Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Entertainment and it's value in West SoMa
PLEASE FORWARD
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SoMa Leadership Council
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
6:00 PM in the community room of the Folsom/Dore Apartments
1346 Folsom Street (between 9th and 10th Streets)
"... to ensure that South of Market remains a
compassionate, diverse, vibrant and complete neighborhood."*************************************************************************
Revisiting entertainment: new nightclubs, okay ... new housing, not?
At this afternoon's Planning Commission presentation of the Western SoMa Community Plan, it was suggested during public comment that the light industrial zoning south of Harrison Street be extended into the 11th Street area because, under that new zoning category, entertainment would become a permitted use. The Task Force liberalized the zoning because new housing in the SALI (Service, Arts and Light Industrial) district would not be allowed.
Why stop at 11th Street? South of Market already contains almost half the Place of Entertainment permits in the city. Does Folsom Street needs more too? What about other areas that have a high concentration of entertainment venues?
Of course, outlawing housing would be a pretty extreme step and the nonconforming status imposed on existing housing would wreak havoc with property values. The city might consider instead simply making new nightclubs a fully permitted use alongside the existing housing, although every application promises to be a pitched battle. That explains why there isn't a long line of applicants agitating to open new nightclubs in an area that's rapidly becoming much more residential.
Of course, if entertainment zoning is back on the table, stricter limits on the industry are also worth considering. Good planning is supposed to avoid creating any more conflict between incompatible uses. The SALI zoning introduces the concept of buffer zones to protect a few Residential Enclave Districts south of Harrison Street. In other areas, such as near senior housing, entertainment has proven to be completely inappropriate. The conflicts between housing and nighttime entertainment run deep in some parts of SoMa. Are you ready for another neighbor/nightclub war?
Many of you participated in the public process which helped to create the Western SoMa Community Plan. You attended many meetings of the Arts and Entertainment Focus Group, which met for more than a year. Others spoke up at the three town hall meetings we held at Bessie CarmichaelSchool. That's where the rough outlines of the current recommendations came from. You might have thought that this issue was settled.
Besides the three town halls, the Task Force listened and discussed this as an agenda item 41 times at various committee meetings and voted on changes to the existing controls at 22 meetings of the full Task Force. It's not as if we haven't given this lots of attention. The Task Force ultimately decided to recommend that we (1) leave entertainment as a legal, non-conforming use in the mixed-use neighborhoods north of Harrison Street, (2) change the zoning south of Harrison Street to make all forms of Place of Entertainment a fully permitted use, (3) allow the non-conforming status that every existing venue holds to remain with the property for a reasonable length of time following demolition of the building so that it could be built into new construction, and (4) create an accessory entertainment permit that would be allowed in the Folsom Street Neighborhood Commercial District. This seemed to be a reasonable compromise.
"Revisiting entertainment" will be the theme at next week's SoMa Leadership Council. If you care strongly about the subject, one way or another, don't miss this meeting.
Skate park under freeway undergoes environmental review
The long awaited skate park under the Central Freeway touch-down ramp is one step closer to reality. The Planning Department recently issued a “Notification of Project Receiving Environmental Review” for the proposal, which includes the skate park and a mini-park, with basketball courts, play areas, a dog run, lighting, plantings and a pedestrian walkway.
Neighborhood notification required for “limited live performances”
You have the right to request notification of all applications for the new Limited Live Performance permit within your neighborhood. The stated purpose of the legislation is to allow principally permitted uses such as cafes and restaurants to supplement their current business model with accessory entertainment. Supervisor Mark Farrell amended the ordinance to require that the Entertainment Commission “provide a copy of all Limited Live Performance Permit applications and the corresponding public hearing notices within a specified geographic area to any Person who, in writing or by email, requests such and identifies the area.
The SoMa Leadership Council meets on the third Wednesday of every month in the community room of the Folsom/Dore Apartments The public is always welcome. For more information, visit our web site at ...
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Monday, October 10, 2011
Monday, October 3, 2011
Thursday, September 29, 2011
October 1st and 2nd is off the HOOK IN SF ENTERTAINMENT
Voter Registration Drive with HARD FRENCH.
The only party that I am ever envious of not throwing myself throws a VOTER REGISTRATION Funk Fest 2-8 at El Rio! Details at www.hardfrench.com and www.facebook.com/hardfrench. Chock full of celebrities, trannies, mannies and elected officals! This is co sponsored by the Harvey Milk LGBT Democratic club details http://www.facebook.com/pages/Harvey-Milk-LGBT-Democratic-Club/117532891655126 or http://www.milkclub.org/. Either way this is the place to be Saturday before heading to.....
Homo Homecoming the homecoming themed fundraiser for Mayoral Candidate John Avalos and masterminded by Lil Miss HotMess! More Information: http://avalosformayor.org/2011/09/saturday-october-1st-homo-homecoming/ or: https://services.myngp.com/ngponlineservices/Event.aspx?Y=FrZ0S4jyDpXualvcqBdIOIsBriSs7ZAWGXiVQ17v4DR2BF4mPntvVg%3d%3d.
There will be..
Dancing with DJs:
- Bus Station John (Tubesteak Connection)
- Pink Lightning (Stay Gold)
Pep Rally Performances By:
- Ambrosia Salad
- Anita Whitemann
- Brock Cocker
- Fauxnique
- Glamamore
- Rotissary Ethnicity Jackson-Houston Ross
- Tommi Avicolli Mecca
And More School Spirit:
+ Date Auction – win a date with a big queer on campus!
+ Homecoming Photos by Shot In The City
+ Sound by QT Sound System
Dress Code:
Brat Pack dress code strongly encouraged: nerds, jocks, princesses, outcasts, burnouts!
Buy tickets (only $10) in advance to win free drink tickets & other prizes!
IN BETWEEN THERE IS SAVIOR SOUL AND IT'S 5 O'CLOCK SOMEWHERE.
Savior Soul is at the Powerhouse and is a monthly Fundraiser 6-10 benefiting the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. More info http://www.facebook.com/groups/170358779675372/ or http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=235038543213511
It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere is at the Stud and it's reliving the 90's with Dean Disaster. More info http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=198412203561335
See you all at the Castro Street Fair where Charlie Horse celebrates it's 6th Anniversary of joining The WORLD OF WONDERMENT interactive section of the street fair. We will be the hoard of Fortunetellers! More information http://www.castrostreetfair.org/pages/barnabys_world.html
See everyone I know this weekend obviously! Yeah Summer!
Anna
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
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