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Neighbors' appeal over 455 Buena Vista East subdivision continued; board keeps hearing open to Dec. 12
Summary
After a contested hearing, the Board of Supervisors agreed to continue the appeal of a tentative map to split 455 Buena Vista East into two lots. Neighbors argued the split would undercut agreements reached with a prior owner and remove future conditional-use oversight; the project sponsor agreed to meet with neighbors and accepted a continuance.
SAN FRANCISCO — The Board of Supervisors on Nov. 7 continued an appeal of a tentative parcel map that would split 455 Buena Vista East (a single 50-foot lot) into two 25-foot lots. The board kept the public hearing open and continued items 25–28 to Dec. 12, 2006, to allow the parties additional time to meet and seek accommodation.
Why it matters: Neighbors said a prior owner and the planning commission worked through an inclusive neighborhood planning process in 2002 that produced approval for a replacement three-unit building and accompanying conditions — including agreed setbacks, curb cuts and street-tree plans. Neighbors contend the current lot split would remove the conditional-use review that would otherwise apply and permit two RH-3 lots to develop to maximum allowable density without the same neighborhood review.
What happened at the hearing: Appellant Peter Yedidya and several neighbors presented documentation from the April 4, 2002 planning commission hearing showing prior approvals and neighborhood consensus for a three-unit replacement building. City surveyor Bruce Storrs said the department found no violations of the Subdivision Map Act or local subdivision code and that his approval was ministerial based on planning and building signoffs. Planning staff confirmed they reviewed the subdivision only and had not been presented with a building proposal; they said subsequent building plans would be reviewed for consistency when submitted.
The project's representative, architect Jace Levinson, and Mark Pincus's representative, Marie Rabiel, told the board they had not prepared a building proposal and said the owner wished to split the lot largely to restore the property's original configuration. Levinson apologized to neighbors for not having had a substantive meeting and said the sponsor was willing to meet. Neighbors and several supervisors requested a continuance to allow direct meetings between the parties and the district supervisor.
Board action: Supervisor Dufty moved to continue the hearing to Dec. 12, seconded by Supervisor Mercarini. The board kept the public hearing open; the continuance was granted and items 25–28 were continued to a date-certain.
Clarifying details: The planning commission had approved a three-unit replacement building in April 2002 after neighborhood agreement; the current map before the board was limited to the lot split and did not include a proposed building or prescriptive design. Planning and building approvals were not asked to evaluate a particular building design at this stage.
What comes next: The board will reconvene on Dec. 12 to resume the public hearing; supervisors and staff encouraged the parties to meet beforehand. If a building proposal is later filed, it will undergo public review and planning-department scrutiny, including potential design review and conditional-use processes if triggered by the project's specifics.
Ending: The continuance keeps the hearing open while the parties pursue meetings; neighbors said they want documentation of past agreements honored or incorporated into any new proposal.
