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Commission approves multiple entertainment permits; several conditional and moved items removed from consent
Summary
The commission approved a consent agenda of LLPs and separately heard and approved several permits moved to the regular agenda after neighbor outreach; one POE application was approved with limited entertainment days after neighbor objections.
The San Francisco Entertainment Commission voted to approve a series of limited-live-performance (LLP) permits and places-of-entertainment (POE) permits at its Sept. 16 meeting, adopting staff recommendations and attaching conditions intended to limit sound and require good-neighbor practices.
The meeting opened by approving the Aug. 5 minutes by unanimous vote. The commission then approved a seven-item consent agenda of LLP permits after moving two items (Playa Azul and Chocmool/Chocqueville Sports Bar) to the regular agenda for additional oversight due to neighbor opposition.
Items moved from consent and the regular-agenda permits the commission considered and approved included: - Playa Azul Seafood Restaurant & Bar, 3318 Mission St. (LLP): Staff said neighbors submitted four identical letters of opposition citing 2023 sound issues; the applicant agreed to limit live entertainment end times to 9 p.m. Sunday–Wednesday and to 11 p.m. Thursday–Saturday and to an internal sound limit and neighborhood contact. The commission approved the permit with staff recommendations. - Chocmool Sports Bar (formerly Muralis Wine Bar), 2199 Mission St. (LLP): The owner applied after citations for hosting entertainment without a permit; staff set an internal sound limit and the applicant agreed to keep doors and windows closed, monitor sound and answer a neighborhood phone line. The commission approved the permit with staff recommendations. - Brass Tacks, 488 Hayes St. (LLP with parklet/outdoor sound): Application requested parklet programming windows and outdoor amplified sound with per-day caps; staff noted a mix of letters of support and concern. The commission approved staff recommendations to permit limited outdoor programming and sound with conditions. - Anina, 482 Hayes St. (Jam-to-Bam LLP with parklet): Same ownership as Brass Tacks; staff and applicant described outreach and limited outdoor hours. The commission approved staff recommendations. - Liberty's Bar & Restaurant, 998 Guerrero St. (Jam-to-Bam LLP): Requested expanded parklet hours; staff recorded no opposition and recommended approval. The commission granted the permit. - Sabor Gafacho (formerly Taco Rouge / Nick's Crispy Tacos), 1500 Broadway (POE w/ outdoor amplified speakers): Applicant described restaurant-focused programming and outreach; staff noted one late opposition letter. The commission approved the POE with staff conditions. - El Chapoel / El Trabull Sports Bar No. 2, 2919 16th St. (POE): Inspectors had previously set an internal sound limit and neighbors submitted opposition and attended the sound test. Commissioners raised concerns about past violations and asked for closer monitoring. The commission voted to approve a POE limited to Thursday–Saturday entertainment hours (11 a.m. start; entertainment may run to 2 a.m. following morning) and aligned the SFPD security requirements to those entertainment nights (one uniformed guard Thursday; two guards Friday and Saturday). Staff will monitor compliance and reports of violations. - Long Weekend Bar, 270 Columbus Ave. (POE): Applicant described a themed, rotating immersive bar and presented community outreach; there was no recorded opposition and the commission approved the POE with staff conditions.
Several applications were approved with the standard conditions staff recommended: internal sound limits set by inspectors, a good-neighbor point of contact and a requirement that a designated on-site person or call-forwarded phone number be reachable during events to respond in real time. Some approvals also include SFPD-recommended security staffing levels and calendaring or event conditions.
Votes recorded on individual approvals were recorded as unanimous among commissioners present (President Ben Lyman; Vice President Wong; Commissioner Poggio; Commissioner Schlander). The commission instructed staff to continue monitoring compliance and to rely on progressive enforcement (inspections, notices and fines) if permit conditions are not met.
Where applicants promised operational changes (for example, installing sound insulation, keeping doors closed, and providing staff phone forwarding), staff said those commitments and internal sound limits will be reflected in permit files and enforced through the commission—s inspector visits.
