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Supervisor Haney pushes 18-month interim zoning controls to protect SoMa nightlife; committee forwards resolution
Summary
The Land Use & Transportation Committee voted to forward Supervisor Matt Haney’s resolution imposing up to 18 months of interim zoning controls in western SoMa that will require conditional-use authorization for conversions away from nighttime-entertainment uses. Supporters including venue owners and workers said the measure could save longstanding venues such as Mezzanine; property owners and counsel raised legal and drafting concerns.
Supervisor Matt Haney introduced a resolution to impose an 18‑month interim zoning control in a portion of South of Market that would require anyone seeking to change a nightclub or bar to another use to first obtain conditional‑use authorization.
Haney said the measure aims to protect an industry central to San Francisco’s culture and economy and cited controller figures he summarized for the committee, noting nightlife’s concentration in the city’s northeastern neighborhoods and the role venues play in employment and cultural life. “It is vital that we protect these nightlife venues and corridors,” Haney said during his remarks to the committee.
The resolution defines a specific SoMa boundary and would trigger a case‑by‑case review of proposed conversions from nighttime entertainment to other uses for up to 18 months while the city studies longer‑term protections. Haney told the committee the interim control is intended as a temporary tool to buy time for more permanent policy work.
Dozens of people representing venues, workers and cultural organizations testified in support. Deborah Jackman, owner of Mezzanine, described the venue as “a staple in the San Francisco music and culture and nightlife industry” and urged the committee to act to preserve spaces that offer performance opportunities to local artists. Ben Blyman, identified as president of the Entertainment Commission, urged support and asked landlords to negotiate in good faith with tenants.
Speakers representing Mezzanine and other venues — including talent buyers, promoters, bartenders and managers — said the venues supply jobs and affordable places for emerging artists. Todd Critten, who identified himself as a building owner leasing to Mezzanine, described his long tenure as a local small‑business owner and noted lease history; Critten’s counsel later raised concerns that an interim control could affect planned occupancy of upper floors.
Property owners’ counsel argued the interim control may be improperly drafted for an interim basis and that it could interfere with tenants’ and owners’ rights; the attorney for the Critton family said they hold a recorded lease to return to upper‑floor occupancy and requested the record reflect their concerns.
The committee voted to forward the resolution to the full Board with a positive recommendation and without objection from the three‑member committee. The measure will next be considered by the full Board of Supervisors, where the specific boundary text and legal basis for the interim control may be examined further.
What happens next: the resolution goes to the full Board with the committee’s positive recommendation. If adopted, the interim control would last up to 18 months while staff and the Board pursue permanent policies to protect nightlife venues.
