Board of Appeals conditions permit for Third Avenue addition after neighbors’ agreement

The San Francisco Board of Appeals on May 5 granted an appeal over a proposed two‑story rear addition at 2019–2020 Third Avenue, conditioning approval on the adoption of revised plans that reflect a previously agreed 5‑by‑5‑foot second‑floor notch.

Appellant Cynthia Yee told the board the addition would "severely impact the solar access and usability of our house and backyard," and said submitted plans mis‑drew property lines and under‑represented the addition’s impacts. She urged the board to limit the addition to a single story if the board would not deny the permit outright.

Ronald Yu, architect for the permit holders, said his office had relied on an approved pre‑application plan set and that a subsequent designer mistakenly omitted the 5x5 reduction. He said revised plans had been submitted restoring that compromise and correcting site lines.

Planning staff recommended a brief continuance in a prior hearing but in the May 5 proceedings confirmed the revised plans (Exhibit 6, dated 04/28/2021) satisfy the department’s residential design guidelines and address the 5x5 notch agreement.

Commissioner Anne Lazarus moved to grant the appeal and adopt the revised plans as the permit condition, stating the revision reflects the original understanding between parties. The motion carried 4–0.

The board’s action instructs Planning and DBI to ensure the permit conforms to the revised Exhibit 6 drawings before finalization.

Next steps: the permit will be issued only after the departments confirm the revised drawings are on file and incorporated into the final permit documents.