Board of Appeals overturns Planning denial, approves revised 1794 Filbert Street plans

President Rick Swigg and the San Francisco Board of Appeals voted 4–0 Oct. 23 to grant an appeal and issue a permit for a revised project at 1794 Filbert Street after the applicant revised plans to address Planning Commission concerns. The board conditioned approval on using plans dated Oct. 11, 2019.

The appellant told the board the project had been revised to reduce and remove bay windows, relocate an accessory dwelling unit entrance to street access and make other changes that Planning staff had reviewed favorably. "We believe it addresses the concerns of the planning commission. It adds rental housing to the city's housing stock," the appellant said during oral argument.

Scott Sanchez of the Planning Department confirmed the applicant submitted the ZA action memos and revised demolition calculations and said the project is now code compliant. Sanchez cautioned that adding accessory dwelling units late in the review process is inefficient and should ordinarily be handled at the Planning Commission stage, but acknowledged the department had reviewed and accepted the revised materials.

After discussion the board concluded the submitted plans met the applicable code standards. President Rick Swigg moved to grant the appeal and issue the permit conditioned on the board-stamped set dated Oct. 11, 2019; Vice President Anne Lazarus, Commissioner Daryl Honda and Commissioner Tanner voted aye and the motion carried 4–0.

The approval serves as the project's initial action for California Environmental Quality Act purposes, per the board's advisory notes, and the applicant will proceed to any subsequent building permit steps and required inspections.

The board recorded no amendments to the motion and did not schedule additional follow-up for this item.