Yesterday, the S.F. Planning Commission recommended an exemption for 555 Fulton from the neighborhood's formula retail ban, meaning a large chain grocery store would be allowed at the site.
SFGate reports that the Commission voted 4-2 in favor of the developer's request to have the site exempted from the ban. A rep for the developer told the Commission that no independent store had shown interest in the location, so lifting the ban was the only viable way to get a supermarket to take the space. As we reported on Tuesday, the Hayes Valley Neighborhood Association had been advocating to preserve the formula retail ban for the location, and Supervisor London Breed had urged the Commission to delay a decision so that alternative solutions could be explored. The Commission was split, but ultimately ruled in favor of the developer. The decision still must be approved by the full Board of Supervisors before it goes into effect. No word on when that will happen, but we'll keep an eye on it.
SFGate reports that the Commission voted 4-2 in favor of the developer's request to have the site exempted from the ban. A rep for the developer told the Commission that no independent store had shown interest in the location, so lifting the ban was the only viable way to get a supermarket to take the space. As we reported on Tuesday, the Hayes Valley Neighborhood Association had been advocating to preserve the formula retail ban for the location, and Supervisor London Breed had urged the Commission to delay a decision so that alternative solutions could be explored. The Commission was split, but ultimately ruled in favor of the developer. The decision still must be approved by the full Board of Supervisors before it goes into effect. No word on when that will happen, but we'll keep an eye on it.
