The Planning Commission deferred action on SBUD 17-53, an application to amend a special-purpose district for 1629 Northwest 16th Street (the Midtown plaza area) to allow an expanded bar or "speakeasy" use, after neighbors raised concerns about outdoor patios, increased occupancy and late-night noise.

Applicant representative David Box described the request as removing an existing square-footage limit so the back 1,500-square-foot area could operate with the main bar. Box said the prior SPUD limited bar/restaurant gross area to 4,764 square feet and the applicant sought to reallocate an adjacent 1,500 square feet for a bar use.

Residents spoke forcefully in opposition. Samuel Day said the plaza already contains some of the city’s busiest nightlife venues and warned that larger indoor or outdoor bar spaces could produce higher noise levels and safety concerns. “This is already the most intense use in the plaza,” Day said, noting an occupied bedroom window is only about 20 feet from the alley that could serve as an outdoor patio area.

Commissioners expressed concern that the current application did not include enforceable limits or mitigation for an outdoor patio adjacent to residences. Following the public comment, the applicant agreed to defer. David Box told the commission, “I will defer it. We'll do August 14 for now. We'll get with, Sam.”

Action: The commission approved a continuance to the August 14 meeting to allow the applicant and neighborhood representatives to work through concerns and potential conditions.

Why it matters: Neighbors cited noise, late-night operations, and proximity of patio spaces to bedroom windows as primary concerns. The deferral gives staff, the applicant and residents time to propose and evaluate possible restrictions on outdoor patios, hours of operation, occupancy, and sound mitigation before the commission makes a recommendation to City Council.

What’s next: The item is scheduled to return to the Planning Commission for further consideration at the August 14 meeting.