A New Chapter in Medjool's Relations to the SFBC and the Neighborhood

On September 8, 2011, there was a hearing before the Planning Commission to decide whether a Conditional Use (CU) permit will be issued to allow Medjool to continue to operate a large bar and restaurant on their roof. Viveka Chen, SFBC Chair, and Gus Murad, owner of Medjool, shared an exchange before the hearing began, in which both expressed a commitment to work together on compatible co-existence as neighbors no matter what the Commission decided. This is the spirit the SFBC is carrying forward as we proceed to work with Gus Murad, the Planning Department and other residential neighbors to finalize the conditions that will facilitate co-existence for us all.

Sept. 8, 2011, Hearing Highlights

Some members of the SFBC, most notably Viveka Chen and Council member Nancy Anding, put an enormous amount of effort into making sure the Planning Commission had access to perspectives on the situation from the neighbors surrounding Medjool. Many members of our community spoke during Public Comment at the hearing, about noise and being able to sleep primarily, but also touching on other big issues such as zoning laws, and asking that it be operated only as a restaurant (rather than a loud night club) compatible with neighbors in an enforceable way.

The Commission approved the CU. Ten (or 50%) of the conditions we submitted controlling the project are firmly in the permit. Having heard our case, the Commissioners themselves directly mandated 6 of our conditions. The Commission further directed Medjool and planning staff to work with neighbors (naming the SFBC specifically) on remaining conditions and solutions to sound impact, and the need we raised to have conditions and mechanisms for enforcing future condition compliance.

The conditions firmly in the permit as of the close of the September 8 hearing, plus some other agreements are:

• There will be a mandatory Commission review in 6 months.
• Occupancy down from 299 to 175 on the roof. We have a case to continue to advocate for a lower number based on building codes and consistency with the environmental review.
• Open space on the roof for use of 9 single room occupancy (SRO) hotel residents (on the side closer to Bartlett street.)
• Only staff serve alcohol on the roof (patrons cannot order at the bar).
• The restaurant section will be located more toward Mission and not Bartlett street
• Sound monitors will be installed and we have a mandate to work on specifications for enforcement.
• The roof top will only have background dinner music and no other entertainment (no DJ's, live music, amplified voices).
• There will be a community liaison for us to work with.
• Signs will be posted on the roof deck asking patrons to be aware of neighbors and noise.
• Security will be assigned to maintain quiet and order on the roof top.
• All these conditions will apply to any future owner of the restaurant.

As restaurants and nightclubs have been magnetized into this once empty block, we are happy that the Planning Commission is receptive to the valid concerns of the neighbors of the Medjool roof deck. The SFBC is also happy have opened communications up with our diverse neighbors through the process of bringing public dialogue into consideration of Medjool’s roof deck restaurant and bar.

Solutions to Include in the CU Permit Moving Forward

The key solution we still seek to establish trust for neighbors is to focus on 3 reasonable and fair conditions that together practically define RESTAURANT USE on the roof deck:

1. Hours of operation - closing the deck to diners at a time reasonable to accommodate food service and to deter a late-night club crowd (a few very late diners could still get food inside).
2. Seated restaurant layout - (i.e., not an open floor setting) stated in conditions and depicted on CU plans.
3. Maximum occupancy consistent with building codes for seated dining at 15 sq. ft./person for the restaurant = 120 people which should match Medjool's web page numbers. At a maximum 135 people is consistent with the required environmental review.

Defining restaurant use in this way will also make enforcement much easier. If we can work with all parties involved to secure these restaurant defining conditions it will create the trust from which we can envisage being satisfied with the conditions of use. We will have done as much as possible through a CU mechanism to ensure the interests of all in the neighborhood are considered for a future co-existence of mutual consideration.

More Info

If you'd like to watch the the Sept. 8 hearing you can do so here:

http://sanfrancisco.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=20&clip_id=13054

(Not sure how long these videos stay on SFGOVTV so link may not work at some point...)

Wednesday 6pm, Strategy Meeting at the Center, Followed By Hearing at City Hall Thursday, 1pm

The meeting time at City Hall has been set - 1pm on Thursday Sept. 8 - see you there! Please note that there is a concert on the main steps of City Hall that day so you'll need to enter from Van Ness Avenue. More details about the hearing will be posted this Tuesday.

Please join us at the Center this Wednesday, Sept. 7, 6pm, at the Buddhist Center for a Strategy meeting to organize our presentation at the hearing.

See you Sept. 8 @ City Hall!

The San Francisco Buddhist Center has served this community for almost 20 years, teaching thousands to meditate, providing housing for students and visiting teachers, renting space at an affordable rate for local non-profits and artists to congregate, and serving many city residents as their place of worship during our daily morning meditation and our weekly activities during the weekend and after-work hours. It is an asset to the city and its residents.

If the Planning Commission allows Cafe Medjool to continue to operate its large rooftop bar without guidelines or accountability, the SFBC may not be able to continue to serve this community, or provide housing. Please help us make sure the diverse needs of this neighborhood are addressed at the Planning Commission hearing.

1. Come to the hearing on September 8, at City Hall, Room 400. Please check back on Sept. 2 for timing. (Or you can Join This Site to automatically get updates.)
2. If you cannot make the hearing, please send a letter of support to: Kimberly Durandet, Planning Dept.,1650 Mission St, Suite 400, San Francisco, CA 94103. Must be submitted by 9:30am, Sept. 8th.
3. Sign our petition!
4. If you would like to help in other ways, please contact Nancy at ncanding [at] sbcglobal.net

JOIN US AT CITY HALL SEPT. 8!

Around the corner from the SFBC, Medjool Restaurant and Bar has been running a large outdoor, rooftop bar and restaurant without proper permits since 2005. On September 8, 2011, the case will finally come in front of the Planning Commission!

If granted a Conditional Use Permit (CUP), they will be legally allowed operate the "sky terrace", which in the past has been extremely problematic for their neighbors including the residents and meditators at the SFBC. (For more info see our blog post from the Feb 2010 Board of Appeals hearing, below.)

Only a strong neighborhood presence can assure that the Planning Commissioners will seriously consider the neighbors' perspective on co-existence with Medjool. Show your support for creating liveable conditions for all families and non-profits which are an integral part of
the Mission Neighborhood. Please join us at the hearing!

The date is Thursday, September 8, at City Hall, Room 400. Our case will be heard some time between 1pm & 4pm. Follow this blog to stay updated on the most current information (just click the Follow button on the right.) If you would like to help us organize and

Environmental Review Under Way

The following letter was sent recently by the San Francisco Planning Department:

NOTIFICATION OF PROJECT RECEIVING ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW

Date:	June 25, 2010
Case No:	2009.0342E
Project: Address:	2516 Mission Street/Medjool Sky Terrace
Zoning:	Mission St Neighborhood Commercial Transit (Mission NCT) Use District 55-X/65-B Height and Bulk District
Block/Lot:	3616/061
Lot Size:	6,760 square feet
Staff Contact:	Sarah Jones, (415) 575-9034, sara.b.jones (at) sfgov.org

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The proposed project is authorization of use of the building's roof deck as accessory space to the Medjool restaurant and lounge. Approved uses in the building include 8,000 square feet of restaurant/bar use on the ground floor and mezzanine levels and 33 guest rooms, comprising the Elements hotel, in the second and third floors. The project sponsor is requesting authorization to use the buildings roof area as follows: 3,414 square feet for dining/outdoor cooking/bar use and 320 square feet for required open space serving the hotel guests. The project would include construction of laminated glass sound attenuation screens in locations that are currently unscreened on the northern and southern sides of the proposed dining area, as well as infill of existing openings on lower floors of the building with sound attenuating glass.

PURPOSE OF NOTICE

The project is being studied by the Planning Department's Major Environmental Analysis section to determine its potential environmental effects. No environmental documents have been issued for this project. Public comments concerning the potential environmental effects of this projects are welcomed. In order for your concerns to be fully considered or ensure your receipt of future environmental review documents for this project, please contact the staff identified above by July 13, 2010. This notice is routinely sent to community organizations, tenants of the affected property and properties adjacent to the project site, and those persons who own property within 300 feet of the project site. Anyone receiving this notice is encouraged to pass on this information to others who may have an interest in the project.

Environmental review provides information on physical environmental effects and does not make recommendations on the project itself. Other review or approval actions may be required for the project. These actions may involved further public notification and public hearings. If you have comments on the proposed project that pertain to matters other than physical environmental effects, please note the file number and call Ben Fu at 558-6613.

Planning Dept Now Reviewing Medjool's Rooftop Noise Impact on Neighbors

Medjool's rooftop restaurant and bar is now being actively reviewed by the city's planners to determine its impact on the neighborhood. The planners are being very thorough in trying to understand our community issues and we appreciate their efforts. (Sarah Jones at 415-515-9034 or Ben Fu at 415-558-6613). The project will likely come in front of the Planning Commission at a public hearing on a Thursday afternoon in late June or July.

Please show your support for the SFBC and Medjool's other residential neighbors by attending the hearing. We will provide more information here when we have it. If you live in a 300 foot radius of Medjool, watch your mail for notices from the Planning Department. They will be sending a postcard to let neighbors know that the environmental review is under way. This means they'll be looking at noise and other community impacts. Ten days before the public hearing date is scheduled, they will send another notice. Once the mailers have gone out we will post here, so check back regulary (or follow this blog to stay updated -- just click the Follow button on the right.)

REQUESTED ACTION: SAVE THE DATES!

Why? See the news from the February 10 Board of Appeals hearing below.

Planning Commission hearing in April or May
Block out several hours on Thursdays in April and May starting at 1:30, to be ready when the Medjool case is heard at the Planning Commission. We need to be prepared to offer the impacted neighbors' point of view on whether conditions in the conditional use permit adequately address noise impacts on neighbors. Follow this blog to stay updated (just click the Follow button on the right.)

Board of Supervisors meeting in July or August if an appeal is necessary:
Block out Tuesdays at 2:00pm (several hours if you can).

Other ways to help:
As our Feb 5 blog post below states, we have been touched by the 350 people who signed our petition or wrote letters in favor of the City requiring Medjool's rooftop to address community impacts. Click here to read some excerpts from letters of support. If you haven't already, please sign our petition, or help us secure neutral legal advice for the concerned neighbors' point of view by making a donation (specify 'noise impact fund'.) Thank you and we hope we can count on your continued support as we work to coexist with Medjool.