Entertainment Commission approves Phonobar limited-live permit; adds staff sound check condition

The San Francisco Entertainment Commission voted unanimously on March 6 to approve Phonobar's limited-live performance permit for 370 Grove Street, adding a condition that commission staff perform a sound check to set an operating sound limit.

Owner Christopher (Chuck) Lukasick described Phonobar as "a place for people to experience musics of all genre on a high fidelity sound system," saying he had done neighborhood outreach and installed sound-attenuation measures, including custom acoustic curtains and plans for additional glazing and vent vibration mitigation. He said the venue will operate primarily as a restaurant and bar with music as a complementary element; the limited-live permit restricts live music to 10 p.m., and the bar and kitchen can remain open until 2 a.m.

Acoustic consultant Andrew McKee of Charles Saltler Associates said his team conducted site measurements and found that even running the system at a high center level (about 100 dBc) the measured music breakout to the street and neighboring properties was "still in compliance with the police code." McKee said the venue expects to operate between roughly 96 and 100 dBc and recommended facade improvements. The operator said he plans to buy a remote-controllable limiter to prevent DJs from exceeding set levels, though the limiter was spec'd but not yet ordered.

Neighbors offered mixed testimony. Scott Anderson, who lives at 355 Grove Street across from the Performing Arts Garage, said he had lived in the building 14 years and reported numerous noise incidents with the prior tenant, multiple calls to police, and difficulty getting consistent enforcement; he said he was not contacted by the Phonobar team before construction. Stefano Casalotto (registered lobbyist observing the hearing) and Trent Berry (Hayes Valley resident and recording-studio owner) told commissioners that the new operators appeared proactive, had engaged reputable consultants, and deserved approval.

Commissioners acknowledged the neighborhood history and the importance of accountability. Commissioner Lee moved to approve the permit with an additional condition requiring a staff-conducted sound check to set a sound limit; the motion was seconded and passed on a unanimous vote (Commissioners Lee, Blyman/Lyman, Thomas, Camino, Perez and President Tan voted Aye). The permit remains limited to a 10 p.m. live-music curfew and allows the operator up to 12 one-night event permits per year for later performances.

Commissioners noted staff resources for responding to post-curfew complaints (311, commission staff and enforcement agencies) and asked the operator to maintain open lines of communication with neighbors. The action concluded with the commission instructing staff to perform the sound check and set enforceable monitoring conditions as part of the permit record.