Board orders permit change at 785 Colby Street, requires large picture window be lowered

The San Francisco Board of Appeals on June 21 modified a building permit for 785 Colby Street, conditionally granting resident Sylvia Gonzalez’s appeal and directing that a large rear picture window be reduced to its prior height and position.

Gonzalez said the owner expanded and added rear windows that now allow direct views into her kitchen, bedroom and bathroom; she and other neighbors presented photographs and a petition describing an alleged invasion of privacy and instances of work done without inspection. "They took out the siding, the windows were there for inspection, and then they were covered and then reinstalled for inspection," Gonzalez said in rebuttal, describing timing that limited neighbors' ability to lodge timely objections.

Grant Thompson, the permit holder, said he applied for an over‑the‑counter permit, corrected mistakes in permit paperwork, and did not intend to invade privacy; he also said some permit errors were his draftsman’s fault and that he had obtained additional permits to address corrections. Senior Inspector Joe Duffy and Planning’s Scott Sanchez described the permit history, noted that some permits were approved and that DBI had issued notices of violation where work occurred without proper inspections.

After questions about the scope of work, framing, headers and whether electrical or other interior changes occurred without inspection, Vice President Fung moved to grant the appeal with the condition that the large east/north picture window be reduced to its previous height and location. The motion carried 4–0. DBI will continue required inspections and clear outstanding notices of violation before final approvals are released.

The board’s action corrects a permit record issue for this property and imposes a remedial requirement intended to restore the earlier privacy and sightline conditions cited by neighbors.