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Board upholds abatement and costs for Portola Drive excavation case
Summary
The Abatement Appeals Board upheld an order of abatement for an unpermitted excavation at 1325 Portola Drive and assessed costs; staff said temporary shoring is in place but required special inspections and final sign-offs remain outstanding.
The Abatement Appeals Board on April 17 upheld an order of abatement and the assessment of costs in Case No. 67771325 related to unpermitted earth removal at 1325 Portola Drive. Department staff reported about 500 cubic yards of earth were removed without permit, producing an unapproved 12-foot cut; staff recommended upholding the order and recovering costs incurred to date.
Owner Sophia Nhu said permits had been obtained or reinstated in some respects and that delays resulted from appeals and coordination with other permit streams; department staff answered that while shoring had been installed, required special inspections and final sign-offs remained outstanding and must be completed to clear the violation. Staff said completion of the special inspections and a signed-off permit would resolve the unsafe condition.
After discussion, the board moved to uphold the order of abatement and to assess the department's costs to date; the motion carried unanimously on roll call. The department stated the assessed costs to date in the hearing record (department provided figure in the meeting packet). The board advised the owner to complete the special inspections and obtain final sign-off to close the case.
