Board revokes permit for unauthorized north‑side door at 445 Hamilton, citing neighborhood assurances

Neighbors appealed a permit that legalized a north‑side door installed after final completion; they said the door undermined negotiated assurances reached during a discretionary review. Board and departmental testimony established the door was installed without a permit and that prior meetings with Planning staff had emphasized avoiding a north‑side entrance because it would facilitate separate downstairs units. DBI planning staff said the approved plans complied with the rooms‑down matrix in this case, but the board found the addition violated the agreement reached during neighbor negotiations.

Several neighbors described the process and said they withdrew a discretionary review after repeated assurances that the north‑side access would not be allowed; appellant Ron Parshall and others said final inspection was followed quickly by an unauthorized door installation. Owner John Lee said he would close the south door or otherwise comply to preserve single‑family use and offered to make the change. DBI Chief Lawrence Kornfield told the board such unilateral post‑inspection changes harm neighborhood trust. The board revoked the permit 5‑0 and directed removal of the door or other mitigation to restore the previously agreed configuration.