Board of Appeals: key votes — rehearing denied, permits revoked or upheld, Potrero tree removals approved with conditions

The San Francisco Board of Appeals met remotely on Aug. 19, 2020, and took formal action on a sequence of land‑use appeals and permit matters affecting housing and public right‑of‑way trees.

The board denied a rehearing request for Appeal 20‑038 (727 Natoma St.). Appellant Matthew Diamond alleged he had been denied equitable time to respond at the original hearing and pointed to claimed factual errors in the zoning administrator's testimony; planning and building inspectors stood by their prior findings. Commissioners concluded no new evidence or manifest injustice was presented and denied the rehearing (motion carried 4–0; Commissioner Eduardo Santa Cana did not participate on the vote because he had not reviewed the prior hearing materials).

The board voted to revoke an alteration permit in Appeal 20‑025 (44 Bond View St.). Planning and Building Inspection staff described notices of violation and unresolved questions about an unpermitted rear addition and an apparent lower‑level dwelling unit. The board granted the appellant’s request that the permit be revoked…