Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Local Business topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board revokes secondhand‑dealer permit for West Portal location, cites defective notice
Summary
The board revoked a recently issued secondhand‑dealer permit for a West Portal business after finding the police department's public posting of the permit was defective (posted for two days rather than the required ten), and the police department indicated it no longer supported the permit.
The Board of Appeals revoked a secondhand‑dealer permit for a proposed Bay Area Gold & Silver Buyers store at 162 West Portal Avenue after finding the Police Department’s notice procedure was defective.
Police representatives told the board that although the permit had been issued, station staff later learned they had not posted the permit notice for the required 10‑day period; Captain Curtis Lum said he became aware of more than 80 letters of opposition only on the Monday before the appeal, and that his station had not had the opportunity to review the opposition before recommending approval. The department therefore said it no longer supported granting the permit, and the permit holder informed police she would withdraw her application.
The merchants' representative argued the permit issuance process had violated department rules and deprived the neighborhood of the opportunity to weigh in. The board found the public notice at issuance to be defective and voted 4–0 to revoke the permit, directing staff to send the permit holder a 'no‑show' letter and follow the board's administrative procedures for revocation and any rehearing requests.
Board members said the department could reconsider the permit through the proper notice process or the applicant could reapply; the revocation preserves the community’s right to review the application under the proper posting rules.
