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Commission approves contested Potrero Hill remodel at 739 Deharo after neighborhood objections
Summary
After extended public testimony, the Planning Commission declined to take discretionary review and approved a remodel and modest addition at 739 Deharo Street 4–0. Opponents argued the project would block lot‑line windows, create a hazardous driveway on a steep sidewalk, and use incongruent facade materials; sponsors said they voluntarily limited scope and secured neighborhood support.
The Planning Commission voted 4–0 on May 3 to approve a proposed remodel and modest vertical addition at 739 Deharo Street in Potrero Hill after hearing competing testimony from nearby neighbors and project supporters.
Project sponsors Jamie Austin and David Deming described the work as a neighborhood‑appropriate remodel to accommodate a growing family, including modest rear extensions and a single‑car garage. They said they had voluntarily limited their rear extension to six feet on the basement level (below the 12‑foot maximum) and provided a five‑foot top‑floor setback on the uphill property line.
Two adjacent homeowners led a discretionary review (DR) challenge. Michael Montgomery (745 Deharo) and other opponents argued three primary concerns: (1) several lot‑line windows on the uphill neighbor’s house would be covered, reducing light and air in habitable rooms; (2) the proposed garage location and new curb cut would worsen a steep sidewalk grade and create a pedestrian safety hazard; and (3) the proposed modern facade elements and privacy screens were incompatible with the street’s historic cottage character.
The project also produced nine letters of support from immediate neighbors and multiple residents spoke in favor at the hearing, noting outreach by the sponsors and voluntary concessions. The commission considered RDAT and staff analyses; staff recommended approval with a modification to reconcile driveway elevation with Bureau of Street Use and Mapping standards, and recommended the project comply with the residential design guidelines.
Commissioners acknowledged the neighbors’ concerns about lot‑line windows and pedestrian safety but found the applicant’s voluntary setbacks and limited rear extension consistent with code and design guidelines. Commissioner Moore emphasized the need for neighborly gestures but said the commission could not legally enforce preservation of lot‑line windows in this case. Commissioner Fong moved to approve the project and the motion passed unanimously 4–0 (Fong, Koppel, Moore, Hillis).
Why it matters: The hearing illustrates recurring tensions in San Francisco between homeowners seeking to expand livable space and adjacent neighbors seeking protection from loss of light, privacy and potential sidewalk safety impacts. Commissioners must weigh zoning/design standards, code compliance and neighbor concerns in discretionary cases.
What’s next: Staff will implement standard conditions and work with Bureau of Street Use and Mapping where driveway elevation adjustments are needed.
