Transportation Committee Regular Meeting – June 29, 2026

The Land Use and Transportation Committee of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors met on June 29, 2026, chaired by Supervisor Mirna Melgar, with Supervisor Bilal Mahmud and Supervisor Stephen Cheryl (filling in for Supervisor Tent). The committee considered six items, including commemorative street naming, bar relocation, institutional master plan requirements, fee waivers, hotel guest room limits, and cannabis cafes.

Consent Calendar

• Item 1: Commemorative Street Name – Art Agnes Way – A resolution to add the commemorative street name Art Agnes Way to the 500 and 600 blocks of Connecticut Street in honor of former Mayor Art Agnes. Presented by Supervisor Walton, who highlighted Mayor Agnes’s leadership during the 1989 earthquake and his role in creating the Department of Children, Youth and Families. The committee voted unanimously to send the resolution to the full board with a positive recommendation.
• Item 2: Bar Relocation in Third Street RUD and Bayview NCD – An ordinance to permit relocation of bar uses with alcohol beverage control licenses as of May 19, 2003, within the Third Street Alcohol Restricted Use District and Bayview Neighborhood Commercial District, with a modification from the Planning Commission to conditionally permit all bars. Presented by Supervisor Walton, who noted the need for business flexibility. The committee voted unanimously to recommend approval.
• Item 4: Fee Waiver for Harry Street Steps Waste Bin Enclosure – An ordinance waiving street encroachment permit and annual right-of-way occupancy fees (approximately $2,000 and $250 respectively) for a waste bin enclosure at the Harry Street steps, improving safety for residents and Recology workers. Presented by Renil Bajoy from Supervisor Mandelman’s office. The committee voted unanimously to recommend approval.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Item 3 (Institutional Master Plans): Multiple speakers from the California College of the Arts (CCA) community opposed the ordinance, arguing that exempting Vanderbilt University from institutional master plan requirements would reduce public accountability and transparency. Speakers included union representatives, faculty, students, and community members who expressed concern about job losses (over 500 employees), displacement of students, and Vanderbilt’s policies on gender-affirming care and union recognition. They urged the committee to vote no or require a clear sunset and community accountability.
• Item 6 (Cannabis Cafes): Public comment was divided. Supporters, including cannabis retailers and advocates, argued that cannabis cafes would provide new revenue streams for struggling businesses, destigmatize cannabis, and create safe social consumption spaces. Opponents, including representatives from Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights and the San Francisco Tobacco Free Coalition, raised health concerns about indoor secondhand cannabis smoke, citing research on harmful air pollution and questioning ventilation effectiveness. Some equity applicants also expressed concerns about the new permit type potentially undermining existing retailers.

Discussion Items

• Item 3: Institutional Master Plan Exemptions – Supervisor Dorsey’s office presented amendments to sunset the downtown exemption on December 31, 2032, aligning with the downtown revitalization financing district. Chair Melgar acknowledged the work but noted that the institutional master plan is a zoning and planning document, not an operational one. Despite community opposition, she made a motion to adopt the amendments and continue the item to the call of the chair to allow further engagement. The motion passed unanimously.
• Item 5: Hotel Guest Room Limits in Residential Districts – An ordinance to increase the conditional use cap from 5 to 8 guest rooms (amended to 10 by the Planning Commission). Presented by Renil Bajoy, with Planning Department staff Joseph Sacky confirming the modifications. The committee adopted the amendments (substantive) and continued the item to the July 13, 2026 meeting. No public comment.
• Item 6: Cannabis Cafes – President Mandelman presented a comprehensive ordinance to allow cannabis retailers to serve food and non-alcoholic beverages for on-site consumption, creating a new “cannabis cafe” permit type. Ben Van Houten from OEWD detailed the economic rationale and technical provisions. Chair Melgar expressed concern about indoor smoking and stated she could not support the ordinance as written, citing public health goals. Supervisor Mahmud supported the economic diversity aspect. Supervisor Cheryl moved to accept the non-substantive amendments and forward the ordinance to the full board without recommendation. The motion passed unanimously (3-0).

Key Outcomes

• Item 1: Approved and sent to full board with positive recommendation (unanimous).
• Item 2: Approved and sent to full board with positive recommendation (unanimous).
• Item 3: Amendments adopted and item continued to call of the chair (unanimous).
• Item 4: Approved and sent to full board with positive recommendation (unanimous).
• Item 5: Amendments adopted (substantive) and item continued to July 13, 2026 (unanimous).
• Item 6: Non-substantive amendments adopted and ordinance sent to full board without recommendation (unanimous, with Chair Melgar opposing but not blocking).