Tuesday night's community meeting on the proposed North Beach Farmers Market got fiery fast, as some in the room asked organizers to consider alternate locations.

The meeting, held at the San Francisco Italian Athletic Club (1630 Stockton St.), was part of the outreach process for the new market, which has been in the works for almost a year. The market is looking to get approval from the city to close off Green Street between Columbus and Grant avenues from 7am-2pm every Saturday, beginning in May. (The market itself would run 9am-1pm, with the rest of the time dedicated to setup and take-down.) 

But only a few minutes into the meeting, the tone got heated. Richard Azzolino, owner of Sotto Mare Oysteria and Seafood Restaurant, which is on the affected block of Green, began yelling at presenters and other attendees, and didn't stop throughout the meeting. He said he and others in the area are concerned that the market will negatively affect local businesses, and asked the organizers to consider other streets.

Richard Azzolino.

Azzolino showed us a petition opposing the market location, with signatures from nine business owners on the block; he said he's working on getting more. A Change.org online petition in support of the market, combined with paper petitions circulated in the neighborhood, has about 600 supporters. 

Trish Herman of North Beach Neighbors (NBN) kicked off the meeting by talking about the market's origins. Last February, NBN noticed interest in a market, "so we set up a committee. One of the first things they did is to set up an online survey, to determine whether there was support."

After seeing "overwhelming support" for the proposed market, NBN reached out to the Agricultural Institute of Marin (AIM), which has organized seven other markets in the city.

As Herman spoke, a video screen behind her displayed a series of quotes from people supporting the market. She was interrupted by Azzolino and another man, who objected to the fact that only positive quotes were shown and yelled at her to turn the screen off or to shut off the projector, which she did. 

From there, Tanya Small, chief operating officer of AIM, gave a slide presentation on her organization, and its educational and charitable components. She also discussed the positive effect AIM's markets have had on area businesses, particularly on Clement Street.

Tanya Small (left) and Trish Herman.

One of the first questions from the audience was why the market couldn't take place at Joe DiMaggio Playground. "That was my first choice," said Herman, "and I was turned down." She said SF Recreation & Park won't allow the Off the Grid food trucks there anymore, either.

Washington Square Park was also brought up, but Herman said Rec & Park also declined to approve that, citing the fact that farmers' heavy food crates could damage the grass. (We reached out to Rec & Park for comment, and will update this story when we hear back.)

Update, 2/24: Joey Kahn of Rec & Park wrote us to say, "Joe DiMaggio playground opened in November 2015 after a $7.3 million renovation. As with all new surfaces, we were concerned about damage to the new asphalt and therefore, did not permit trucks to be there. That phase is over and groups are welcome to apply for a permit, pending community feedback concerning the impacts on the park. In regards to Washington Square Park, we do not permit Farmers’ Markets in grass areas due to possible damage."

Herman and Small told us after the meeting that finding a location that ticked all of the boxes in North Beach was not easy. In order to make the market work, they need a space long enough for 30 stalls, along with access to safe and adequate parking for farmers' trucks. Due to visibility, they said, markets are more successful when on a commercial strip, and re-routing bus lines needs to be avoided, if possible. 

With that said, Herman told meeting attendees she'd be willing to look at other locations, including Greenwich Street between Columbus Avenue and Powell Street and Francisco Middle School.

Azzolino was at the microphone for much of the meeting, asking questions of the organizers and expressing his displeasure at the chosen location. Saturday is the busiest day of the week for his restaurant, he said, and he was concerned about receiving deliveries and the lack of parking. "Has there been a written study of traffic?" he asked. "Has there been a written study of businesses?” 

Herman told us after the meeting that the owner of the surface parking lot adjacent to the former Buon Gusto supported the market, as he has other nearby lots he can use for valet parking on Saturdays. (Saturday mornings see a brisk brunch business in the area.) Farmers will use that lot to park their trucks, so they're not using other street parking or blocking businesses.

Azzolino also noted that the annual North Beach Festival comprises the two worst days of the year for his business. Business falls as organizers bring in food vendors, he said, but plenty of people still come in to use his restrooms.  

Small said that the goal was to impact businesses as little as possible. At the Clement market, she said, AIM doesn't bring in any food vendors that overlap with existing restaurants. "We are very respectful of businesses that are there ... [the Clement Market] has brought a lot of business to that Clement Street area.”

Throughout the meeting, Azzolino shouted down presenters as they attempted to speak. When Herman, discussing safety, said she'd talked to SFPD Central Station Capt. David Lazar regarding the market, Azzolino yelled, "Ask the captain. That’s not true. Ask the captain. Ask the captain. That’s not true. You’re a liar." Capt. Lazar, who was in the room, took the microphone and asked for "a little civility," adding, "Let’s work together; keep things peaceful."

Capt. Lazar explained that he was asked about the location from a safety perspective only, and can't weigh in on matters of fire access, restroom availability or other issues. "My response [to Herman] was, if we’re going to talk about my narrow scope here, I don’t have a problem with the safety aspect of it," he said.

He also said that no extra officers would be added for the market, but that he'd ask the beat officer on duty to make extra rounds in the area. No matter where the market is located, "something that brings the community together is always positive in my book," he said to applause.

Jimmy Schein.

Jimmy Schein, of Grant Street antique map and print store Schein & Schein, also stood up to ask for "constructive alternatives." While Azzolino had valid concerns, he said, he was also "bullying" people. 

"The business owners on Green Street do not want this there,” Azzolino said. Another person responded: "Who are you to speak for all of the owners?" 

At the meeting's start, the crowd numbered more than 60 people, not including presenters and children. But many gradually filtered out during Azzolino's outbursts, and we heard several say they won't eat at Sotto Mare again.

"I think we heard enough tonight," Herman concluded at the me, promising another meeting in the future. "Unfortunately, it’s been somewhat hostile. I apologize to the families who had to listen to this."