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Board issues mixed outcomes on permits and jurisdiction requests, approves several permits with conditions
Summary
At its Dec. 16 meeting the Board denied multiple jurisdiction requests, upheld geogrout and several building permits (some with conditions), and set follow‑up dates for outstanding appeals including scaffolding at 425 Bush and the Medjool rooftop matter.
In a full docket on Dec. 16, the San Francisco Board of Appeals handled multiple jurisdiction requests and permit appeals, issuing a mix of denials, continuances and conditional approvals across the evening.
Jurisdiction denials: The board denied requests to take jurisdiction over permits in two addendum matters: 1050 Baker Street (request by Robin Juan) and 25020 Seventh Avenue (Julia Yue), concluding neighbor disputes and tenancy-in-common ownership issues were not appropriate for Board jurisdiction; votes on both jurisdiction requests were unanimous (5–0).
Geogrout/grout jacking at 22 Scott Alley: The board upheld DBI—s issuance of a permit authorizing pressure grouting to re-level several settled units at 22 Scott Alley. Geotechnical engineer Curtis Jensen described real‑time monitoring protocols and said the operation is a standard remedial measure for the thick concrete mat foundations used in those units; the board upheld the permit 3–2 after question and comment.
Other permit decisions and conditions: Several building‑permit appeals were resolved with conditions: - 600 Lakeview: The board upheld a permit for a rear deck but limited its depth; commissioners agreed to reduce the proposed 8‑foot projection to 6 feet (12' × 6') to reduce neighbor impact, and the motion carried 4–1. - 1200 Dolores (canopy/door): After extensive neighbor comment about historic character and sightlines, the board upheld the permit but required the canopy's front edge align with the face of the adjacent building, a 4–1 action on the subsequent conditional motion. - 1020 Francisco (10‑ft fence): The board upheld the fence permit with a 5–0 vote conditioned on changing the gate so it swings inward (away from the shared driveway), addressing the appellant—s safety concerns.
Continued matters and next steps: Several items were continued to give staff and parties time to complete reviews or encourage remediation, including the high‑profile Medjool rooftop appeal (continued to Feb. 10), and the scaffolding dispute at 425 Bush (continued to Jan. 13 for status). The board repeatedly urged applicants and appellants to work directly with the Planning Department to resolve zoning or environmental review requirements.
What this means: The board generally deferred to planning and building staff's technical judgments while making site‑specific adjustments where neighbors demonstrated safety or material impacts. The decisions leave several technical issues (light wells, environmental review, and enforcement thresholds) to be resolved in follow‑up staff work or future hearings.
