Board of Appeals approves revised plans to legalize roof over light well at 407 5th Avenue

The San Francisco Board of Appeals voted 4–0 on March 19 to grant an appeal in the case of Jonah Yee v. Department of Building Inspection and to approve revised plans submitted by the permit holder for 407 5th Avenue that the city found will meet building code fire-rating requirements.

The revised plans propose wrapping a supporting post with Portland cement-sand plaster, adding a layer of 5/8-inch gypsum under the roofing and applying a layer of fiber cement board as the finished layer so the structure will meet a one-hour fire rating to the property line. Planning staff told the board the scheme “is fully code complying” and “does not trigger neighborhood notification under the planning code,” and recommended granting the appeal and approving the revised plans.

At the hearing, architect Sam Kwong, representing the permit holder, said he had worked with the building inspector and “submitted drawings that showed the correction that we can do to the roof to make it code compliant.” DBI staff confirmed the submitted solution — the fire-resistive finish, gypsum and Hardy Board (cement-fiber) layers and the post wrapping — will meet the minimum code requirements in place.

Board members discussed whether the appellant had received the revised drawings; the permit holder said he had forwarded the plans to the appellant and would provide copies to board staff. After department staff recommended approval, commissioners said the permit should be issued on the condition that the revised plans be incorporated into the permit record.

The motion to grant the appeal and approve the revised plans passed 4–0. The board recorded the vote as Commissioner Lopez: Aye; President Trezwina: Aye; Vice President Epler: Aye; Commissioner Swigg: Aye.

The board asked the permit holder’s representative to leave a copy of the revised plans with staff and said staff would follow up on final steps needed to issue the corrected permit.