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Board of Appeals conditions permit at 159 Beaumont Ave, orders removal and infill of two lot-line windows
Summary
The San Francisco Board of Appeals on March 6 granted an appeal regarding lot-line windows at 159 Beaumont Ave and issued the permit only after the permit holder submits revised plans showing removal and infill of two windows the board found not code-compliant.
The San Francisco Board of Appeals on March 6 granted an appeal related to a permit for 159 Beaumont Avenue and conditioned the permit on revised plans that show removal and infill of two openings on the property-line wall.
The action follows an appeal by neighbors Pamela (Tang/Chang) and Eric Tang challenging an alteration permit issued December 20, 2018, that included two lot-line openings. At the hearing, appellants argued the openings are clear code violations and asked the board to order the lot-line windows be closed and require the permit holder to obtain a DBI revision permit within five business days. DBI Senior Building Inspector Joe Duffy told the board the department had issued a notice of violation for expired permits and agreed the openings needed to be infilled.
President Frank Fung moved to grant the appeal and condition the permit on submission of plans showing removal and infill of the two windows "on the basis that they are not code compliant," and the motion carried unanimously.
The permit holder’s counsel acknowledged the windows must be removed and described two categories of openings on the wall: the 1990-era windows that DBI identified as improper and long-standing, historic openings that predate later codes and have different enforcement considerations. Duffy explained DBI can pursue correction notices or notices of violation to enforce the infill when appropriate, and noted the department prefers a special-conditions permit when feasible because it is not further appealable.
The board’s order directs revised drawings showing the removal and infill of the lot-line windows; the board recorded the action in its motion and vote. There was no public opposition on the motion, and commissioners voted to adopt the condition during the meeting.
The board moved on to other agenda items after recording that the minutes and this item were adopted and the condition imposed. Next steps will be for the permit holder to submit the required revised plans to DBI for review under the board’s directive.
