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Historic Preservation Commission approves two certificates and a major permit, notes enforcement issues at 581 Waller
Summary
The commission unanimously approved adoption of prior minutes, a consent-calendar COA, the COA for 581 Waller Street with enforcement conditions after discussion of an unpermitted revision, and a major permit for 149 Ninth Street; enforcement staff said no fines were assessed because a revision permit and new COA were filed within the enforcement period.
The San Francisco Historic Preservation Commission opened its Aug. 7 hearing with routine business, adopted the July 17, 2019 draft minutes and approved a consent-calendar certificate of appropriateness (COA) on a unanimous 5—0—0vote.
Later in the meeting commissioners considered case 2018-15774, a COA for 581 Waller Street in the DuBose Park Historic District. Shannon Ferguson, preservation staff, told the commission the project had been the subject of a planning enforcement action: "project sponsors did misrepresent an August 2018 revision permit to planning staff," Ferguson said, and the permit approved by planning staff showed dormer and rear-elevation changes that were not consistent with the earlier Historic Preservation Commission motion. Staff recommended approval of the current COA with conditions requiring the dormer and south elevation to be constructed per the previous HPC motion, adjustments to window profiles and recessed glazing, wood guard rails and a wood trellis, and a final site visit by preservation staff to confirm abatement.
The project architect, identified only as Eliza, told the commission contractors found poor framing during demolition and that they exceeded the plans to replace framing to meet code; Eliza said the sponsor "wants to finish it" and would comply with the requirements. Preservation enforcement planner Kelly Wong said no fines were assessed because the applicant submitted a revision permit and a new COA within the enforcement time period.
Commissioners debated whether a slightly larger dormer proposed by the applicant would trigger a neighborhood notification under Planning Code Section 3.11. Staff confirmed a larger dormer would require a 3.11 notice; the architect agreed to revert to the previously approved dormer to avoid the additional notice and delay. The commission voted to approve the COA for 581 Waller Street with staff-recommended conditions; the motion passed unanimously, 5 to 0.
The commission also considered a major permit to alter at 149 Ninth Street (an Article 11 contributory building). Monica Giacomochi, planning staff, said limited visibility of new rooftop penthouses, proposed setbacks and adherence to Article 11 standards supported a finding of conformance. Giacomochi noted the case report misidentified Ninth Street as Ninth Avenue in places and said that error would be corrected. Tom Tunney, counsel for the project sponsor, and Albert Costa, the architect, addressed the commission and confirmed the sponsor—s willingness to comply with staff conditions. The commission approved the 149 Ninth Street permit with conditions by unanimous vote, 5 to 0.
Votes at a glance
- Adoption of draft minutes (07/17/2019): motion passed unanimously, 5 to 0 (Commissioners Black, Johns, Pearlman, Matsuda, Hyland recorded as "yes").
- Consent calendar: Item 6 (case 2018-13212 COA, 78 Carmelita Street): approved unanimously, 5 to 0.
- Case 2018-15774: COA for 581 Waller Street: approved with conditions after enforcement discussion; unanimous, 5 to 0.
- Case 2019-001734: Major permit to alter for 149 Ninth Street: approved with conditions; unanimous, 5 to 0.
The commission adjourned after completing the agenda.
