Allen Leung th Avenue San Francisco, CA October 28, 2015 The Office of the Board of Permit Appeals 1650 Mission Street, 3 rd Floor San F

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6 Allen Leung th Avenue San Francisco, CA October 28, 2015 The Office of the Board of Permit Appeals 1650 Mission Street, 3 rd Floor San Francisco, CA RE: SITE PERMIT APPEAL Permit/Application No Site Address: th Avenue, San Francisco, CA I am one of the owners of the property immediately adjacent to the building located at the above referenced site address and I am representing all owners to write in connection with the above site permit issued on September 11, We have examined the blue prints submitted by the permit applicant and wish to object strongly to the construction of a 3-story mansion at the above referenced site address. As one of many residences who grew up and live in the already overcrowded Sunset District in San Francisco, I believe that the residences of the Sunset District along with the city shall promote neighborhood qualities and scale that maintain and enhance rather than destroy, today s living, historic and sustainable neighborhood character. 1

7 Based on the details provided on the blue prints, we noticed the permit applicant s plan is to build a huge 3-story mansion which way exceeds that ordinary height and size of the typical 2-story stucco houses located in the Sunset District. Our property is a 2- story house and our main concern is that, a 3-story mansion at the adjacent side will significantly block our three side windows in our light well on the south side of our house, three skylights, lightwell of our entrance stairway, and rooftop from receiving natural sunlight (See Exhibit A). This significant reduction of natural light source to our house will lower our house s overall temperature thereby lead to increase use of energy in our heating system. With our existing skylights and windows, there is no need to turn on any indoor lights during daytime. If the 3-story mansion is built, the need for daytime energy use will increase due to the reduction of natural light source caused by the height of this 3-story structure. As a result, such an increase in electricity and gas usage will have a negative impact on sustainability because we will no longer be able to conserve energy and ecological balance, and will incur higher overall energy costs. Exhibit B indicates that based on the direction and the potential size of the shadow casted during a bright daylight, the proposed 3-story building will block significant amount of light source currently hitting our rooftop, three sky lights and three side windows on the south side of the our building adjacent to the proposed 3-story mansion. In addition, the view from our side windows adjacent to the proposed mansion will also be dramatically impacted. Because extreme humidity and moisture in the air are common in the Sunset District due to fog, the proposed 3-story structure will also affect air circulation and current, increase moisture accumulation, and potentially promote growth of mold and 2

8 mildew in our building. Since our bathrooms utilize the south facing light well windows as ventilation, with that a 3-story structure, those windows will lose their function to ventilate and increase condensation and mildew. To one of the homeowners who has asthma, this increase exposure to mold and mildew could pose a potential health hazard. This construction plan would affect not only us, but the other house ( th Avenue) adjacent to this mansion, and the houses across the street as well because of the additional 3 rd story on top. As a result, this construction will not promote a better neighborhood quality. I did a canvas of neighbors next to and behind the proposed building site and they each indicated to me that they did not like the proposed height and scale of the proposed 3-story mansion, citing that they would lose views and light source and their quality of living will be negatively impacted if the proposed 3-story mansion was built. The character of the Sunset District neighborhood is for the two story single family home built between 1925 and 1950 (See Exhibit C) and is well represented in the block of 20 th between Pacheco Street and Quintara Street where the proposed 3-story mansion is intended to be built. Based on the blueprints provided by the permit applicant, the scale in both height and depth of this proposed 3-story mansion, will not fit the characteristic of the existing 2-story single family home in the neighborhood and will not preserve the historic quality of our neighborhood on the 20 th block between Pacheco Street and Quintara Street (See Exhibit D). 3

9 Based on the satellite view displayed in Exhibit B, it clearly shows that the proposed 3-story mansion would be non-compliant with the City Planning Code section 134 for residential districts rear yard length requirements should be at a minimum of 25% of the lot depth but no less than 15 feet. In compliance with this planning code will again promote neighborhood qualities and scale that maintain and enhance the residences way of living in the Sunset District. In summary, I sincerely implore the Office of the Board of Permit Appeals to promote neighborhood qualities and enhancing the way of living for the residences in the Sunset District by objecting to the construction of the 3-story mansion at th Avenue. However, we are willing to accept an amendment to the permit applicant s proposed plan by a reduction of height to a 2-story, matching the current general façade of our block and maintaining a 25% open space of the rear yard. 4

10 Exhibit A 5

11 Exhibit B 6

12 Exhibit C 7

13 Exhibit D 8

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