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Supervisors Tang and Safaie introduce small‑business attraction pilot to speed storefront openings in two districts
Summary
Supervisors Katie Tang and Safaie introduced companion legislation to create a pilot easing notification requirements for certain permitted change‑of‑use storefronts in Districts 4 and 11 to reduce permitting time and encourage new small businesses.
Supervisors Katie Tang and Safaie introduced coordinated legislation on May 8 to create a small‑business attraction pilot covering Districts 4 and 11. The pilot would eliminate neighborhood notification requirements for certain changes of use where the new use is already permitted in the zoning district, with the stated aim of shortening permitting timelines and reducing storefront vacancy.
Tang said the pilot would not change requirements for uses that still require conditional‑use review (for example, alcohol, live entertainment, cannabis or massage uses) and would preserve supervisors’ ability to protect local zoning and district character. Tang and Safaie said the change could shave “3 to 6 months” off the opening timeline for a typical small business and free up planning staff time to focus on housing and other city priorities.
Safaie said he had pursued parallel work on similar policy and requested the city attorney draft language to consider prevailing‑wage protections for workers who collect and recharge electric scooters — a separate staff request he also announced. Tang and Safaie invited other supervisors to cosponsor and said their offices will pursue committee referral and hearings.
The item was introduced and entered into the record; no board vote was taken that day.
