Planning Commission approves Upper Market rezoning; creates limited path to legalize Cafe Flor’s off‑site kitchen in 6–1 vote

The San Francisco Planning Commission voted 6–1 to recommend a package of zoning changes for Upper Market that converts remaining blocks from the Neighborhood Commercial District (NCD) to the Neighborhood Commercial Transit (NCT) zone, adjusts height designations on select parcels, and creates a limited path to legalize an off‑site accessory food‑processing kitchen used by Cafe Flor.

Supervisor Scott Wiener, who authored the measure, told the commission the package advances three goals: extend the Market Octavia plan zoning rules to the orphan block, restore intended height controls for certain lots, and provide a legal route for an existing off‑site kitchen that has operated for decades to come into compliance and continue supporting a neighborhood business.

The measure would (1) convert remaining Upper Market parcels from NCD to NCT to provide consistent density controls, (2) amend one lot’s height designation to permit up to 65 feet as part of Market Octavia‑era alignment, and (3) create a narrowly tailored accessory‑kitchen provision allowing food processing behind existing storefronts on the west side of Noe Street…