Board continues Dealwood slope‑safety appeal to allow DBI review of geotech report and revised plans

The San Francisco Board of Appeals on Aug. 17 continued an appeal by Julimet and Boris Urbanovich of a permit for work at 265 Dealwood Way to Aug. 24 to allow the Department of Building Inspection (DBI) to review a voluntary geotechnical report and for the permit holder to submit revised drawings clarifying pier depths and other details.

Appellants said the property sits at the toe of Mount Davidson and cited prior slope failures in the neighborhood. They urged strict enforcement of the Slope Protection Act and questioned whether the submitted geotechnical materials met the city’s guidance. An appellant noted a Department of Building Inspection information sheet (issued 05/20/2015) that, in their view, clarified when geotechnical reports are required.

Permit holders Chris Kim and Bill O’Connor described a limited scope — a rear deck and seismic upgrade involving shallow foundations — and said they had obtained a licensed geotechnical engineer’s report at their own expense. The permit holders said the engineer considered options and recommended drilled piers to minimize disturbance; they offered to revise drawings to reflect recommended pier depth/diameter and staging.

DBI and Planning staff told the board the permit was reviewed and approved as planning‑code compliant and that DBI’s engineer, Cyril Yu, had concluded that the current scope did not meet the Slope Protection Act’s mandatory thresholds (for example, new structures or additions over 1,000 sq ft, excavation over 50 cubic yards, or shoring/underpinning that in the director’s opinion would substantially affect slope stability). However, DBI staff agreed to review the voluntarily submitted geotechnical report and recommended clarifying pier sizing/depth on revised plans.

Neighbors and other speakers reiterated safety concerns; one neighbor noted the cost and difficulty of prior slope remediation work in the area. Given the technical questions and the existence of a geotechnical report submitted voluntarily by the permit holders, the board voted unanimously to continue the matter to allow DBI review and for the permit holder to file revised drawings that include geotechnical recommendations.

What happens next: DBI will review the geotechnical report and clarify whether additional geotechnical submittals are required; the permit holder will submit revised drawings with dimensions and pier depths for the board packet for the Aug. 24 hearing.