Board denies appeal on basement variances at 727 Natoma, upholds rear-yard variance for vertical addition

The San Francisco Board of Appeals denied an appeal seeking variances at 727 Natoma Street, ruling that while a rear-yard variance for a vertical addition could be sustained, the requested open-space and exposure variances for two basement dwelling units did not meet code-required findings. The decision was adopted 4-0.

Appellant Matthew Diamond argued the property's substandard lot size, historic status, and surrounding tall walls created unique circumstances that justify limited variances. He presented alternative schemes and said the project would increase usable open space for existing units and provide roof-deck common space.

Scott Sanchez of the Planning Department said the proposal failed to provide on-site, code-compliant open space and exposure for the basement units. Sanchez noted technical requirements for exposure — including glazing within the lower 7 feet, 6 inches of floor height and compliant rear-yard dimensions — and recommended upholding the zoning administrator's denial for the open-space and exposure claims while accepting findings that justified the rear-yard variance for the vertical addition.

Commissioners said removing the proposed basement units would allow the rest of the vertical addition to proceed consistent with the zoning administrator's findings. The board adopted a motion to deny the appeal, upholding the zoning administrator's findings that the rear-yard variance findings 1 (extraordinary circumstances) were met but that findings required for open-space and exposure variances were not.