Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Building Permit Enforcement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board of Appeals upholds permit for 15 Allison Street, directs DBI to pursue notice of violation
Summary
The San Francisco Board of Appeals denied an appeal and upheld an alteration permit for 15 Allison Street on Aug. 27, 2014, while finding unpermitted work had occurred and directing the Department of Building Inspection to pursue a notice of violation and enforcement.
The San Francisco Board of Appeals on Aug. 27 upheld an alteration permit for 15 Allison Street but directed the Department of Building Inspection (DBI) to pursue a notice of violation after inspectors found work done without required approvals.
Inspector Andrew Duffy told the board his site visit found excavated footings with concrete in place, installed structural headers and posts, removed sheetrock, and retaining walls greater than five feet in the rear yard. “They started some of the work before the permit addendum got issued,” Duffy said, noting concrete poured without inspection may need removal or structural testing such as a scan or X‑ray.
Fiona, speaking for the property owner, said the work began in late March and that the owner had attempted to coordinate fence repairs with the neighbor; she said they had spent more than $10,000 on the work and were willing to remove or fix elements and pay penalties. Appellant Nick Skinas, representing Vula Skinas, said the complaint centered on interior noise and structural impacts and urged the board both to impose a monetary penalty and to restrict future work (he specifically requested a limit related to a third‑floor expansion).
Commissioners separated two questions: whether the addition’s scope was contextually appropriate, and whether unpermitted work required enforcement. Commissioner Frank Fung said the scope of the proposed addition was appropriate, but that the questions about incorrect plans and the notice of violation were technical matters for DBI. The board voted 4‑0 to deny the appeal and uphold the permit, with the finding that DBI will process the outstanding notice of violation.
DBI estimated roughly $20,000 of work had been performed without a valid addendum and warned that some concrete in the rear yard might need removal or testing to meet code. The decision leaves the permit in place but preserves DBI’s enforcement actions; DBI staff said the stop‑work order remains in effect until the NOV is resolved.
