After contested hearing, commission approves Noe Valley project with terracing and setback conditions

The Planning Commission approved, after a discretionary‑review hearing, a contested seven‑unit project at 556 20th Street (Noe Valley) with modifications requested by nearby homeowners. Neighbors had argued the proposed design produced a tall, monolithic rear wall because of the site’s steep downhill topography, and they asked the commission to require "significant sculpting and terracing" in line with the Residential Design Guidelines.

DR requesters and neighbors described the proposed building as a large box that would tower over rear yards and called for greater setbacks and sculpted massing. "This proposed project is a monolith," neighbor James Curran said during public comment, urging additional step‑backs, a green planting buffer and smaller unit footprints so the building could terrace down the slope.

Sponsor architect Glen Roscava said the design was code‑compliant and had been revised from earlier iterations in response to Planning Department review and RDAT comments. As a compromise the sponsor agreed to several modifications: a 3‑foot west‑side setback (ground through the Third Floor), an indentation in the west façade, an increased rear setback of 13 feet for the Fourth Floor (reduced from the neighbors’ requested 20 feet), removal of west‑side decks on the Fourth Floor, lowered roof parapets to curb height and agreement to coordinate plantings with neighbors to provide a screening buffer. Planning staff recommended taking the DR for approval with those modifications; the commission voted to approve the project with the revised conditions unanimously.