Planning Commission denies conditional use for tobacco-paraphernalia sales at 1135 Market Street

On Sept. 18, 2025, the San Francisco Planning Commission voted unanimously to deny a conditional use authorization that would have legalized an existing tobacco paraphernalia establishment at 1135 Market Street.

Planning Department staffer Lizzie Mow recommended denial after summarizing enforcement history and neighborhood letters. The staff report noted a planning code enforcement case and city attorney task-force inspection that found the tobacco-paraphernalia use was not authorized; it also cited letters from the Mid-Market Business Association, the Mid-Market Community Benefit District, and the Tenderloin Housing Clinic describing concerns about drug use and loitering at the property. Staff told the commission the site had a history of SFPD calls for service and Department of Public Health violations.

The business owner, Farhad Nabi, told the commission he had operated at the location for 16 years and said tobacco-paraphernalia sales represent a small share of his business — “It's like 5% of my business” — and that he had not been approached directly by community groups before enforcement actions. A representative of the Tenderloin Housing Clinic told the commission the organization had met with the owner previously and supported the staff recommendation of denial, citing ongoing loitering and drug-dealing concerns in the area.

Commissioners discussed the challenging neighborhood context and the importance of sidewalk maintenance and community cooperation. Several commissioners encouraged the owner to work with neighborhood organizations and business groups. After deliberation the commission adopted a motion to deny the conditional use authorization; the roll-call vote was unanimous.

Action: motion to deny conditional use authorization for tobacco-paraphernalia sales at 1135 Market Street — passed unanimously.