Commission approves conditional use authorization at 1131 Polk, removes 'locally owned' language from findings

On Feb. 4 the San Francisco Planning Commission approved conditional use authorizations to allow nighttime entertainment uses and a nonresidential space greater than 2,000 square feet at 1131 Polk Street — the location where the Hemlock Tavern once operated — but the commission voted to remove language in the findings that the project "would be a locally owned establishment."

Kevin Guy of current planning presented the staff recommendation and noted staff received one email of opposition and several communications of support from area residents and businesses, which emphasized the project's potential to revitalize the Polk Street corridor once pandemic restrictions lift. The proposed new building will include approximately 3,570 sq. ft. of commercial space within an otherwise-approved six-story, 54-unit building.

Alexis Pelosi of the Pelosi Law Group, representing the property owner and project sponsor, said legislative changes worked with Supervisor Peskin to permit the Hemlock use to return, but that two separate conditional-use authorizations are required to reestablish a bar/entertainment use in a new building. Pelosi said the sponsor has conducted outreach and submitted four letters of support; she also said it remains uncertain whether the original Hemlock operator will return given pandemic disruptions.

David Villalobos, president of the Lower Polk Larkin Business Collaborative and an adjacent resident, urged a continuance for more community outreach, saying the project sponsor had not returned calls or emails and that outreach could resolve outstanding concerns.

Commissioners debated whether the findings should assert the project "would be a locally owned establishment". Commissioner Diamond called that phrasing confusing because the sponsor is seeking approval for the use rather than naming an operator; staff confirmed there is no code requirement the operator be locally owned. Commissioner Moore expressed a preference for supporting local entrepreneurs but accepted that the condition was not a legal requirement. The commission agreed to delete the sentences referencing a locally owned business from the findings.

With that modification, the commission moved to approve the matter under discretionary review; the motion passed unanimously and the item was placed on the discretionary review calendar for final action.