Board upholds Planning Commission's de facto denial of North Beach conditional‑use appeal, rejects homeowners' request to avoid reinstating lost units

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted on April 7 to uphold the Planning Commission's de facto denial of a conditional use authorization (CU) tied to a contested property at 524–526 Vallejo Street (and 4A/4B San Antonio Place), a decision supervisors said preserves the city's housing protections and avoids setting a precedent that could legitimize after‑the‑fact unit mergers.

The hearing produced a forceful split between the homeowners who appealed the commission decision and tenant advocates, planning staff, and building inspectors who said the record shows four legal dwelling units were authorized and that approving a CU to legalize a merged layout would cause a net loss of rent‑controlled housing.

"We are not here because we disagree with housing policy," appellant Caitlin Holloway told the board in her presentation. "We are here because the policy applied to the reality of this property produces an inherent gridlock ... We are asking this board to simply help us find a way through." Holloway asked supervisors to legalize the building as a two‑unit property that reflects the structure's historical configuration and to avoid the permanent displacement of her family.

Planning Department staff recommended denial. A department representative summarized the record: approved building permit plans showing four units, a neighborhood notification period in 2011, multiple inspector visits, assessor records listing…