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Planning Commission approves expanded Cafe at 2367 Market with extensive noise and operating conditions
Summary
After months of neighborhood negotiation and evidence of reduced but persistent complaints, the commission authorized expanded uses at Cafe (2367 Market) subject to a long list of conditions, mandatory on-site posting of conditions and periodic employee reviews; neighbors and supporters remain divided over soundproofing and hours.
The Planning Commission approved conditional-use changes for the business at 2367 Market Street on March 20 after an extended neighborhood negotiation that produced a lengthy set of conditions addressing noise, hours, trash and operations.
Staff and code-enforcement staff described months of follow-up after prior violations; the cafe—s representatives and neighborhood groups negotiated a package of conditions (more than 40 in the draft), soundproofing commitments and monitoring provisions. Lou Belanger, representing the cafe, told the commission the owners and manager had worked intensively with multiple neighborhood associations and would accept conditions requiring annual employee reviews, on-site posting of the conditions of approval, and the exploration of enclosing the west-side deck to reduce noise transmission.
Opponents documented a history of calls for police service and asked the commission to deny expanded dancing and to remove proposed fast-food operations on Seventeenth Street. Brian Kendall, a nearby resident, said police-call logs for the property showed 44 reports in a recent nine-month period and argued the neighborhood should not bear the cost of retrofits to fix long-standing noncompliance.
Supporters and neighborhood associations said outreach and operational change had improved the situation, and some residents who patrol the area reported reduced audible bass after partial soundproofing. The commission adopted a motion to approve the conditional use with the sponsor—s additional conditions (posting the conditions on-site and requiring the sponsor to review conditions with employees on hire and annually; and to pursue glazing/enclosure of the balcony if feasible), and set performance-review check-ins to monitor compliance.
