Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use Culture topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee backs amendments to allow arts activities and nighttime entertainment in RCD historic properties, exempts St. Joseph’s Church
Summary
The committee approved amendments to permit arts activities across RCD districts and to allow nighttime-entertainment uses in historic/RCD buildings, adopting an amendment to exempt Saint Joseph’s Church (1401 Howard St.) from a conditional-use requirement so it may host nighttime events; the file was sent to the full board as amended.
The committee voted to forward an ordinance that would allow arts activities as a principally permitted use in Residential-Commercial Districts (RCDs), permit nighttime-entertainment uses in historic and contributing buildings, exempt certain nighttime entertainment from a 200-foot buffer in the RCD, and require preservation, rehabilitation and maintenance plans for affected properties.
Supervisor Matt Haney offered amendments to exempt Saint Joseph's Church (1401 Howard Street), a federal and city landmark, from the conditional-use requirement so nighttime-entertainment use could be principally permitted at that property. Planning Department representative Diego Sanchez summarized prior commission review and said both the Historic Preservation Commission and Planning Commission recommended approval with modifications. "The ordinance was very well received by both commissions," Sanchez said.
Speakers from St. Joseph's Art Society and land-use counsel for the property urged approval, stating that allowing nighttime entertainment as a permitted use would help make expensive historic renovations economically feasible and keep the church as a community gathering place. One public commenter cautioned about the risk that such rules could be used to convert more historic spaces into party venues.
The committee accepted Supervisor Haney’s amendments without objection and sent the ordinance, as amended, to the full board with a positive recommendation.
