Zoning Variance Hearing

The hearing will be online via Cisco WebEx.

Phone Access: +1 (415) 655-0001 / Access code: 146 764 0075

Please be advised that the notices provided below may not represent a complete list of items scheduled to be considered at a public hearing. For a complete list of items scheduled to be considered at a particular public hearing, please refer to the posted agenda.

Notice is hereby given to the general public that applications involving the properties and/or issues described below have been filed with the Planning Department for review as set forth in the City Planning Code. The Zoning Administrator will hold a PUBLIC HEARING on these items and on other matters on Wednesday, January 27, 2021, beginning at 9:30 a.m. Please be advised that due to the COVID-19 emergency, the Zoning Administrator will conduct this hearing remotely using videoconferencing technology. Additional information may be found on the Department's website.

2020-006922VAR (GRETEL GUNTHER) 2921 VALLEJO STREET, Lot 020 in Assessor's Block 0957 in an RH-1 (D) Zoning District and 40-X Height and Bulk District. REAR YARD SOUGHT:  The project proposes to infill an area at the southwest corner of a previously approved, new single-family home (BP No. 201604124605) to accommodate a design change to add an interior spiral staircase. The infill at the southwest corner will add an additional 37 square feet to the previously approved building. PLANNING CODE SECTION 134 requires properties zoned RH-1(D) to provide a rear yard equal to 30 percent of the lot depth. The proposed addition falls within the required rear yard for the property. Therefore, a variance is required.

2020-008907VAR (RYAN BALBA) 30 PALO ALTO AVENUE, Lot 089 in Assessor's Block 2721 in an RH-1(D) Zoning District and a 40-X Height and Bulk District and the Corona Heights Large Residence SUD. REAR YARD SOUGHT: The proposal is to fully renovate the interior of the existing single-family home, demolish the existing nonstandard bay windows at the rear of the building, construct new bay windows and balconies, and modify the existing stair penthouse and roof deck. PLANNING CODE SECTION 134 requires the subject property to provide a rear yard equal to 30% of the lot depth. The proposed bay windows will fall entirely within the required rear yard. Additionally, the rear building wall encroaches 3 feet 6 inches into the required rear yard. Therefore, the project requires a variance.

2018-013177VAR (LINDA AJELLO HOAGLAND) 718 BRAZIL AVENUE, Lot 044 in Assessor's Block 6076 in an RH-2 Zoning District and a 40-X Height and Bulk District. REAR YARD SOUGHT: The proposal is to legalize a portion of a 3-story, approximately 835 square foot, horizontal rear addition and construct a new rear yard deck on an existing single-family home to comply with Enforcement Case No. 2017-016456ENF.  PLANNING CODE SECTION 134 requires the subject property to maintain a rear yard of approximately 33 feet. The rear of the existing building (”as permitted”) encroaches approximately 3 feet 6 inches into the required rear yard and results in a rear yard of 29 feet 4 inches. The proposal would result in a rear yard of only 25 feet 4 inches (22 feet 4 inches to new stair and landing). Therefore, a variance is required.

2014.0243VAR (LINDA AJELLO HOAGLAND) 3927 19TH STREET, Lot 073 in Assessor's Block 3601 in an RH-2 Zoning District and a 40-X Height and Bulk District. REAR YARD SOUGHT: The proposal is to construct a second detached single-family dwelling at the front of the lot, which contains an existing 2-story dwelling at the rear. The proposed dwelling would be 4-stories over a two-car garage. No work is proposed to the existing rear cottage as part of this project. PLANNING CODE SECTION 134 requires a minimum of 45% of the subject lot depth, although a Zoning Administrator interpretation requires a minimum of 25% lot depth be maintained between front and rear buildings on the same lot. The proposed dwelling at the front will not provide the 25% between the two buildings on the lot. Therefore, a variance is required.

2020-010861VAR (LINDA AJELLO HOAGLAND) 3929 19TH STREET, Lot 072 in Assessor's Block 3601 in an RH-2 Zoning District and a 40-X Height and Bulk District. REAR YARD SOUGHT: The proposal is to construct a second detached single-family dwelling at the front of the lot, which contains an existing 2-story dwelling at the rear. The proposed dwelling would be 4-stories over a two-car garage. No work is proposed to the existing rear cottage as part of this project. PLANNING CODE SECTION 134 requires a minimum of 45% of the subject lot depth, although a Zoning Administrator interpretation requires a minimum of 25% lot depth be maintained between front and rear buildings on the same lot. The proposed dwelling at the front will not provide the 25% between the two buildings on the lot. Therefore, a variance is required.

2020-005528VAR (JEFFREY SPEIRS) 755 CORBETT AVE, Lot 063 in Assessor's Block 2763 in an RM-1 Zoning District and a 40-X Height and Bulk District. REAR YARD SOUGHT: The proposal is to enlarge the existing first floor deck at the rear of the building. The deck would be extended approximately 11 feet to abut the north side property line. The proposed deck addition would not extend any deeper than the existing deck. Planning Code Section 134 requires the subject property to maintain a rear yard of approximately 17 feet 6 inches. The proposed rear addition would extend to within 8 feet of the rear property line, encroaching approximately 9 feet 6 inches into the required rear yard. Therefore, a variance is required.
                                              
2020-004817VAR (KIMBERLY DURANDET) 223 BOCANA STREET (AKA 18 BENNINGTON ST), Lot 005 in Assessor’s Block 5667 in an RH-1 Zoning District, a 40-X Height and Bulk District, and the Bernal Height Special Use District. REAR YARD AND MASS REDUCTION SOUGHT: The proposal is to expand and renovate an existing duplex residential building. The rear of the existing roof facing Bocana Street will be raised to accommodate a new bedroom and bath on the top floor with a small infill of 15.5 square feet at the third floor on the north side. Additionally, two new roof decks will be added to the rear of the building, which will slightly modify the existing second-floor existing roofline from shed to flat. PLANNING CODE SECTION 242 requires the subject property to maintain a rear yard of 25.5 feet. The proposed modification to the roofline of the existing non-complying second floor is an expansion of a non-complying structure within the required rear yard. Therefore, the project requires a variance. PLANNING CODE SECTION 242 requires the subject property to reduce the mass of structures located in the RH-1 Zoning District by 650 square feet on lots less than 100 feet in depth. The existing structure on the lot is non-complying and therefore an additional 438 square feet of area must be reduced for a total of 1,088 square feet. The proposed project provides a mass reduction of only 361 square feet. Therefore, the project requires a variance.

2020-009197VAR (GABRIELA PANTOJA) 500 GUERRERO STREET, Lot 001 in Assessor's Block 3578, in an NC-1 Zoning District and a 40-X Height and Bulk District. LOT AREA AND REAR YARD SOUGHT: The proposal is to subdivide the existing 2,800 square foot lot into two lots of 1,519 square feet and 1,280 square feet, each containing a separate building. PLANNING CODE SECTION 121(e) requires a minimum lot area equal to 2,500 square feet, except that the minimum lot area for any lot having its street frontage entirely within 125 feet of the intersection of two streets that intersect at an angle of not more than 135 degrees shall be 1,750 square feet. The subject property is located within 125 feet of an intersection of two streets, and therefore requires a minimum lot area of 1,750 square feet. The Project will split an existing lot into two lots less than 1,750 square feet.  Therefore, a variance is required. PLANNING CODE SECTION 134 requires the existing and proposed lots to maintain a rear yard equal to 25% of the lot depth. The existing lot does not provide a rear yard, and the proposed subdivision will result in to lots that do not provide a Code-complying rear yard. Therefore, a variance is required.

2020-007678VAR (RYAN BALBA) 1682 26TH AVENUE, Lot 027 in Assessor's Block 1918 in an RH-1 Zoning District and a 40-X Height and Bulk District. REAR YARD SOUGHT: The proposal is to construct a new second floor roof deck measuring approximately 7 feet 8 inches deep by 24 feet 10 inches wide on a legal, noncomplying rear addition currently under construction. PLANNING CODE SECTION 134 requires the subject property to maintain a rear yard of 30% (28 feet 6 inches). The rear deck will encroach approximately 3 feet 9 inches into the required rear yard and will have solid railings. Therefore, a variance is required.

2020-009204VAR (MONICA GIACOMUCCI) 12 PROSPECT AVENUE, Lot 007 in Assessor's Block 5610 in an RH-2 Zoning District, a 40-X Height and Bulk District, and the Bernal Heights Special Use District. REAR YARD SOUGHT: The proposal is to repair and reconfigure existing rear decks and to construct rear stairs and associated new fire-rated walls at shared property lines. PLANNING CODE SECTION 242(e)(2)(B) requires the subject property to maintain a rear yard of 31 feet 8 inches. The existing garage and deck are located fully within the rear yard. Therefore, the project requires a Variance.

2020-007556VAR (DAVID WEISSGLASS) 1025 SUTTER STREET, Lot 021 in Assessor’s Block 0301 in an RC-4 Zoning District and a 40-X Height and Bulk District. EXPOSURE SOUGHT: The proposal is to add 3 ADUs to an existing 19-unit building. Two of the ADUs are proposed at the rear of the existing building and the third ADU is proposed at the front of the building with glazing facing on to the lightwell. PLANNING CODE SECTION 140 requires all dwelling units to face directly onto a street or other open area meeting the requirement of the planning code. The dimensions of the open area may be reduced to an area that is at least 225 square-feet with no horizontal dimension less than 9 feet for ADUs per Section 307(l)(1). ADU Unit C is proposed to face a lightwell that is 31 feet 6 inches deep by 7 feet wide. The 7-foot depth is less than the 9-foot minimum dimension required for ADUs. Therefore, a variance is required.

It is strongly recommended that persons submit their comments in writing in advance of the hearing. Written comments may be submitted via email directly to the case planner.

To view the official Variance Hearing Agenda which includes the link to the site plans and elevations of the proposed projects, please visit the website: https://sfplanning.org/hearings-zoning-variance. Persons who are unable to attend the scheduled hearing may submit written comments regarding these cases to the individuals listed for each case above via email or at the Planning Department, 49 South Van Ness Avenue, Suite 1400, San Francisco, CA 94103.

Corey A. Teague
Zoning Administrator

01/07/2021