Board continues appeal for 482 16th Avenue and orders corrected plans and short statement on staircase relocation

The Board of Appeals continued an appeal over the legalization of a rear deck and stairs at 482 16th Avenue to allow the variance holder to provide corrected, accurate plans and a short description of the work and costs that would be required to relocate the stairs.

Neighbors Edmond Louis and Mary Parks appealed the zoning administrator’s decision to grant a variance legalizing a reconstructed deck and stairs that they say materially differ from what was permitted in 2012; they described damage to fences and the presence of a concrete staircase that now sits adjacent to their bathroom window and blocks privacy. The appellant said the permit drawings in earlier hearings were inaccurate.

Permit holder Mark Soule and project representatives said the property was purchased in poor condition, that substantial dry rot required reconstruction and that the firewall and L‑footing foundation improved structural safety. Planning and DBI staff said earlier permit records were imperfect and that the reconstruction could require a separate legalization step.

President Daryl Honda proposed a short continuance to allow the permit holder to submit corrected plans and for the parties to try to negotiate mitigation. The Board continued the matter to February 10 and ordered the permit holder to submit corrected plans and a one‑page statement describing what would be required to move the stairs; the Board asked for those materials to be filed with staff by the Thursday before the continued hearing.

What happens next: The variance hearing returns on the scheduled continuance date with corrected plans and a short technical statement about stair relocation; commissioners indicated they would consider privacy‑mitigation measures if the stair remains in place.