Mayor’s Small Enterprise Restoration Act survives tight vote from Planning Fee – The San Francisco Examiner
Mayor London Breed has focused on helping San Francisco small businesses in their plans to recover the city from the COVID-19 pandemic.
As part of it, she introduced the Small Business Recovery Act in March, calling it a crucial step in easing the path for opening new businesses and adapting existing businesses as a means of survival.
Despite the strong support from the business community and the mayor’s office, the legislation was hardly pushed ahead with a positive recommendation by the planning commission on Thursday evening with a vote of 4: 3.
The Small Business Recovery Act builds on Proposition H, passed by voters in November 2020, to streamline the city’s approval process and free many small business owners from the costly fees, review times, and generally complicated red tape that can deter some from to open a business altogether.
The legislation includes a number of changes to the Business and Tax Regulations Code and the Police Code that will extend the benefits of Prop. H – namely a 30-day guaranteed permit processing window and reduced public notice requirements – to ground floor businesses in a wider area of ?? Zones expand categories, not just within city districts.
It also allows a company to transition more easily into free space that was previously occupied by a company of the same type. guarantees a 90-day conditional approval process for bars and nightlife entertainment; enables companies to use their physical spaces for more than one purpose, e.g. B. for sharing a kitchen or adding a roof terrace; extends the opening hours of entertainment venues where live performances can take place; and nullifies the need for one-time performance permits.
Support is predictably coming from some of San Francisco’s most dedicated hospitality and recreational players, including the Golden Gate Restaurant Association, the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, and the Union Square Improvement District.
“Our attitude towards our city needs to change,” said Sharky Laguana, president of the Small Business Commission, who testified in his capacity as a small business owner during a public comment.
Planning commission members who voted against were not against the ordinance in theory, but said the city was moving too fast for such a complicated law. Instead, they urged officials to devote more time to public relations and to conduct an improved analysis of the potential impact.
Calling the legislation “simplifying” some of the challenges small businesses face, Commissioner Kathrin Moore unsuccessfully proposed a sequel to allow more time to resolve “loose ends” and adapt legislation to specific neighborhoods.
Others, who called to testify during a public comment, cited a litany of reservations, including nocturnal residential noise; Lack of equity in implementation; and the perceived limits of community input for new projects.
Proponents of the legislation, meanwhile, countered that an “urgent crisis” facing local merchants and their workers requires action, even if imperfect.
“We don’t have the luxury of spending a lot of time analyzing trying to find the perfect policy that will perfectly handle everyone’s problems,” said Laguana. He also acknowledged that “there may be things we need to change and fix,” but remained steadfast in his belief that it is important to take those steps now.
The proposed regulation will next be heard before the Board’s Land Use and Transport Committee. A hearing is not yet planned.
cgraf@sfexaminer.com
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