Board denies jurisdiction request from adjacent property owner over 2442 Great Highway permit

The San Francisco Board of Appeals denied a jurisdiction request on Oct. 11 from Great Highway LLC, which asked the board to reopen the appeal period for alteration permit 202201186097 (issued May 2, 2022) for 2442 Great Highway.

Tony Brawll, representing the neighboring 20‑unit building at 2448 Great Highway, told the board two newly exposed side windows at the adjacent project ‘‘directly look into our multiple tenant windows’’ and said tenants only became aware of the work a few weeks earlier. He also raised safety complaints about contractor practices and said he had seen disturbed siding that he worried could contain asbestos.

Project counsel and the permit holder’s representatives said the windows and other work were reviewed and approved by Planning and DBI. Tom Tunney, representing the permit holder, said the windows were part of an approved permit and that the city’s permit tracking shows a planner reviewed and signed off on the drawings. Planning deputy zoning administrator Tina Tam confirmed the permit was approved over the counter after reviewers found no change in unit count or building envelope that would trigger neighborhood notice. DBI said inspections since 2022 confirm work is consistent with the approved permit and recommended denying the jurisdiction request.

Board members noted the jurisdiction standard is an "extraordinary" remedy that requires showing the city caused a late filing or other exceptional circumstances. On a motion by Commissioner JR Epler to deny the jurisdiction request because the city did not intentionally or inadvertently cause the requester to be late, the board voted 4–0 to deny the request. DBI said it would investigate any allegations of work outside the approved permits (including separate rooftop or roof‑deck work and solar installations flagged by neighbors).