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Commission imposes revised security conditions on The Heights, keeps entertainment cap at 1 a.m.
Summary
After staff warned The Heights and police urged restrictions, the commission adopted a set of conditions for the venue but removed a proposed ban on admitting new patrons after 1 a.m., instead requiring entertainment to stop at 1 a.m.; the motion passed on roll call.
The Entertainment Commission on Dec. 14 adopted revised conditions for The Heights (place-of-entertainment permit EC934, 2080 Van Ness) following staff warnings and repeated incident reports.
Inspector Granelli presented a 16-item set of conditions recommended to address recurring public-safety and noise complaints associated with the venue and with a nearby parking lot used by patrons. Counsel for The Heights, Art Lipton, and manager Maddie Pongtorn told the commission the operator had taken steps—doubling security, consulting a fire marshal, and limiting outside promoters—but requested time to review the proposed conditions because the venue is for sale and potential buyers may want input.
One proposed condition would have barred new patron entry after 1 a.m.; Commissioner Micco raised concerns that the venue is licensed to operate until 2 a.m. under its ABC (Alcoholic Beverage Control) license and argued such a restriction could be a restraint on lawful business operations. Commissioners resolved that concern by accepting a friendly amendment: strike the no‑entry-at‑1 a.m. condition but retain a requirement that entertainment (DJs, live acts) must stop at 1 a.m. The motion to adopt the 16 conditions as amended carried on a roll-call vote.
SFPD inspector Dave Falzon addressed legal scope: the ABC Act regulates sales, service and consumption of alcohol rather than hours of operation, and local jurisdictions can impose more restrictive local conditions when public-safety grounds are articulated. Falzon noted the department is examining other tools, including potential liquor-license revocation, if safety problems persist.
What the commission ordered: the revised, inspector-suggested conditions become part of The Heights’ permit as amended—operators must end entertainment at 1 a.m., meet the additional security and monitoring requirements specified by staff, and coordinate with SFPD regarding the parking-lot nexus and patrol coverage.
Next steps: staff and SFPD will monitor compliance and may revisit additional restrictions if incidents continue; permittees retain appeal rights if suspensions or revocations are sought.
