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Committee approves recommendation to amend planning code to allow larger health‑service uses in West Portal
Summary
The committee voted 3-0 to forward an amended ordinance to the Board of Supervisors that would permit certain health‑service uses up to 5,000 gross square feet in the West Portal neighborhood commercial district without a conditional use permit, allowing a long‑standing local practice to relocate and expand.
On Jan. 13, 2025, the Land Use and Transportation Committee unanimously recommended that the Board of Supervisors approve an ordinance amending the Planning Code to permit certain health service uses up to 5,000 gross square feet without a conditional use permit in the West Portal neighborhood commercial district.
Chair Mirana Melgar introduced the legislation, saying it would allow a long‑standing neighborhood merchant, identified in the record as Dr. Li Li Moside, to move and expand from 380 West Portal to 2907‑299 West Portal (block and lot clarified by a technical amendment). The committee discussion noted that the Planning Commission recommended approval on Dec. 5 and that Planning Department staff had recommended increasing or removing the existing 4,000‑square‑foot limit for the district.
Aaron Starr, manager of legislative affairs for the Planning Department, said staff recommended the change and was available to answer questions. Supervisor Ahsha Safaí Mahmoud (recorded as Supervisor Mahmoud) voiced support for sending the measure to the full Board, while also expressing a preference for broader, holistic rezoning of commercial corridors to address a patchwork of rules affecting vacant storefronts.
The chair offered a technical amendment to clarify the block and lot number (to read Block 2989B, Lot 17) and moved to send the amended ordinance to the full Board with a positive recommendation. There was no public comment on the item. The clerk recorded three ayes (Member Mokwaen, Member Fielder, Chair Mirana Melgar) and the motions passed.
The change would alter the district’s conditional‑use requirements to allow certain health service uses up to 5,000 gross square feet; the transcript records the Planning Code sections cited in support of findings but does not provide zoning text beyond the square‑footage change. The Planning Department said it will work with neighbors and merchants as the change moves forward to the Board.
