OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

San Francisco Planning Commission Meeting - April 23, 2026: Approvals and Department Updates

Planning CommissionThursday, April 23, 2026
BodySan Francisco, California
SessionPlanning Commission
DateThursday, April 23, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record

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Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

To the San Francisco Planning Commission hearing for Thursday, April 23rd, 2026.

0:08

When an item is called that you would like to submit testimony for, we ask that you line up on the screen side of the room or to your right.

0:15

Each speaker will be allowed up to three minutes.

0:17

And when you have 30 seconds remaining, you will hear a chime indicating your time is almost up.

0:22

When your allotted time is reached, there will be a second chime, and I will announce that your time is up and take the next person cued to speak.

0:29

There is a very convenient timer on the podium where you can see how much time you have left and watch your time tick down.

0:35

Please speak clearly and slowly, and if you care to state your name for the record.

0:39

I ask that we silence any mobile devices that may sound off during these proceedings.

0:43

And finally, I will remind members of the public that the Commission does not tolerate any disruption or outbursts of any kind.

0:49

At this time, I'll take role, Commission President Campbell here.

0:52

Commission Vice President Moore, Commissioner Braun.

0:55

Here Commissioner Imperial.

0:57

Commissioner McGarry, Commissioner So.

1:00

Present.

1:00

And Commissioner Williams.

1:02

Thank you, Commissioners.

1:03

First, on your agenda is consideration of items proposed for continuance at the time of issuance.

1:08

There were no items proposed for continuance, and there still aren't any, although under the regular calendar on item 7 for case number 2024, hyphen 008383 CUA for 394 Naples Street conditional use authorization.

1:24

The applicant has withdrawn their application.

1:28

So that will not be considered today.

1:30

Moving on, Commissioners, under your consent calendar, item one listed here under constitutes your consent calendar is considered to be routine by the Planning Commission.

1:42

There will be no separate discussion of this item unless a member of the Commission, the public or staff so requests, in which event the matter shall be removed and considered as a separate item at this or a future hearing.

1:53

Item one, case number 2025, Hyphen 010376, CUA at 4620 Mission Street conditional use authorization.

2:01

Members of the public, this is your opportunity to request that this matter be removed from the consent calendar and considered today under the regular calendar.

2:09

You need to come forward.

2:10

Last call, seeing none, public comment is closed, and your consent calendar is now before you, Commissioners.

2:19

Commissioner Sowe.

2:20

Motion to approve.

2:22

Second.

2:23

Thank you, Commissioners, on that motion to approve item one on consent.

2:29

Commissioner McGarry.

2:30

Commissioner So?

2:31

Aye.

2:32

Commissioner Williams.

2:33

Aye.

2:33

Commissioner Braun.

2:34

Aye.

2:34

Commissioner Imperial.

2:36

Aye.

2:36

Commissioner Moore.

2:37

Aye.

2:37

And Commissioner President Campbell.

2:38

Aye.

2:39

So move Commissioners.

2:40

That motion passes unanimously 7 to 0.

2:43

Ida placing us under Commission Matters for Item 2, the land acknowledgement.

2:52

The Commission acknowledges that we are on the unceded ancestral homeland of the Ramatushlone, who are the original inhabitants of the San Francisco Peninsula Peninsula, as the indigenous stewards of this land and in accordance with their traditions.

3:06

The Ramatushaloni have never ceded, lost, or forgotten their responsibilities as the caretakers of this place, as well as for all people who reside in their uh traditional territory.

3:17

As guests, we recognize that we benefit from living and working on the tradition on their traditional homelands.

3:23

We wish to pay our respects by acknowledging their ancestors, elders, and relatives of the Ramatushalone community, and by affirming their sovereign rights as first people.

3:36

Thank you.

3:38

Item three, Commission comments and questions.

3:46

If there are no comments or questions from members of the Commission, we can move on to Department Matters for item four, Director's Announcements.

3:54

I just have a series of updates for the Commission to tell you about the great work of our staff.

4:00

First off, we are we completed the first of what will probably be several updates to our department website.

4:07

As uh you might be aware, much of the city and the state and the country is um working to meet federal accessibility standards for websites.

4:16

So we we started a portion of that uh today.

4:20

I think what I did want to highlight is while we are working to update our digital outreach portals to the community.

4:27

Um we're working to make sure that we're also optimizing site performance.

4:31

So the work that staff did last night gives us faster page load times, a more visible home page carousel control so people don't get lost in the spinning, um, and a really clear link to the find my zoning or property info tab so that people go there and can immediately find information that we're putting online and can get in easily.

4:52

Um another update that we did uh just as of last night.

4:57

Hang on.

5:00

Is we were updating our land use database.

5:04

I think you often hear items here where there's a lot of confusion as to the property's history and what has been there and what should have been there.

5:13

So our staff has really been doing some yeoman's detective work, um, crossing other agencies' database and actually doing field work.

5:23

Um there were a couple of issues that were addressed by the update to the database that we uh put up an online for staff and the public last night.

5:30

Um it addressed what was an undercount of roughly 40,000 units, residential units citywide that our database wasn't capturing.

5:38

So we now have that information correct.

5:40

Um it now counts home-based businesses or on paper businesses, those with no physical footprint as well as commercial land use, so we can know what's up there.

5:49

Um it and it also did a whole bunch of data cleanup and validation so that our development pipeline, our housing production dashboards are all synced up so that we're giving the correct source of truth to everyone.

6:04

Um then the the announcements I'm most excited about.

6:10

That's great work that our team does every day, um, are a couple of awards that our team is uh winning.

6:16

So um tomorrow, the Ocean Beach Climate Change Adaptation EIR will receive an award from the Association of Environmental Planners.

6:27

There's a conference tomorrow in San Diego, and uh that document is receiving the environment the award of merit from that department.

6:35

So we're proud of that.

6:36

Um additionally, uh let me get this right.

6:41

Um the Northern California section of the American Planning Association, APA, uh awarded the Family Zoning Plan.

6:49

It's award for planning excellence and an award of merit.

6:53

Our design standards, which you all have looked at a couple times and are continuing to adopt, were also awarded the Urban Design Award of Merit.

7:02

And this is really exciting.

7:04

Um our very own Lisa Chen was selected for a special recognition award for mid-career planner.

7:11

So probably all of our staff should be getting awards, but those are some that just happened that we I wanted to make sure you were aware of.

7:19

Thank you.

7:20

Commissioner Braun.

7:23

It's great to hear that staff's work is being recognized and those awards are really exciting.

7:26

So I appreciate the update on that.

7:29

Regarding the additional housing units that are identified in our database.

7:36

You said that was 40,000 additional housing units that were not in there.

7:39

Is that correct?

7:41

That's what my data team tells us, yes.

7:43

I see.

7:44

Do you do you have a sense of how those additional units were identified?

7:50

Yes.

7:51

I'm going to explain this at a very high level that will probably not make full sense to you, and we can dig into it more offline.

7:58

But um from uh Reza, who's our lead of our data analysis group at planning, um, had his team look through the um assessors' tax roles, co-star data, DBI and planning permitting data and cross-referenced all of those sources, and then did some manual review on top of that.

8:19

So there's a whole lot of synthesizing of different sources.

8:22

That's exciting.

8:24

Is there awareness that we probably had an undercount of housing units just through comparison to census data or other sources?

8:34

You know, that I can't speak to.

8:36

I can get back to you on that one.

8:37

Um I know that the team had a sense that our numbers weren't quite right, but if we we had a sense of that magnitude or that direction, I'm not sure.

8:46

Okay, thank you.

8:48

Commissioner Imperial.

8:50

Yeah, thank you for all the updates and the um also congratulations to the staff.

8:55

Um it's uh yeah, it's really good that the planning departments are being recognized in their work.

9:02

And um following up with Commissioner Braun in terms of the database.

9:07

Um I'm wondering, because um, I'm wondering if that can be something presented in the commission in the future, just to also explain how to navigate into planning department's website.

9:22

Um I think also with all of these updates, it seems like the public may need to know about the updates on this.

9:31

Um so that can also clarify all of the information, um, you know, where to find this and that.

9:37

Um just a thought that you know um for public to to be updated on.

9:42

Yeah.

9:43

Commissioner Pierrel, thank you for that.

9:45

I I think that's a great idea.

9:46

We'd be happy to come and present you just an update on what we're doing out in the public.

9:51

And the land use database isn't a thing to peruse in and of itself.

9:54

It's what backs up um the other data portals that we have, whether it's our dashboards or our uh planning information, uh, the PIMS website.

10:03

Um, one of the things that we found um really successful in recent months, um, both through uh some of our survey workshops and through some of the district wide workshops that supervisors have been holding, district two, district four recently hold district wide workshops, is um going to as many community outreach places as we can with a computer so that we can show people how to navigate through our portal, like in real time in person at those tables.

10:32

It's been really fascinating to be able to show people oh, this is what you do, and they get it right away.

10:38

Um I think it would be great to do that with you all as well.

10:42

Commissioner McGarry.

10:44

Congrats to staff for all the great work they do.

10:47

Um my question is the 40,000 additional units.

10:51

Will that help us with our arena goals?

10:54

Unfortunately not.

10:56

I will ask.

11:00

Vice President Moore.

11:02

Uh congratulations to staff.

11:04

If I may suggest a training video, actually of how to use the site would also be very helpful because you probably have sometimes people just not knowing how to even get the proper name uh uh onto your computer.

11:17

I think it would help.

11:18

It would help everybody.

11:19

Uh and there's a basic training and then the advanced training when it comes to specific projects, et cetera.

11:24

But I think the basic training would would benefit everybody since we are now pretty much going digital everywhere.

11:35

Okay, Commissioners.

11:36

If there's nothing further, uh, we can move on to item five for review of past events at the Board of Supervisors.

11:42

There is no report from the Board of Appeals and the Historic Preservation Commission did not meet yesterday.

11:48

However, uh this week the land use and transportation committee initiated 15 landmark designations within District 3 that had been identified as part of the family zoning plan.

11:59

It also considered the SB 79 legislation and amended the file to incorporate the Planning Commission recommendations.

12:07

The committee then forwarded the item to the full board with positive recommendation.

12:11

At the full board, uh the 14 landmark designations in District 8 passed second read, and finally the one oak ordinance passed in its first read.

12:23

Commissioners, that will now place us under general public comment.

12:26

At this time, members of the public may address the commission on items of interest to the public that are within the subject matter jurisdiction of the commission.

12:33

Except agenda items with respect to agenda items.

12:36

Your opportunity to address the commission will be afforded when the item is reached in the meeting.

12:41

Members of the public, you need to come forward.

12:46

Last call.

12:47

Seeing none, public comment is closed, and we can now go under your regular calendar for the one item on your agenda left, number six, case number 2026, 000 475 CUA for the property at 284 Noe Street, conditional use authorization.

13:10

Good afternoon, Commissioners.

13:12

John Dace for Pine Department staff.

13:14

That in before you is a request for conditional use authorization pursuant to planning code sections 303 and 764 to allow for a bar use at 284 NOE Street.

13:23

Uh Q80-284 NoE Street is a two-story multi-use building with a commercial space on the ground floor that previously was a pet food store and a residential dwelling unit located on the second floor.

13:33

The product site is located within the upper market neighborhood commercial transit district and a 60 slash 120 R4 height and bulk district in the Castro upper market neighborhood.

13:43

The proposed business is a romance bookstore and tea room called Love Potion Library, which will offer ancillary wine service.

13:50

A type 42 license for on-sale beer and wine sales has been applied for with the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

13:57

This service would require establishing a bar use at the site, which is a conditionally permitted use within the upper market NCT zone district.

14:04

No exterior alterations are proposed with the project.

14:06

The interior improvements would include new lounge seating, new bookshelves and lighting within the library portion of the store, and a new back of the house area.

14:14

The department has received two letters in support of the project, including one from the DeBose Triangle Neighborhood Association.

14:20

The neighborhood association's letter was generally supportive of the use, but had concerns regarding potential future users of the entitlement that could become nuisances to the nearby residential dwelling units.

14:30

And recommended the inclusion of three conditions to ameliorate these condition uh concerns.

14:34

The conditions would limit the hours of alcohol service from 9 a.m.

14:37

to 10 p.m.

14:38

Sunday through Thursday and 9 a.m.

14:40

to 11 p.m.

14:41

on Fridays and Saturdays.

14:42

Not allow for alcohol consumption outside of the building and limit access to the backyard to employees only.

14:48

The product sponsor has confirmed that they agreed to the inclusion of these conditions and reflect that agreement.

14:52

A memo from staff was sent to the commission earlier this week recommending the addition of the three conditions into the final motion.

15:00

The department finds the product to be consistent with the controls of the upper market and CD zoning district, and that the project, as conditioned, is necessary, desirable, compatible with the surrounding neighborhood, and consistent with the goals, objectives, and policies of the general plan.

15:12

Conditional use authorization for a new bar use would support and complement the proposed bookstore in filling a vacant bookstore and creating a unique community amenity for the neighborhood.

15:21

Therefore, the department supports the proposed project and recommends approval with conditions, including the three additional conditions that were recommended by the DTNA.

15:29

This concludes my presentation, and I'm available to answer any questions.

15:51

Members of the public, this is your opportunity to address the commission on this matter.

15:56

You need to come forward.

15:59

Last call.

16:01

Seeing none.

16:32

So thank you very much.

16:33

And I am in full support because it has really gone through the critical examination by the neighborhood, but also by staff.

16:42

So I make a um move to approve this conditions.

16:46

Second.

16:47

Commissioner Braun.

16:50

I also want to uh say thanks both uh to Department of Staff and also the project sponsor for agreeing to the additional conditions on the approval.

16:58

Uh I'm really excited about uh you know enlivening this block uh in the castro and uh at the same time um as somebody who has who spent a very long time living above commercial uses in the Castro, I know uh how the noise can also be disruptive, and so it feels like this is a good assurance and balance for future uh potential uh business owners at this location.

17:20

But this has my full support.

17:22

The project sounds very exciting, and I can't wait to check it out.

17:25

So thank you.

17:29

Okay, Commissioners.

17:30

If there's no further deliberation, there is a motion that has been seconded to approve with conditions on that motion, Commissioner McGarry.

17:36

Aye.

17:36

Commissioner So.

17:37

Aye.

17:38

Commissioner Williams.

17:39

Aye.

17:40

Commissioner Braun.

17:40

Aye.

17:41

Commissioner Imperial.

17:42

Aye.

17:42

Commissioner Moore.

17:44

Aye.

17:44

And Commissioner President Campbell.

17:45

Aye.

17:46

So move Commissioners that motion passes unanimously seven to zero and close and ends your hearing today close to a record.

17:53

I wonder if you talk about Naples Street.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural████████████████████████████████32%
Technology And Infrastructure████████████████████████████████32%
Land Use█████████████████████████████29%
Public Comment███████7%
Summary of Proceedings

San Francisco Planning Commission Meeting - April 23, 2026

The San Francisco Planning Commission held a regular hearing on April 23, 2026, at 8:15 PM. The meeting included a consent calendar approval, department announcements regarding website updates and a corrected housing database revealing 40,000 additional residential units, recognition of staff awards, a report on Board of Supervisors actions, and a unanimous approval of a conditional use authorization for a romance bookstore and tea room with wine service at 284 Noe Street.

Consent Calendar

  • Item 1 (Case 2025-010376 CUA) – Conditional use authorization for 4620 Mission Street was approved unanimously (7-0) as routine. No public comment was made to remove it from consent.

Department Matters

  • Director’s Announcements (Item 4): The Planning Department completed an update to its website to improve accessibility, page load times, and navigation. A major update to the land use database corrected an undercount of approximately 40,000 residential units citywide by cross-referencing assessor, co-star, DBI, and planning data. The database now also accurately counts home-based businesses and commercial uses. Several staff awards were announced: the Ocean Beach Climate Change Adaptation EIR received an Award of Merit from the Association of Environmental Planners; the Family Zoning Plan received an APA Northern California Award for Planning Excellence; the Design Standards received an Urban Design Award of Merit; and staff member Lisa Chen received a Mid-Career Planner Special Recognition Award. In response to questions from Commissioner Braun about the 40,000 additional units, Interim Director explained that the undercount was identified through data synthesis but could not confirm if the magnitude was previously known. Commissioner Imperial requested a future presentation on navigating the department website; the Director agreed. Commissioner Moore suggested creating a training video.

Review of Past Events at the Board of Supervisors

  • The Land Use and Transportation Committee initiated 15 landmark designations in District 3 as part of the Family Zoning Plan. The committee also amended SB 79 legislation to incorporate Planning Commission recommendations and forwarded it to the full board. The full board passed 14 landmark designations in District 8 on second read, and the One Oak ordinance passed on first read.

Regular Calendar – Item 6 (Case 2026-000475 CUA) – 284 Noe Street

  • Description: Request for conditional use authorization to establish a bar use (ancillary wine service) at 284 Noe Street, a two-story mixed-use building in the Upper Market Neighborhood Commercial Transit District. The proposed business is Love Potion Library, a romance bookstore and tea room with on-sale beer and wine (Type 42 license). No exterior alterations are proposed; interior improvements include lounge seating, bookshelves, lighting, and a back-of-house area.
  • Neighborhood Association Input: The DeBose Triangle Neighborhood Association (DTNA) submitted a letter of support with concerns about potential noise. They recommended three conditions: (1) limit alcohol service hours to 9 a.m.–10 p.m. Sunday–Thursday and 9 a.m.–11 p.m. Friday–Saturday; (2) no alcohol consumption outside the building; (3) restrict backyard access to employees only. The project sponsor agreed to these conditions.
  • Staff Recommendation: Staff found the project consistent with zoning and recommended approval with the three additional conditions.
  • Public Testimony: No members of the public came forward to speak.
  • Commission Discussion: Commissioner So made a motion to approve with conditions, seconded. Commissioner Braun expressed support, noting the balance between neighborhood vitality and noise mitigation.
  • Vote: The motion passed unanimously (7-0).

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Calendar: Item 1 approved unanimously.
  • Database Correction: 40,000 additional housing units identified; staff will present website navigation to the Commission.
  • Staff Awards: Multiple honors received; recognition of staff excellence.
  • Conditional Use Authorization: Approved for 284 Noe Street (Love Potion Library) with three conditions limiting alcohol service hours, prohibiting outdoor consumption, and restricting backyard access to employees.
  • Item Withdrawn: Case 2024-008383 CUA for 394 Naples Street was withdrawn by the applicant and not considered.

Meeting Transcript

To the San Francisco Planning Commission hearing for Thursday, April 23rd, 2026. When an item is called that you would like to submit testimony for, we ask that you line up on the screen side of the room or to your right. Each speaker will be allowed up to three minutes. And when you have 30 seconds remaining, you will hear a chime indicating your time is almost up. When your allotted time is reached, there will be a second chime, and I will announce that your time is up and take the next person cued to speak. There is a very convenient timer on the podium where you can see how much time you have left and watch your time tick down. Please speak clearly and slowly, and if you care to state your name for the record. I ask that we silence any mobile devices that may sound off during these proceedings. And finally, I will remind members of the public that the Commission does not tolerate any disruption or outbursts of any kind. At this time, I'll take role, Commission President Campbell here. Commission Vice President Moore, Commissioner Braun. Here Commissioner Imperial. Commissioner McGarry, Commissioner So. Present. And Commissioner Williams. Thank you, Commissioners. First, on your agenda is consideration of items proposed for continuance at the time of issuance. There were no items proposed for continuance, and there still aren't any, although under the regular calendar on item 7 for case number 2024, hyphen 008383 CUA for 394 Naples Street conditional use authorization. The applicant has withdrawn their application. So that will not be considered today. Moving on, Commissioners, under your consent calendar, item one listed here under constitutes your consent calendar is considered to be routine by the Planning Commission. There will be no separate discussion of this item unless a member of the Commission, the public or staff so requests, in which event the matter shall be removed and considered as a separate item at this or a future hearing. Item one, case number 2025, Hyphen 010376, CUA at 4620 Mission Street conditional use authorization. Members of the public, this is your opportunity to request that this matter be removed from the consent calendar and considered today under the regular calendar. You need to come forward. Last call, seeing none, public comment is closed, and your consent calendar is now before you, Commissioners. Commissioner Sowe. Motion to approve. Second. Thank you, Commissioners, on that motion to approve item one on consent. Commissioner McGarry. Commissioner So? Aye. Commissioner Williams. Aye. Commissioner Braun. Aye. Commissioner Imperial. Aye. Commissioner Moore. Aye. And Commissioner President Campbell. Aye. So move Commissioners. That motion passes unanimously 7 to 0. Ida placing us under Commission Matters for Item 2, the land acknowledgement. The Commission acknowledges that we are on the unceded ancestral homeland of the Ramatushlone, who are the original inhabitants of the San Francisco Peninsula Peninsula, as the indigenous stewards of this land and in accordance with their traditions. The Ramatushaloni have never ceded, lost, or forgotten their responsibilities as the caretakers of this place, as well as for all people who reside in their uh traditional territory. As guests, we recognize that we benefit from living and working on the tradition on their traditional homelands. We wish to pay our respects by acknowledging their ancestors, elders, and relatives of the Ramatushalone community, and by affirming their sovereign rights as first people.

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