Planning commission approves modified outdoor-hours and soundproofing conditions for Jones at 620 Jones St.

The San Francisco Planning Commission voted unanimously to approve a modification of conditions for the outdoor activity area at Jones, 620 Jones Street, after a two-week follow-up on neighborhood noise complaints.

Planning staff told the commission the revised motion corrects incorrectly posted conditions and updates permitted hours to reflect current operations: outdoors may remain open until 2 a.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, New Year’s Eve and Gay Pride Sunday, and until midnight Sundays through Thursdays; live outdoor performances remain limited to 7 p.m. and are subject to the Entertainment Commission’s decibel limits. Carly Grove of the Planning Department said the department recommended adding a requirement that any building permit for the space demonstrate acoustical insulation and other soundproofing measures.

Neighborhood speakers said earlier voluntary agreements had been breached and described repeated late-night disturbances. Jordan Langer, representing the operators, said the business has already removed shrubbery to allow a sound test, is replacing plantings and has contracted acoustical consultants; he said amplified music is not played outdoors except for Gay Pride Sunday. “We do not do amplified music outside,” Langer said, and described steps such as closing large pivot doors during louder events.

Commissioners pressed staff and the operator on enforceability. Commissioner Fong asked how the Entertainment Commission measures sound; staff replied that limits depend on ambient noise and that Jones’s current limited live-performance permit incorporated a 68-decibel cap. Commissioners added conditions requiring the plan for any building permit to incorporate acoustical insulation and soundproofing elements, stronger language around researching improved sound-mitigation measures, and calendaring a written 6‑month look-back report and possible hearing on May 7 to reassess operations and complaints.

The commission’s approval included the department’s suggested conditions, the additional acoustical requirement, and the 6‑month review. The motion passed by roll call with all seven commissioners voting aye.

Next steps: staff will incorporate the revised conditions in a written approval and the commission will receive the mandated 6-month update; enforcement of decibel limits remains with the Entertainment Commission and the Department of Public Health where applicable.