Board upholds variance and building permit for 695 Rhode Island Street; neighbors’ objections over rear yard and unit changes denied

The San Francisco Board of Appeals on Wednesday denied appeals challenging both a rear‑yard variance and the related building permit for 695 Rhode Island Street, concluding the zoning administrator and Department of Building Inspection had properly reviewed and approved the applications.

The matter combined two appeals: one of a zoning decision granting a rear‑yard variance for a proposed horizontal and vertical expansion, and one of the building permit for the same work. The applicant proposes a three‑story rear addition and interior changes to a two‑unit building. Neighbors, represented by counsel, argued the changes would remove or shrink an existing unit and that parts of the building had the characteristics of an undocumented dwelling unit (UDU), which they said would trigger further discretionary review by the planning commission.

The board reviewed…