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Committee advances several planning‑code fixes aimed at helping small businesses, hours extensions and legalization paths
Summary
The committee approved technical amendments and forwarded multiple planning‑code items intended to activate vacant storefronts (a two‑year pilot), allow catering as an accessory use, create a legalization pathway for three Union Street massage establishments and permit limited nonconforming uses to operate until midnight with conditional-use authorization.
Members of the Land Use Committee on Monday advanced a package of planning‑code amendments intended to support small businesses, clarify uses and extend operating hours for specified nonconforming uses.
Item 1: Chair Katie Chang described a two‑year pilot that would remove public‑notice and Planning Commission review requirements for certain uses in Districts 4 and 11 to encourage businesses to occupy vacant storefronts. The committee adopted the technical amendments that repositioned the ordinance text for consistency with a recent planning‑code reorganization and forwarded the item to the full Board as a committee report.
Item 2: An ordinance sponsored by Supervisor Safaie (not present) would allow catering as an accessory use in place of restaurants under defined circumstances. Henry Knoelowicz of the Council of District Merchants spoke in favor, saying the measure provides opportunities for local caterers and helps activate commercial spaces. The committee moved item 2 forward with a positive recommendation and as a committee report.
Item 4: Supervisor Catherine Stephanie proposed amendments to legalize three massage establishments in the Union Street Neighborhood Commercial District that missed earlier filing deadlines (Equinox Fitness, Element Body Works, Spa Radiance). The Planning Commission had recommended two changes: an 18‑month timeline to file building permits to legalize operations and limiting eligibility to existing massage uses in the district. The committee accepted the amendments and continued the item for one week to accommodate a continuance triggered by the deputy city attorney’s office.
Item 6: Planning Department manager Aaron Starr described an ordinance that would allow limited nonconforming uses (typically small retail, low‑impact offices or arts/entertainment venues) to operate until midnight with conditional‑use authorization. He cited a conditional‑use hearing for a nonconforming venue (Chicken John’s at 3359 Cesar Chavez) as the catalyst. Committee members asked about outreach and the types of uses affected; Starr said there were no comments at the Planning Commission hearing. The committee forwarded the item with a positive recommendation.
All of these items were advanced as committee reports or continued for short periods to allow technical or legal processing. Several members noted the broader policy aim of activating commercial corridors and preserving low‑impact neighborhood uses.
