Board of Appeals delays decision on Twentieth Street garage variance, asks staff to draft findings

The San Francisco Board of Appeals on July 12 continued consideration of an appeal of a zoning denial for 3772 Twentieth Street, where the property owner had sought a rear‑yard variance to demolish and rebuild a garage with a roof deck that would project into the required rear yard.

Scott Sanchez of the Planning Department told the board the department was not initially supportive, saying the project “did not comply with the planning code” and that staff had concerns about whether the project demonstrated the hardship and the other variance findings the code requires. The project sponsor argued the rebuilt garage would remain in the same footprint, lower the roof height and improve privacy with added planters, and said demolition and relocation of parking would be financially and practically difficult.

Vice President Frank Fung and other members debated whether the board could modify approval to permit only the rear stairs while denying the more intensive garage reconstruction. Director Cynthia Goldeen advised that if the board intends to overturn the zoning administrator it must adopt written findings that articulate how the five variance criteria are satisfied; those findings could be prepared and returned for final vote at a subsequent hearing.

The board voted to continue the matter to Aug. 23, 2017, and directed the executive director to prepare proposed findings tailored to the board’s intent (to preserve the stairs but not the intensified rear structure). The vote carried with Commissioners Lazarus, Honda, Wilson and Swig recorded as aye.