Board upholds Twelfth Avenue addition permit despite neighbor's accuracy complaints

The San Francisco Board of Appeals voted 5-0 on Nov. 1 to deny an appeal filed by John Wong challenging a site permit for a multi-level rear addition at 1334 Twelfth Avenue.

Wong and his supporters contended the plans on file contained errors in roof heights, slopes and the depiction of a side light well and setbacks; he argued those inaccuracies would cause a greater loss of light to adjacent properties than shown on the submitted drawings. "Saying something doesn't make it true," Wong told commissioners as he pressed for measured evidence and corrected exhibits.

Planning Department zoning administrator Corey Teague and Department of Building Inspection representative Matthew Green said staff had reviewed the revised plans, found them consistent with residential design guidelines (including added light wells, reduced depths and privacy screening when appropriate), and that the permit was properly issued. Teague noted measuring height can be complicated (curb vs. grade), but explained planning and the Planning Commission found the revisions acceptable. Green said DBI's normal practice is to verify dimensions in the field at the start-of-work inspection; if field checks show more than 6 inches of discrepancy DBI will require a revision permit.

Commissioners acknowledged the appellant's concerns but said the departments' review carried weight in the board's de novo review and that, where factual discrepancies exist, DBI's correction and revision-permit process could address them. Commissioner Lemberg moved to deny the appeal on the ground the permit was properly issued; the motion passed 5-0.

What happens next: DBI can perform field verification during construction; if substantial plan inaccuracies are discovered, DBI may issue a correction notice and require a revision permit, which would itself be appealable.

Votes at a glance: Motion to deny Appeal 23-043 carried 5-0 (Lemberg, Lopez, Trezvina, Epler, Swig).