Entertainment Commission approves Mochica and Zingari permits; Lab SF cleared with sound limits and calendar condition

The San Francisco City Entertainment Commission on Wednesday approved permits for Mochica, Lab SF and Zingari, while continuing action on a separate billiards-parlor application because of a planning issue.

Mochica, a restaurant at 1469 Eighteenth Street in Potrero Hill, received a place-of-entertainment permit after applicant Eric Cannup described plans for ambient DJ music and neighborhood outreach. The commission approved the permit with the police-recommended good-neighbor policy as a condition and a recorded roll-call vote in which all commissioners present voted yes.

The Lab SF, a nonprofit arts and performance space in the Redstone Building, was approved as a place of entertainment after lengthy discussion about past noise compliance. Staff reported that an inspector approved a 90 dB C level during a sound-abatement test and that tenants and the applicant had agreed to operational conditions including a phone line for complaints and coordinated scheduling with neighboring tenants. Applicant Tina Beard said the venue had made facility upgrades and "the 90 dB C level did not create a significant decibel change." The police representative noted the venue’s current occupancy is 49 and asked the commission to keep that in mind; Officer Parker said, "it's a very big space" and flagged the need for ABC permits when alcohol use is reasonable. Commissioners added a friendly amendment requiring The Lab to maintain a live, shared calendar of events and to provide contact information to neighbors; the commission approved the permit with those conditions.

Zingari Ristorante, a long-standing restaurant in Union Square, was approved for a limited live-performance permit. Applicant Christian Miglani and a public commenter described two decades of live piano and vocal entertainment with no history of complaints; the commission approved the permit with no added police conditions.

Separately, the commission voted to continue Peaks' billiards-parlor permit at 1316 Castro Street because of an unresolved planning issue. Action on that item will return to a future agenda.

The commission’s votes were procedural outcomes of hearings the staff said were coordinated with police stations and neighborhood stakeholders. The Lab SF approval includes the specific 90 dB C sound limit approved after testing and the requirement to maintain a calendar and a contact method for neighbors to register concerns. The commission recorded the motions, seconds and roll-call votes for each permit.

The meetings concluded with routine items including commissioner announcements and scheduling; the commission adjourned after approving the listed permits and continuing the Peaks item.