While the planning department and planning commission think they can hand over approvals of permits to the city council on a silver platter, it seems this time around those two departments were not following the rules and just approving the casinos all will-nilly;
But residents argued that under zoning ordinances, alcohol isn’t to be sold within 500 feet of single family housing, even if the casinos are in a commercially zoned area, and that Soberg shouldn’t get a variance.
Councilor Greg Jamison agreed, saying the council shouldn’t stray from the 500-foot standard it established in its Shape Places zoning ordinance. “We set the standards with Shape Places, and we need to commit to that,†Jamison said. “Just the fact that this is close to single-family homes, it just doesn’t fit. It isn’t right.â€
So why didn’t the planning department catch this pesky little rule? Or did they think they were going to slip this by the council? While I am not opposed to bars in neighborhoods (they are actually great meeting places) This is NOT a bar where people sit and chat and hang out, this is a telephone booth VL casino where people become zombified in front of a machine. Also, it is too close to a school bus stop. The council did the right thing in denying this request. But will there be any repercussions for the planning department for recommending this be approved?
The reason the planning commission didn’t catch that “pesky” little rule is b/c City planning staff didn’t bother to deliver that piece of information on a silver platter to them. Hmmmm. Wonder why. And as far as I can tell the City Planning Commission just gobbles up what City staff tells them and that’s it. Not a very flattering comment, I realize.
The state wants casinos for revenue and has overruled the city before. It could happen again. This could become a landmark for overruling Shape Places. There’s already to many casinos. At this point, they’re welcomed because they’re an easy mark for robbery and there’s fewer home break ins.
I don’t think the city denied the casino, you are right, they can’t legally do that. But they can deny the use of on-sale alcohol.
Congratulations to the City Council for following the rules they created, on this one anyway. Ms. Miller was an excellent presenter and this neighborhood deserved this result. Way to go, standing up for what is right! A good example for responsible citizenship.
Sammy: I was at that meeting and am pretty sure the 500 foot detail was pointed out. The commission members should know it anyway. I think they just thought it didn’t matter what residents wanted.
Imagine that anyone in SF would think such a thing!
Pass the buck around a little further and stretch out the time it takes to resolve.
Most casinos are free beer when playing. No license required. We have more casinos in the city than churches, schools, and service clubs combined. At least we’re still top ten city on one list.