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Commission approves yogurt shop at Lakeshore Plaza; Baskin Robbins franchise to be displaced
Summary
The Commission granted a conditional-use authorization for Nuvi Yogurt at Lakeshore Plaza (1511 Sloat Boulevard), despite public petitions and pleas from local Baskin Robbins franchisees. Commissioners noted landlord/tenant limits on their authority and encouraged the parties to pursue a conditional-use application if the center seeks to change its restaurant cap.
The Planning Commission on April 2 approved a conditional‑use authorization for a small self‑service yogurt restaurant at Lakeshore Plaza (1511 Sloat Boulevard), voting 5–2 after hearing extensive public comment from local franchisees and customers who sought to keep the existing Baskin Robbins in the center.
Staff (Michael Smith) told the Commission that the owner’s decision not to renew Baskin Robbins’ corporate lease left a vacancy and that changing the number of permitted restaurants in the center would require a separate conditional‑use filing by the shopping‑center owner. Property management’s representative (Andrew Junius) said the corporate lease belongs to a national entity and owners had given 8 months’ notice to the chain; management said employees would be encouraged to apply for jobs at the new tenant and that they had offered opportunities to the incumbent franchisees (SEG 1256–1276, 1298–1316).
Neighbors and the local franchisees presented petitions and thousands of signatures in support of keeping Baskin Robbins. Commissioners acknowledged sympathy for employees and customers but said the Commission’s land‑use jurisdiction does not extend to landlord‑tenant decisions; the approval focused on code criteria for a self‑service restaurant and required standard neighborhood conditions. The motion to approve included conditions to minimize disposable products, encourage recycling and require the sponsor to help police litter and loitering within a 100‑ to 200‑foot radius.
Outcome: The Commission approved the yogurt shop with conditions, 5–2 (two commissioners opposed). Staff and the parties noted that a separate duly noticed application would be required if the Lakeshore Plaza ownership seeks to change the center’s restaurant limits to allow both tenants to operate concurrently.
