Board continues Noe Street vertical-addition appeal for plan revisions after rear-stair concerns

The Board of Appeals on July 31 continued the appeal of a site permit for a vertical addition at 208 Noe Street to the next meeting so Planning and the Department of Building Inspection can review revised plans addressing questions about enlarged rear egress stairs and possible firewall/variance triggers.

Neighbor Ben Lewis argued the addition would be out of character and introduced a lengthy history of prior unpermitted work and notices of violation at the property. The architect and owners said prior violations were corrected and that the addition is code-compliant and set back 15 feet; the architect said revisions could be prepared to make the rear means-of-egress minimally compliant without triggering a firewall.

Planning staff said aerial photos and records indicate the rear stairs and decks changed from earlier configurations; because the property appears to have an open violation concerning rear egress the department recommended the board continue the matter to allow the owner and architect to prepare revised plans and for Planning and DBI to confirm whether a variance or firewall would be necessary. DBI confirmed some permits were suspended pending resolution and that inspections had occurred in allowable areas while work in flagged areas was to be stopped.

The Board voted 5-0 to continue the matter to the August 7 hearing so revised drawings can be reviewed and the parties can address the rear-stair/variance questions.

Next steps: the permit holder will submit revisions to Planning and DBI; the board will revisit the matter on Aug. 7.