Board of Appeals denies Palms HOA jurisdiction request over 555 Bryant sidewalk widening

The San Francisco Board of Appeals on July 9 denied a jurisdiction request from the Palms Homeowners Association seeking review of street and sidewalk work at 555 Bryant Street, saying city procedures were followed but urging SFMTA and Public Works to follow up with the HOA.

The Palms HOA told the board that the developer and the city did not give residents proper notice before widening the sidewalk on Wells Street, and that the work encroached on existing driveway access. "City law requires public notification for street changes so any impacted property owner can be heard," the Palms HOA representative said, arguing the sidewalk change was buried in a sidewalk improvement permit rather than taking the usual SFMTA legislative path.

The issue matters to neighbors because the Palms said the widened sidewalk removed a parking lane that had previously allowed large vehicles and maintenance equipment to enter and exit the building garage. The HOA said construction was completed before they had an opportunity to appeal; the jurisdiction request alleges the city's permit process…