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Committee backs removing conditional-use requirement for formula retail on Van Ness Avenue
Summary
The Land Use and Transportation Committee of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors on April 21 voted to send an ordinance to the full Board removing conditional-use authorization for formula retail uses on lots that front Van Ness Avenue and clarifying that a change in owner or operator of a preexisting formula retail business that had not previously received conditional-use authorization would not be treated as an intensification requiring new approval.
The Land Use and Transportation Committee of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors on April 21 voted to send an ordinance to the full Board removing conditional-use authorization for formula retail uses on lots that front Van Ness Avenue and clarifying that a change in owner or operator of a preexisting formula retail business that had not previously received conditional-use authorization would not be treated as an intensification requiring a conditional-use authorization.
The move is intended to make permitting for chain retail along Van Ness Avenue consistent for lots facing the corridor and to incorporate findings required by the Planning Code. Committee Chair Supervisor Mirna Melgar presented the item on the agenda; Lorenzo Rosas appeared to speak on behalf of “Supervisor Cheryl” during the item.
The ordinance text, as read into the record, affirms the Planning Department’s California Environmental Quality Act determination and includes the Planning Code findings of consistency with the general plan and the eight priority policies in Planning Code §101.1, and findings of public necessity, convenience and welfare under Planning Code §302. A public commenter who identified herself as a long-time San Francisco resident and owner of a building on Venice Avenue expressed support for the ordinance and urged stronger police enforcement of vandalism in commercial corridors.
Supervisor Bridal Mahmood made the motion to forward the ordinance with a positive recommendation as a committee report; the committee recorded the following votes: Vice Chair Cheyenne Chen, aye; Member Mahmood, aye; Chair Mirna Melgar, aye. The motion passed 3-0.
The committee did not adopt substantive changes to the ordinance at the hearing; by prior arrangement the item may be considered by the full Board on April 22, 2025.
Details on timing or implementation of the change were not provided in committee. The ordinance text cited above and the Planning Department’s CEQA determination were introduced in the transcript as the legal bases for the action.
