Planning Commission approves Polk Street code changes to allow Buy Right expansion and larger neighborhood groceries

The San Francisco Planning Commission on Dec. 1 voted unanimously to approve a Planning Code amendment intended to let neighborhood groceries expand and to simplify storefront mergers in Polk Street’s neighborhood commercial district. Veronica Flores of the Planning Department told commissioners the ordinance—introduced by Supervisor Aaron Peskin—would allow replacement of a legacy general grocery with a general grocery larger than the current 4,000‑square‑foot limit and would remove a conditional‑use requirement in narrowly defined circumstances if an expansion occurs into an adjacent building on the same lot.

Why it matters: Commissioners and staff framed the measure as a targeted effort to help independent grocers remain viable in high‑cost commercial corridors. Flores said the department recommends approving the ordinance with three modifications, including principally permitting general grocery uses up to 5,000 square feet and expanding storefront‑merger rules to allow same‑lot mergers for general groceries up to that size.

Buy Right, the neighborhood grocer that prompted the legislation, explained how the change would work in practice. A representative said Buy Right is operating from the former Real Foods site and aims to merge a 14‑foot adjacent storefront; owner Sam Moghanam told the commission his family has been “operating Buy Right in San Francisco for almost 60 years” and that the merger would expand the market’s footprint from roughly 8,200 square feet to about 9,600–9,800 square feet to improve sanitation and operations.

Commissioners focused on safeguards. Several members sought reassurance that removing a conditional‑use authorization in the limited replacement scenario would not let formula retail or chain outlets bypass review. Flores and staff answered that existing formula‑retail controls would still require public hearing and CUA review if a formula retail use were proposed; with that assurance, Commissioner Diamond moved to approve the ordinance with all three staff modifications.

The vote and next steps: The commission approved the amendment, 6–0. The ordinance as modified will proceed through the city’s legislative process. The Planning Department noted the proposal is intended to preserve legacy grocers while keeping formula‑retail protections in place.

What remains open: Staff and several commissioners urged the Board of Supervisors and department to continue broader evaluations of neighborhood commercial district controls to ensure the changes balance local retail preservation, uses on ground floors, and larger commercial corridor policy.