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Board upholds Other Avenues parklet permit on Judah Street over parking objections
Summary
The San Francisco Board of Appeals denied an appeal of a parklet and street‑improvement permit for 3930–3940 Judah Street, finding the Department of Public Works, Planning and SFMTA followed city criteria. The decision preserves a proposed 50‑foot public parklet and associated bike corral despite local business objections about parking.
San Francisco — The Board of Appeals voted 4–1 on July 17 to deny an appeal of a Department of Public Works permit allowing Other Avenues Food Store to build a 50‑foot public parklet at 3930–3940 Judah Street, a decision that commissioners said reflected wide community support and compliance with city review procedures.
James Kelleher, owner of Ju Delicious Juice, had urged the board to block the parklet, telling commissioners the block already has “two parklets” and that “parking is at a premium,” arguing that a third parklet would further squeeze customers and deliveries. Opponents cited double‑parking and delivery truck conflicts near Muni tracks and said disabled or older customers need street parking.
Other Avenues co‑op president Wayne Landers and co‑owner JB Remberg told the board their application included outreach, more than 500 signatures and 80 letters of support, and design changes to accommodate accessibility and bicycle parking. Remberg emphasized the business case for parklets, saying the project “will enable us to meet these goals” and help small businesses by creating more pedestrian amenities.
Representatives from the city stood behind the permit. Nick Elsner of the Department of Public Works said DPW’s review focused on the technical design and safety; Paul Chassen of the Planning Department explained the parklet program’s outreach and design criteria; and Wil Tabahonda of the Municipal Transportation Agency described how a 50‑foot parklet with a 14‑foot bike corral could translate into losing about two on‑street vehicle stalls but said the city has tools (loading zone timing, curb changes) to manage deliveries and mitigate double‑parking.
Commissioners weighed competing evidence, including examples of parklets improving foot traffic and studies cited by proponents that suggest walkable amenities can increase local commerce. Kelleher said those case studies and Valencia Street examples do not translate automatically to the Outer Sunset block and pointed to tight blocks and a heavily used Muni line. Supporters, including neighborhood organizations and the SF Bike Coalition, argued the parklet would be public space that benefits both residents and businesses.
After deliberation, commissioners concluded the application met DPW and Planning standards, including outreach and technical criteria. The board’s majority decision noted the multi‑department review and the planning commission’s prior action; one commissioner dissented, citing concerns about dedicating public curb space where neighborhood consensus was not clear.
The permit stands. DPW’s engineering and planning requirements and the parklet’s conditions of approval remain in effect; the decision can be appealed only under the applicable administrative rules. The permit holder said it will move ahead with final preparations and coordination with agencies on bike parking and maintenance.
The department made the initial permit decision following public notice and hearings; the Board of Appeals heard arguments from both sides and more than a dozen members of the public before issuing its ruling.
