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BOARD OF APPEALS

CITY & COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO

AGENDA FOR REGULAR MEETING - WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2004

5:00 P.M., CITY HALL, ROOM 416, ONE DR. CARLTON B. GOODLETT PLACE

 

(1)         PUBLIC COMMENT

At this time, members of the public may address the Board on items of interest to the public that are within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Board except agenda items.  With respect to agenda items, your opportunity to address the Board will be afforded when the item is reached in the meeting with one exception. When the agenda item has already been reviewed in a public hearing at which members of the public were allowed to testify and the Board has closed the public hearing, your opportunity to address the Board must be exercised during the Public Comment portion of the calendar.   Each member of the public may address the Board for up to three minutes.   If it is demonstrated that comments by the public will exceed 15 minutes, the President may continue Public Comment to another time during the meeting.

 

(2)  COMMISSIONERS COMMENTS & QUESTIONS:

 

(3)  ADDENDUM ITEMS: 

(3A)  REHEARING REQUEST:                                                

Subject property at 1170-1180 Green Street.  Letter from Kathleen Courtney, agent for Russian Hill Community Association, appellant(s) / requestor(s), requesting rehearing of Appeal No(s).  04-070, decided on November 10, 2004.  At that time, upon motion by Commissioner Fung, the Board voted 5-0 to uphold the subject permit on condition that the skylight not exceed 3 feet in height as measured from the finished elevation of the ceiling.  Project: on 6-unit apartment building, expansion of building by addition of partial 3rd floor, renovation of 2nd floor, and conversion of some crawl space to automobile parking.  Permit Holder(s): Jeffrey Horowitz.

 

(3B)  JURISDICTION REQUEST TO ALLOW LATE FILING OF APPEAL:                                                   

Subject property at 1290 Chestnut Street.  Permit issued on September 8, 2004.  Last day to appeal was September 23, 2004.  Jurisdiction request received on November 29, 2004.  Letter from Madeline Camisa, requestor(s), asking that the Board take jurisdiction over Building Permit Application No(s). 2004/09/08/3605.  Project: on an office building, convert office to laundry, and a small 4’6” X 8’0” addition (one-story addition on the NE corner).  Permit Holder(s): Cheryl Chen, Shih Hsiang and Chiu-Hung To Chen.  Note:  Appeal No(s). 04-131, Sheppard vs. DBI, PDA, was filed by Douglas Sheppard against the subject permit on September 23, 2004 and then withdrawn by the appellant on Nov. 17, 2004.

 

(3C)  JURISDICTION REQUEST TO ALLOW LATE FILING OF APPEAL:                                                   

Subject property at 193 Lower Terrace.  Permit issued on March 12, 2004.  Last day to appeal was March 29, 2004.  Jurisdiction request received on November 18, 2004.  Letter from Bob Wheeler, requestor(s), asking that the Board take jurisdiction over Building Permit Application No(s). 2003/08/28/3384.  Permit Holder(s): Mahmoud Larizadeh.  Project: on 2-unit building, alteration to existing building; new garage; lift building to create garage.  Note: Public hearing held on December 8, 2004.  For further consideration today.

 

(4)  APPEAL NO. V04-135

STEPHAN SMITH &

ALEX AGBAY, Appellant(s)

                        vs.

 

ZONING ADMINISTRATOR, Respondent

 

 

23 Eureka Street.

Protesting the granting on September 24, 2004, to Holger Menendez (Subject Property Owners Nancy & Patrick Hamill), Rear Yard Variance (proposal is to raise by 5’-6” the rear building that encroaches into the required rear yard to create habitable area at the ground floor).

VARIANCE CASE NO. 2004.0070V.

FOR HEARING TODAY.

 

(5)   APPEAL NO. 04-035

CRYSTAL LEI, Appellant(s)

                        vs.

DEPT. OF BUILDING INSPECTION, Respondent

 

 

337 – 28th Avenue.

Appealing the suspension on April 23, 2004, of Building Permit Application No(s). 2003/04/15/2287, 2003/07/15/9528, & 2003/05/27/5515.  Reason(s) for suspension: the scope of work and building information described on the building permit applications and approved plans does not reflect the actual condition and legal use of the building. 

PUBLIC HEARING HELD AUG. 18, 2004.

FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION TODAY.

 

(6)  APPEAL NO. 04-068

TERRANCE FORGETTE, Appellant(s)

                        vs.

 

DEPT. OF BUILDING INSPECTION, Respondent

 

239 Greenwich Street.

Appealing the suspension on June 15, 2004, of Building Permit Application No(s). 2003/10/06/6615.   Reason(s) for suspension: the project (stair reconstruction) requires a Certificate of Appropriateness and thus was approved in error by the Planning Department. 

FOR HEARING TODAY.

 

(7)  APPEAL NO. 04-119

YIM HO & CHEUNG KAM LEUNG, Appellant(s)

                        vs.

 

DEPT. OF BUILDING INSPECTION, Respondent

PLANNING COMMISSION DISAPPROVAL

 

§ 14 Parties:  PING WONG & YU CHAN WONG

331 Girard Street.

Appealing the denial on September 3, 2004, of Permit to Alter a Building (on single-family house: repair fire damage; interior alteration; add one story plus rear addition; and one more unit).

APPLICATION NO. 2003/12/01/1345S.

FOR HEARING TODAY.

 

(8)  APPEAL NO. 04-120

1776 SACRAMENTO STREET

HOMEOWNER’S ASSOCIATION, Appellant(s)

                        vs.

ZONING ADMINISTRATOR, Respondent

 

Subj. Prop. Owner(s):   AMERICAN BUDDHIST

                                     CULTURAL SOCIETY

 

 

 

1750 Van Ness Avenue.

Appealing a determination dated August 30, 2004, addressed to Stephen Williams, that because Planning Code § 243(c)(8)(D) references use limits prescribed under § 243(c)(8)(A), and since § 243(c)(8)(A) specifically identifies “non-residential uses” to which the use limitation would be applicable, a use is considered nonconforming only when the ratio of specified residential uses to the specified non-residential uses is not met; and that those uses not specifically listed under “non-residential uses” and which do not meet the prescribed ratio would not be considered nonconforming uses provided they are permitted by the underlying zoning controls of the Van Ness Special Use District. 

FOR HEARING TODAY.

 

(9)  APPEAL NO. 04-132

ALISON JOSEPH, Appellant(s)

                        vs.

ZONING ADMINISTRATOR, Respondent

 

 

 

1244 – 1268 Sutter Street.

Appealing a determination dated September 17, 2004, addressed to Alison Joseph, that the proposed office expansion at 1268 Sutter Street requires a Planning Code § 321 application for office space and a Conditional Use (CU) application for change of use above the ground story.

FOR HEARING TODAY.

 

ITEMS (10A) & (10B) SHALL BE HEARD TOGETHER:

(10A)  APPEAL NO. 04-134

ELLEN TSANG, Appellant(s)

                        vs.

DEPT. OF BUILDING INSPECTION, Respondent

 

 

 

2646-2648 Hyde Street.

Protesting the issuance on September 22, 2004, to Phil Fernandez, Permit to Alter a Building (on 2-unit residential building: repair existing roof deck at rear; repair existing door at rear on ground floor; repair existing exterior stairs at rear).  

APPLICATION NO. 2004/09/22/4898.

FOR HEARING TODAY.

(10B)  APPEAL NO. 04-144

ELLEN TSANG, Appellant(s)

                        vs.

DEPT. OF BUILDING INSPECTION, Respondent

PLANNING DEPT. APPROVAL

 

 

 

2646-2648 Hyde Street.

Protesting the issuance on September 30, 2004, to Phil Fernandez, Permit to Alter a Building (on 2-unit residential building: modify Building Permit Application No. 2004/09/22/4898; resurface existing roof deck; deck surface only; remove existing membrane and tiles).  

APPLICATION NO. 2004/09/30/5627.

FOR HEARING TODAY.

ADJOURNMENT.

Note: Each item on this agenda may include the following documents: 1) Appellant's Preliminary Statement of Appeal and Brief; 2) Permit holder's, Respondent’s or Other Parties’ Brief; 3) Appellant’s Reply; 4) Department decision, order, permit, determination, resolution, or Notice of Violation; and 5) Correspondence.  These items are available for review at the Board's office, 1660 Mission Street, Room 3036, front counter.  Please call 415-575-6880 if you have any questions concerning this agenda. 

Date posted: December 9th, 2004.

 

 

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF APPEALS

 

                                    KATHLEEN HARRINGTON                  PRESIDENT

                                    HISASHI B. SUGAYA                       VICE PRESIDENT

                                    FRANK FUNG                                   COMMISSIONER

                                    RANDALL KNOX                                COMMISSIONER

                                    SABRINA N. SAUNDERS                  COMMISSIONER

 

CLAUDINE WOEBER  -  OFFICIAL COURT REPORTER  415-506-0430; THE PRESIDING OFFICER WILL CALL A RECESS AT 6:30 P.M. & WHENEVER NECESSARY FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF THE COURT REPORTER.

 

PROCEDURE AT HEARINGS

The order of presentation of an appeal shall be as follows: In the case of appeal of denials, revocations and suspensions the representatives of the department, board, commission or person from whose order the appeal is taken shall speak first and shall be allowed seven minutes for their presentation and three minutes for rebuttal.

The appellant whose permit has been denied, revoked or suspended shall be allowed seven minutes for oral argument and three minutes for rebuttal.

In the case of protest appeals, the protestor shall speak first and shall be allowed seven minutes to present oral argument and three minutes for rebuttal, and the permit holder shall be allowed seven minutes to present oral argument and three minutes for rebuttal.   The Board may request a departmental response at its own discretion.

Other persons desiring to speak before the Board on an appeal may speak once for up to three minutes, unless the presiding officer further limits time uniformly. 

SPECIAL NOTES

Mailed notices of public hearings on appeals are sent to all parties at least five days prior to the date of hearing.   In the event that a matter is continued to a specific date by the presiding officer and announced to the parties in the hearing room, no additional mailed notice will be sent.  Please call the Board office at 575-6880 for scheduling or other information during regular business hours, or visit our website at www.sfgov.org/boa

Briefs are limited to twelve pages, excluding exhibits, which should be tabbed for easy reference.  The complete Rules of the Board are available for review at the Board office.

Material submitted by the public for Board review prior to a scheduled hearing before the Board, should be addressed to the Board President, and be received at the Board office, 1660 Mission Street, Room 3036, no later than 4:00 p.m. the Thursday (six days) prior to the scheduled public hearing.  Persons unable to attend the scheduled public hearing may submit written comments regarding a calendared item to the Board office.  Comments received before noon on the day of the hearing will be made a part of the official record and will be brought to the attention of the Board at the public hearing.   For complete distribution to all Commissioners of the Board, necessary staff and case files, submit an original and ten copies.

Pursuant to Government Code § 65009, if you challenge, in court, the approval of a variance or development permit, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the Board of Appeals at, or prior to, the public hearing.

Calendared items are sometimes withdrawn or rescheduled to a later date prior to hearing, or are taken out of order to accommodate special needs.  The Board urges all parties to be present in the hearing room from 5:00 p.m. so that everyone has an opportunity to participate in the relevant public hearing when it is called.

PROHIBITION OF SOUND-PRODUCING ELECTRONIC DEVICES

The ringing of and use of cell phones, pagers and similar sound-producing electronic devices are prohibited at this meeting.  Please be advised that the Chair may order the removal from the meeting room of any person(s) responsible for the ringing or use of a cell phone, pager, or other similar sound-producing electronic devices.

ACCESSIBILITY INFORMATION

American sign language interpreters and/or sound enhancement system will be available upon request by contacting Catherine Johnson at 575-6882 at least 48 hours prior to the hearing.  Individuals with severe allergies, environmental illness, multiple chemical sensitivity or related disabilities should call the accessibility hotline at 554-8925 to discuss meeting accessibility.   In order to assist the City's efforts to accommodate such people, attendees at public meetings are reminded that other attendees may be sensitive to various chemical-based products.   Please help the City to accommodate these individuals.  The closest accessible BART station is the Civic Center station located at the intersection of Market, Hyde and Grove Streets.  Accessible curbside parking has been designated at points along McAllister Street.  Accessible MUNI lines serving City Hall are the 42 Downtown Loop, 9 San Bruno and 71 Haight/Noriega and the F line.  Accessible MUNI Metro lines are the J, K, L, M, and N.  For more information regarding MUNI accessible services, call (415) 923-6142.

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS UNDER THE SUNSHINE ORDINANCE

Government's duty is to serve the public, reaching its decisions in full view of the public.  Commissions, boards, councils and other agencies of the City and County exist to conduct the people's business.  This ordinance assures that deliberations are conducted before the people and that City operations are open to the people's review.

For more information on your rights under the Sunshine Ordinance (Chapter 67 of the San Francisco Administrative Code) or to report a violation of the ordinance, contact the Sunshine Ordinance Task Force:  Donna Hall, Sunshine Ordinance Task Force, City Hall, Room 409, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco, CA 94102-4683, Phone (415) 554-7724, fax (415) 554-7854, and e-mail Donna_Hall@ci.sf.ca.us.  Copies of the Sunshine Ordinance can be obtained from the Clerk of the Sunshine Task Force, the San Francisco Public Library, and on the City's website at www.ci.sf.ca.us/sfbos.org/sunshine.

LOBBYING ACTIVITY

Individuals and entities that influence or attempt to influence local legislative or administrative action may be required by the San Francisco Lobbyist Ordinance [SF Campaign and Governmental Conduct Code § 2.100] to register and report lobbying activity.  For more information about the Lobbyist Ordinance, please contact the San Francisco Ethics Commission at 30 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 3900, San Francisco, CA 94102; telephone (415) 581-2300; fax (415) 581-2317; web site www.sfgov.org/ethics.

SUGGESTIONS TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY

The Board welcomes suggestions from the public regarding improvement of the efficiency of its operations.  Please direct your comments and suggestions to Robert Feldman, Executive Secretary, at 415-575-6880 or fax 415-575-6885.  A customer satisfaction survey form is available at the meetings, the office, and on the web site.

TAPES & TRANSCRIPTS OF MEETINGS & HEARINGS

Transcripts of hearings may be obtained from the Official Court Reporter, Claudine Woeber.  Please telephone 415-506-0430 for information.

Audiotapes of meetings may be obtained from the Board office.  Please telephone 415-575-6880 for information. 

Videotapes of meetings may be obtained from SFGTV, Channel 26.  Please telephone 415-554-4188 for information.

Note: Each item on this agenda may include the following documents:  1) Appellant's Preliminary Statement of Appeal and Brief; 2) Respondent’s or Permit holder's Response Brief; 3) Appellant’s Reply; 4) Department decision, order, permit, determination, resolution, or Notice of Violation; and 5) Correspondence of public and parties.

These items are available for review at the Board's office, 1660 Mission St., Rm. 3036, front counter.