Planning Commission approves disputed rear addition at 1603 Treat Avenue, denies discretionary review

The Planning Commission on May 26 voted 6-1 to deny a neighbor-initiated discretionary review petition and approve permit plans for a rear addition at 1603 Treat Avenue in Bernal Heights.

Beth Wright, the doctor requester and an adjoining neighbor, said the proposed addition would triple the house's square footage, intrude into the block's mid-yard open space and box in adjacent properties. "We ask that you limit the height of the third-floor ceiling to 9 feet...and limit the depth of the eastern wall so the addition better fits into the neighborhood," Wright told the commission.

Project architect Bill Guan and owner Aditi Kumar said the design complies with the Planning Code and was revised after multiple neighborhood and Design Review Board meetings. Guan said the team removed proposed roof decks, reduced depth and otherwise modified the design after outreach. "The project is in compliance with height limitation and mass reduction requirements," Guan said.

Neighbors and neighborhood groups provided photographs and argued the addition would change the scale and character of the block. Commissioners probed the plans for drafting ambiguities, including whether rear full-height glazing is fixed or could be converted to a door that would permit a later deck. Staff architect David Winslow said the elevation labels those elements as fixed windows; the graphic convention could look like sliding doors but the fixed designation takes precedence.

Commission discussion focused on code compliance, neighborhood character and whether the submittal provided clear comparisons of existing and proposed square footage. Commissioner Koppel moved to not take discretionary review and to approve the project; the motion passed 6-1 with Commissioner Ruiz opposed.

With that vote the applicant may proceed to obtain building permits consistent with the approved plans and any standard conditions; the commission's action resolved the neighborhood appeal and found the project met applicable code and design guidelines.