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Board upholds sidewalk-encroachment permit for gated alley at 642 Jones Street with conditions to protect access
Summary
After extensive public testimony and departmental review, the Board of Appeals upheld a DPW sidewalk-encroachment permit for a gate at 642 Jones St., conditioning the permit on building permits, providing keys to every unit within one week of the decision’s release, and expanded open hours (07:30–6:00) until permits are final.
The San Francisco Board of Appeals on Aug. 15 upheld a sidewalk-encroachment permit allowing a gated entrance at 642 Jones Street but imposed conditions intended to protect tenant access and ensure code compliance.
DBI inspector Joseph Duffy reported a site visit and concluded that because the gate is attached to two separate buildings, building permits will be required for each property and that DBI would review accessibility, exiting and structural attachments. John Kwan of the Department of Public Works said DPW would require the gate to be recessed three feet from the property line and that the department’s disability access coordinator would review required adjustments to panic hardware and other mechanisms.
Tenants and neighbors told the board the gate sometimes has been closed, restricting access for residents with disabilities and complicating pickups at the curb; other residents and the permit holder, Dennis Flynn, said the gate has reduced illicit activity and improved safety. Tenants said keys had been requested and not yet received.
Vice President Frank Fung moved to grant the appeal that upheld the permit with conditions: the permit holder must secure building permits for the work on both buildings, provide keys to every unit in both buildings within one week of the board’s notice of decision, and keep the gate open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. until the building permits are finaled. DBI cautioned that moving the gate back three feet could require sidewalk reconstruction to create a level landing; if required building permits cannot be approved, the DPW permit could be revoked. The motion passed 3-0.
The board’s decision aims to balance neighborhood safety concerns with reliable tenant access and ADA compliance while relying on permit review processes to finalize required construction details.
