Entertainment Commission continues Playa Azul permit to April 19 after neighbors report persistent noise

The San Francisco Entertainment Commission voted unanimously on Feb. 2 to continue consideration of a limited live-performance permit for Playa Azul, a long-running Mission restaurant at 3318 Mission St., until its regular meeting on April 19, 2016.

The decision followed testimony from neighbors who said sound from mariachi performances and an amplified jukebox has been audible from about 9 a.m. until midnight and has made sleep and home life difficult. "It's been a living nightmare," neighbor Lisa de Silva told the commission, saying repeated complaints and calls to police had not resolved the problem. Audrey Redfield, another neighbor, said she recorded police directions and repeated late-night music despite apparent prior police requests to reduce volume.

Proprietor representatives Everardo Sanchez (general manager) and Carlos Morales (restaurant partner) told the commission they have taken steps to reduce sound: asking mariachis not to come except on weekends, lowering the jukebox volume, disconnecting some external speakers and scheduling construction to add soundproofing. Sanchez said he had not realized a permit was required and said two officers advised him not to contact neighbors directly; he said he had been following SFPD guidance.

Contractor Marcelo Strata of Speedy Construction described planned acoustic work including three-inch wall insulation, RC channels, Type X drywall and acoustic caulking; he estimated pacing that could allow completion in the spring. The applicant said the framing is in place and that final insulation and finishes remain.

Commissioners and staff focused on three unresolved issues: (1) whether current open-wall construction is allowing sound to leak into adjacent housing, (2) the reported SFPD instruction that the operator should not engage neighbors directly, which commissioners requested be clarified by police, and (3) a test or inspection to demonstrate that sound has been contained once work is complete.

Rather than deny the application — which would require reapplication and fees — the commission accepted a motion to continue the matter to April 19, 2016. The commission recorded a unanimous vote in favor of the continuance and instructed the applicant to notify the commission office when construction is complete so staff can deploy an SF Entertainment Commission sound inspector for testing. President Brian Tan cautioned the applicant not to play music until the matter returns to the commission, noting that additional police complaints would be violations of city code.

The commission also asked that SFPD staff attend the April 19 hearing or provide written clarification about the earlier advice the operator said he received. The applicant agreed to return with police and neighborhood representatives available to respond to outstanding questions.

Outcome and next steps: The Playa Azul permit hearing is continued to April 19, 2016. The applicant may request a sound test before that meeting once construction and soundproofing work are complete; SFPD was asked to clarify prior instructions to the operator and to engage with neighbors.