Yesterday’s hearing at City Hall had it all — neighborly love, uncomfortable exchanges, laughter, an over-the-top villain, sporadic outbursts of applause, and ultimately, a victory for Cafe du Soleil.
Here’s how it all went down.
The Planning Commission kicked things off with a summary of the situation — basically that Cafe du Soleil wants permission to host acoustic jazz music and poetry readings Thursdays through Sundays. They also announced that the Commission had received 600 signatures and multiple anecdotes in support of the Cafe — and 4 letters and one phone call in opposition.
Then the floor was opened for public comment, and that’s when things got interesting.
Lots of supporters showed up for the hearing — so many, in fact, that only a few were actually chosen to speak. But those few painted a picture of a much-loved cafe that has become a peaceful neighborhood oasis since replacing the raucous and much-maligned Movida Lounge 5 years ago. Speakers included long-time residents who had watched the neighborhood evolve, a musician who emphasized San Francisco’s need for live music venues to keep the city’s cultural heritage alive, and the Cafe’s owners, who were positively glowing in their assessment of the neighbors and neighborhood.
A few of the supporters also absolutely dismantled the most vocal opponent of the Cafe’s plans, a lawyer who we’ll just call “Mr. H.” Mr. H was described as a “professional grinch” who likes to cause trouble in the neighborhood, even going so far as to sue the Animal House pet store across the intersection because he finds their regular Saturday morning pet adoption fairs to be disruptive.
Mr. H was at a deposition yesterday, we were told, and unable to attend the hearing, but his partner, who we’ll call “J”, filled in. J explained that the couple lived across the intersection from Cafe du Soleil, had two young children, and feared that the Cafe’s plans would be disruptive to the children’s nap and sleep times, and that the potential for up to 9 consecutive hours of jazz music was “totally unacceptable.”
J did succeed in humanizing Mr. H and putting a face on the opposition to the Cafe’s plans, but the fact that he and Mr. H live across the intersection and not adjacent to the Cafe really made it hard to sympathize with their fears that the cafe’s acoustic jazz might disrupt their children’s sleep. And the fact that not a single speaker corroborated their viewpoint certainly meant the hearing was lopsided.
Before voting, the Commissioners offered their own opinions, expressing that they thought the Cafe’s plans were reasonable and reflecting on their ties to the neighborhood. Finally, they amended the permit, actually stripping a clause that would have forced the Cafe to keep the door closed during music sessions.
The vote came quickly, and it was unanimous in favor of the Cafe’s plans. It was met with an enthusiastic round of applause.
Planning Commission hearings aren’t the most riveting theater, but this one did give some insights into the nature of the neighborhood, and it was great to see so many people rally in support of a local business’s efforts to bring more life to the Lower Haight.
Video of the hearing is online here. It lasts about half an hour, so if you have the time and interest, we recommend checking it out.