Planning Commission backs zoning changes to protect Chinatown businesses, keeps 3‑year abandonment rule

The San Francisco Planning Commission approved targeted zoning changes on Aug. 26 intended to preserve Chinatown’s small‑business character and give conditional relief for certain community‑serving uses, while retaining a three‑year abandonment period for nonconforming use‑size protections.

Veronica Flores, planning department staff, told the commission the Small Business Zoning Controls ordinance — sponsored by Supervisor Aaron Peskin’s office — would allow social service and philanthropic facilities to exceed Chinatown use‑size maximums with a conditional use authorization if the commission finds the proposed use ‘‘primarily serves Chinatown’’ and is appropriate for the parcel. Flores said staff recommended technical corrections and to retain the standard three‑year abandonment period used elsewhere in the code.

Lee Hepner, representing Supervisor Peskin,…