Board advances North Beach planning‑code overhaul after failed split‑file effort

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted 8–2 on Oct. 28 to pass on first reading an ordinance that remakes planning rules in District 3, a measure its author said is designed to fill empty storefronts and speed permitting for small businesses.

Supervisor Sauter, the ordinance’s author, told the board the changes “will allow faster reviews for small business owners who want to open by adding North Beach into the city's priority permitting processing program,” and argued the package removes duplicative rules while preserving public notice and formula‑retail protections.

Supervisor Connie Chan moved to divide the file and send the portions affecting North Beach and Jackson Square back to the Land Use Committee after several neighbors and merchants raised concerns about oversaturation and storefront mergers. “I do have to admit that I do have personal feelings and attachment to the neighborhood that I grew up in,” Chan said, citing opposition letters from neighborhood business groups and listing specific code sections she wanted revisited.

Deputy City Attorney Bridal Ressy told the board that while members can request dividing a question, the complexity of Chan’s proposed split meant staff could not determine on the spot whether both parts would stand on their own as separate ordinances. “In this case, due to the complexity of what Supervisor Chan has requested, it's not possible for me to determine whether both parts can stand on their own at this time,” Bridal Ressy said, urging the board to allow staff time or to continue the item.

The board then voted on a procedural motion to send a duplicate of the ordinance to the Land Use Committee for further work; the motion failed on a 5–5 vote. After further debate, supervisors voted to pass the ordinance on first reading, with Supervisors Walton and Chan voting no.

Supporters, including supervisors who represent other districts, said the measure was refined through multiple hearings and could unlock stalled small‑business plans. Opponents and some merchants warned that certain subareas of North Beach, especially pockets with low vacancy, deserved more tailored protections.

The ordinance will return for further action consistent with the board’s rules and the required second reading. The board’s action preserves existing conditional‑use and formula‑retail controls that supporters said would prevent big‑box chains from changing the character of the neighborhood.