Committee forwards ordinance to allow conditional bar permits in Castro NCD

The Land Use Committee voted to forward an ordinance as a committee report that would amend the Planning Code to make bar uses conditionally permitted in the Castro Neighborhood Commercial District (NCD), replacing the existing outright prohibition on new bar uses in that district.

Jacob Bentliff, representing Supervisor Mandelmann's office, described the issue: while there are existing bars in the Castro that are grandfathered, the current zoning prohibits new bar uses. An entrepreneur seeking to open a wine bar found she could not do so under current rules. "So this way there would still be an opportunity for the community to weigh in on a case by case basis," Bentliff said, explaining the ordinance would allow conditional permits and community and Planning Commission review.

Planning Department staff and commissioners had recommended the change. The Small Business Commission and the Planning Commission both voted unanimously to recommend approval in December. The ordinance affirms the Planning Department's CEQA determination and finds consistency with the city's general plan and the Planning Code's eight priority policies.

Public comment included a Castro resident, Jesse Oliver‑Sanford, who argued that the existing pattern of bar ownership in the Castro has excluded women, trans people and people of color and urged supervisors to support the ordinance to expand opportunity and preserve neighborhood diversity.

The committee accepted a motion to forward the ordinance as its committee report. Chair Supervisor Mirna Melgar and other members recorded 'aye' votes and the item passed unanimously as a committee report to the full Board.