Board denies appeal of 5G wireless permit near school and church; RF analysis finds exposures well below FCC limits

The San Francisco Board of Appeals unanimously denied a challenge to a Public Works wireless‑facility permit for 459 Somerset Street on May 11 after finding agency reviews and technical analyses supported the permit.

A representative for the permit holder described a small installation on an existing utility pole (no height increase) and the addition of a six‑foot cross arm with three integrated antennas. Independent radio‑frequency consultant Raj Mathur told the board the maximum calculated RF exposure at the adjacent church would be 14% of the FCC public limit and that exposure at the nearby school and ground level was below 1% of the limit.

"The maximum calculated RF exposure level at the adjacent church building is 14% of the FCC limit," Raj Mathur said, adding the school and ground‑level exposures were orders of magnitude below federal thresholds. Planning and Public Works staff reported the application complied with Public Works Code Article 25 and that they referred the proposal to Health and Planning per the code; both departments approved the application.

The appellant (Carolyn Giorzo) did not appear at the hearing. Public Works and Planning officials explained notice and posting procedures were followed; the board concluded the permit had been properly issued and voted 4–0 to deny the appeal and uphold the permit.

Provenance: Topic introduced SEG 2482 and decision recorded at SEG 2730.