Board of Appeals upholds multiple Crown Castle wireless permits despite neighborhood objections

The San Francisco Board of Appeals upheld several permits for small wireless facilities proposed by Crown Castle after residents challenged whether Public Works followed notice and design rules under Public Works Code Article 25.

Public Works counsel and Crown Castle’s lawyer told the board the department followed the process set out in Article 25, posted and mailed notices, included photo simulations, and attached conditions of approval such as pole replacement. ‘‘Public Works believes we processed this permit fully within compliance with Article 25, and we urge the board to deny the appeal,’’ Amanda Higgins of Public Works said during the hearing. Permit counsel Martin Feynman argued the board’s review is limited to whether Public Works applied Article 25 correctly and urged that procedural objections outside the ordinance’s scope cannot form grounds for an appeal: ‘‘…the appeal should be denied and the…