Board of Appeals upholds Verizon wireless‑box permit at 231 Dwight Street

The San Francisco Board of Appeals on Nov. 17 denied an appeal and upheld a permit for a small Verizon wireless facility proposed at 231 Dwight Street, voting 4‑0 to affirm the Department of Public Works’ decision.

Permit holder counsel Paul Albritton told the board the applicant completed a second round of re‑notice after the board’s earlier continuance: “We took the 60 days to go back and re‑notice 300‑foot mailing to 101 individuals. We reposted on four poles within 300 feet and noticed supervisors’ offices.” DPW’s Leo Palacios confirmed the renoticing complied with Article 25 notification rules for personal wireless service facilities, and Planning Department staff said clerical referral issues had been corrected and the departments had reissued findings.

Appellant Laura Kemp and neighbor Hernan Silberman objected to approval without an on‑site inspection and said the visual simulations in the record understate the facility’s proximity to homes. Kemp asked why the department relied on photo simulations and drawings rather than a site inspection. Planning staff acknowledged earlier mailing‑list omissions but said DPW’s rules and the corrected renotice satisfied the code.

Deputy City Attorney Brad Russi reminded the board that Article 25 constrains its review of wireless permits and requires strict compliance with the ordinance and federal law, limiting the board’s discretion to reject approvals on neighborhood‑impact grounds. After discussion, Commissioner Anne Lazarus moved to deny the appeal and uphold the permit; the motion carried 4‑0.

The board recorded the vote and moved on to subsequent items.