Board continues Nobles Alley garage appeal to allow environmental review and full plans

Dudley and Eustace de Saint Phalle appealed the Planning Department’s denial of an alteration permit for 20 Nobles Alley on July 12, seeking to legalize two garage openings on an alley elevation. The board continued the matter to Sept. 13 to allow environmental review and for the appellant to supply a full permit set.

Planning’s Scott Sanchez summarized the file: staff found no record of a permit authorizing the original garage work and said the property lies within the North Beach/Telegraph Hill Residential Special Use District, which imposes stricter limits on garage openings; under current code staff said legalizing new garage openings on an alley is not allowed. Appellant said prior drawings from the late 1990s showed one existing garage opening and asked the board to apply the code of that earlier era. Neighbors supplied dated photographs and testimony alleging the doors were added without permits and raised safety concerns for the narrow 11‑foot alley.

Members debated whether a prior permit or drawings showing an existing single door would allow the board to authorize a single replacement opening rather than new construction. The board directed the appellant to provide the full permit set and continued the appeal to Sept. 13, 2017, to let Planning finish environmental review and give the board the complete record before a final determination.