Board upholds abatement for unstable hillside at 1235 Sansom St.; orders soil report and 90-day remediation timeline

The Abatement Appeals Board on March 18, 2015 upheld a hearing officer’s order of abatement for an unstable hillside at 1235 Sansom Street and imposed assessment of costs. The board set a compliance schedule: a soil-engineer report within 30 days, five days to obtain any required permits, and 90 days to complete corrective work including final inspection.

John Lynch presented the department’s report, saying the property is a vacant lot and the violation relates to an unstable hillside; a notice of violation was issued Nov. 6, 2012. Staff recommended upholding the abatement and assessing costs. Owner Eric Woods, the owner of record, told the board he has initiated a soils study covering seven properties between Sansom, Union and Alta and that engineers have begun fieldwork. Woods said the multi-owner nature of the site complicates a piecemeal approach but estimated 60–90 days for core tasks once engineers complete surveys and coordinate property lines.

Board members questioned the feasibility of the schedule given multiple owners and financing burdens; one board member cited code section 105A.2.8.2, telling the board that "if the board finds that there is a life safety hazard, it shall provide for immediate protection of the public and the work to correct such hazard must commence within 30 days and be completed within 90 days after service of the decision." Commissioners ultimately moved to uphold the order and adopt the 30/5/90 timeline and to uphold assessment of costs. The motion was seconded and approved by roll-call vote with all present voting "Yes."

The board's order requires the owner to deliver a soil-engineering remedy within 30 days and to begin corrective work consistent with the code-mandated life-safety timeframe. The department will assess costs as directed by the board and monitor compliance; failure to meet the schedule may prompt enforcement actions.