Planning commission approves Cafe Riviera outdoor seating at 60 Greenfield with bike‑parking, color conditions

Acting Chair Peter Strauss and the San Anselmo Planning Commission unanimously approved a conditional use permit and design review Dec. 2 for Cafe Riviera at 60 Greenfield Avenue, subject to two conditions that staff work with the applicant on bicycle parking and on providing color contrast for the building exterior.

Assistant Planner Jackson DeBronier told the commission that the proposal would convert part of the existing parking area to roughly 2,000 square feet of outdoor seating, add a new 272-square-foot awning and update the storefront. The applicant’s plans remove four existing parking stalls and reconfigure the lot to provide 11 on-site parking spaces; staff’s analysis concluded the reconfigured lot meets the town’s standard of one parking space per 100 square feet of building area and that the project is categorically exempt from CEQA under the class 3 and infill exemptions. “Staff recommends that the commission adopt a resolution and thereby determine that the project is categorically exempt from CEQA, and approve the conditional use permit and design review,” Jackson said.

Applicant Thomas Newbury, who identified himself as the owner and operator for Cafe Riviera, described the business as a fast-casual coffee-and-food concept and said typical operations would require roughly 18–22 employees at this location. Newbury said the landlord is coordinating repaving of the lot and that the applicant has considered retaining the large elm tree but that design revisions and an arborist report support removal in this configuration. “We roast our coffee in Mission Bay in San Francisco,” Newbury said, describing the concept and local ties.

Nearby property owner Richard told the commission his principal concern was parking: “I was concerned about the removal of 4 parking places,” he said, asking how accessible parking requirements would be enforced. Staff and the building department representatives said final ADA parking counts and required accessible routes will be confirmed at the building-permit stage and that the project’s current plans identify two accessible spaces but the building department will set the final number.

Commissioners expressed support for activating a long-vacant commercial site but pressed for attention to neighborhood impacts: several members urged bike parking to serve the heavy cycling traffic on Greenfield, and others voiced regret at losing the mature elm tree while acknowledging that Public Works must make the separate tree-removal determination. Commissioner Smith moved to approve the staff recommendation with two conditions — that staff work with the applicant to provide bicycle parking appropriate for the use and that staff coordinate color contrast on the building — and the commission voted unanimously to adopt that motion.

Next steps: The approval is subject to a 10‑day appeal period and the applicant will obtain required Public Works and building permits (including any tree‑removal permit) before commencing work.