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Supervisors Back Committee Report on Polk Street Liquor-Store Relocation Rule; Duplicate File to Consider Broader Amendments
Summary
The Land Use and Transportation Committee voted unanimously to forward an ordinance clarifying that temporary closures and relocations of legacy liquor stores in the Polk Street Neighborhood Commercial District do not constitute abandonment. Sponsor Supervisor Aaron Paskett asked staff to duplicate the file so broader, substantive amendments can be drafted after Memorial Day.
The Land Use and Transportation Committee voted unanimously May 17 to recommend an ordinance that would treat temporary closures or relocations of liquor stores in the Polk Street Neighborhood Commercial District as a continuation of use rather than abandonment.
Supervisor Aaron Paskett, the item’s sponsor, told the committee the measure is modeled on earlier neighborhood-specific legislation and is intended to let long-standing “legacy businesses” relocate temporarily during major construction without losing their prior entitlements. “This is everybody doing good by doing well,” Paskett said, thanking Planning Department staff and the city attorney for rapid work on the item.
Planning Department staff Audrey Merlini told the committee the Planning Commission recommended creating a temporary use authorization (TUA) for legacy businesses displaced by demolition, new construction or force majeure. Under the commission’s recommendations the TUA would allow relocation within the same zoning district or to another location where the use is principally permitted, would initially last up to four years (with extensions up to six years total), would not waive other agency permits, and would allow a business to return to its original site without new zoning approvals or impact fees.
During public comment, local residents voiced mixed concerns. Linda Chapman urged caution, citing past problems attributed to concentrations of liquor licenses in the Polk area; another caller, Chris Schulman, a Lower Polk resident and nonprofit director, supported the sponsor and said he looked forward to participating in follow-up discussions.
The committee voted to recommend the original file as a committee report and also agreed to duplicate the file so supervisors can return with substantive amendments after the Memorial Day recess. Both motions passed unanimously.
Next steps: The original file will appear on the Board agenda as a committee report; the duplicated file will be continued to the call of the chair so staff and supervisors can develop additional amendments and broader policy language.
