about wooden windows, we find, in this document, need another reason for putting -- wooden windows and a recap the entire three pages. not only that, but at the bottom, they do it again. take a look around. they are convincing the reader to use wooden windows. they even bring up how expensive -- how is my time? >> you have 30 seconds. >> ok. wrapping up, this is what we are -- what is standing in the way of us coming to a conclusion on this building. it is six windows. i do not understand why i have to be here tonight to ask you to ask the planning department to follow the standards that they

wrote. please help me. i have several neighbors that are coming to share as well. president fong: speakers in support of the d.r.? >> good evening. i am a retired attorney. i have lived at 65 collingwood, immediately across the street, for 25 years. i am at a loss. i have reviewed both the standards for when a replacement as well as the residential design guidelines. these windows do not meet these standards or guidelines. page after page describes how wooden windows with a painted finish and historically accurate

profiles are appropriate for this building. it says on page 8 that if a building was originally constructed in 1908 with wooden windows, then they should be replaced with wooden windows with similar exterior conditions. i am confused about the ambiguity here. please tell me why planning is making an exception here when we are all gathered here to simply ask that the rules be followed. thank you. >> good evening. i owned a condo directly across the street from 62. our windows also face the street. six years ago, we called in three bids to have our front windows replaced. there were falling apart. there were wooden. the buildings were built in -- were built in 1936-1937.

when the contractor can out to give us bids, they said they all had to be replaced with wooden windows because of the city charter in that neighborhood fitting with the ambiance of the neighborhood. we complied, got the permit, they were all rebuilt and replaced. we wanted to go with vinyl. they said they would not do it. i think the final and the stainless steel metal windows just ruin the whole look of the neighborhood. there are a couple of other buildings on the street and they really are an eyesore. i think everyone's should pull together -- everyone should altogether and follow the rules hank you. >> good evening, commissioners. i own a condo in a four-unit

building on the corner of the street. it is one block away from the subject building. it was just completed, an update, with all new his courtly accurate wooden windows as it is required. as the chief designer at an international holding company, i have implemented a fair amount of policy. i looked up the world -- the word policy in rupiah -- in wikipedia and it is a principal or rule that guides decisions to achieve a rational outcome. in my 50 years, i have never seen more of an irrational outcome than we have here today. the standards for windows replacements reads like a company selling accurate wooden windows.

at the top of the page, it reads, need another reason? authentic would -- wood adds to the beauty. please bring a rational outcome here today. let's put an end to this matter. please embrace the wooden windows, standard code, and replace the windows to an authentic wooden window. thank you. >> good evening. i am here on behalf of andrew per se, who could not be here tonight. -- andrew pierce, who could not be here tonight. these are his words -- "what stood out was the quick summary on page 13. the summary highlights major points from a larger text in order for the audience to get the gist in a shorter period of time. it is notable that the summary points are -- replacement

windows should match the windows inside, the next year profile and arrangement. the approach replacement in this case is wood. also in the quick summary is replacement wooden windows that have vinyl fiber glass or aluminum-clad exteriors will be reviewed in a case-by-case basis. aluminum-clad is clearly not desirable but will be considered. on a case-by-case basis. what is the exception here? what calls for a departure from what is clearly the preferred wooden window? commissioners, planning got this wrong. help us get it right and require wooden windows here." >> good evening. i am here to represent sarah

schneider at 39 collingwood street. she wrote this letter. "i am writing to support my neighbor. i have read the standards for when a replacement and the residential design guidelines. i am at a loss when i try to figure out how aluminum-clad windows could be considered appropriate in an otherwise intact and other was original building. from what i have read, the policy requires wooden windows and only consider aluminum windows on a case-by-case basis. it is due to the planning codes requiring that the rear yard is set back. do people just build it? the way they want and legalize later if necessary? i think we need to agree on what the rules are and have them applied fairly to everyone. please do the right thing and

reward those of us who have been following the rules to collectively better our neighborhood. " >> my name is vanessa julian. i reside at 50 collingwood and have owned the building for nearly 50 years. i have read the standards for when the replacement and the residential design guidelines. they are clear and unambiguous as to the appropriateness of appropriate when the replacement. on page 8, it states "if replacement windows are required due to deterioration, those that are visible from the street should be replaced with windows that are appropriate to the time. you're building was originally constructed. if the building was originally constructed in 1908, they should be replaced with wooden double

on windows with similar dimensions." please do the right thing for this building, for the street, and for our neighbor. thank you. >> good evening. i am reading a letter from one of allen's neighbors who is in 45 collingwood. his name is pete young. "my wife, our children, and i live across the street and we are ready to support his efforts to have the proper windows installed in his building. we have recently decided to replace our aging windows. we were told the appropriate lenders to install or wooden windows. we purchased marvin windows from 100% would. we sympathize with allen because, like us, he was to follow the rules and do what is best for his house and the character of our neighborhood. we feel a bit cheated and

tricked that we were told there was no exception to these rules. now we find an exception being made without any justification. if the rules are that we should all use a program materials to honor the history of our neighborhood, and we should all use the program materials. it seems pretty straightforward to me. please vote in favor of allen and require the opportunity to have a nice-looking wooden windows as per the standards." >> i am here to support alan in his desire to put in a wooden windows for his home as it is pleasing to both his home and neighborhood. >> my name is todd. i am a window dealer and i do a lot of work. 50% of my work is done in san

francisco. we are required, and i know this because i work with a lot of contractors, on the front side of all houses in more of a historical or original edwardian or victorian house, to put windows -- to put wooden windows carried on the backside, we can do pretty much anything we want. on the front side, 75% of the progress of work on, i am required to avoid a exterior windows without an aluminum frame but with a wooden frame on those windows. that is across all my contractors. >> good evening. my main it -- my name is chris. i am an architect and i live two

blocks away. i work one block away on 18th street. in all my 20 years of being an architect in san francisco, i am pretty perplexed that this argument is going on. i have had at least a dozen projects in san francisco in the past year where we were not allowed to use these kind of windows. it was strictly wooden, no cladding, historical windows with the lugs on them and so forth and so on. what i am here today it -- why i am here today is i do not understand why it is being approved for these windows? aluminum-cladding looks like a different window. there is no two ways about it. in some cases it is appropriate. not on this 1912 building.

it really needs to be historically accurate. i would like to see a wooden window. wood with a painted finish. also, none of my clients have ever been given preferential treatment in approval for inappropriate windows as the applicant has been here. especially three years after installing them illegally without a building permit. for most, i ask that you respect the window standards and not bend the rules unless you do it for absolutely everyone. thank you very much. president fong: are there any additional speakers in support of the d.r.? seeing none, the project sponsor has five minutes. >> good evening, commissioners. i am the owner of the subjects

property. a lot of wild claims have been made tonight. i would like to focus on what is relevant. first thing, there is nothing exceptional or extraordinary about windows. there were installed for years and four months ago back in november 2007. they are triple-paned. i installed them because we live in the heart of the castro. it is a wonderful neighborhood, but with that comes a lot of street noise. i replace the aluminum, single- painted windows with triple pains. as a first-time home buyer, i had no idea you needed a permit for a simple replacement job. anyway, this was completed more than four years ago. the planning department, the residential design team, and the historical foundation have all reviewed this case. they are intimately familiar with the details and they all agree that my windows in are perfectly appropriate for the building and the block. that is their determination. they are asking that you not

accept this d.r. second, i windows actually are an improvement to the block. they are an improvement compared with the windows that were there and the windows that are in the d.r. request for's unit. and also an improvement compared with the adjacent buildings on our street. this diagram shows -- can you see it? i have color-coded. wooden is best. aluminum-clad is second-best. vinyl is not code compliance and is the worst. most of our buildings have non- compliant windows. my windows actually improve the lot. they do not detract from it. this is our building. this is my unit. the windows were installed in 2007 and these are the d.r.

request for's. they are not wouldn't but are single-pane aluminum, not code compliance. here is another view of my windows. i chose these because marvin has a sterling reputation for creating high-quality, code comply, energy efficient windows. in comparison with the d.r. requesters's windows, i am not quite sure with what we are talking about this. here is a picture of our next- door neighbor's house. on the windows, plastic, compared with the beautiful depth and detail of my windows which had been approved. these are the windows are replaced in 2007. they are unattractive, single- pane, drafty, made of aluminum. these are the windows i replaced them with. they are beautiful. look at the depth and detail. from the inside, my windows are an improvement as well.

the next important thing i would like to focus on is that there have been no complaints about my windows in four years and two months. not a word was ever said to me about this from any neighbor, not even the d.r. requester air until i received a demand letter in january pointing out that my windows -- if i did not pay him $30,000 to remedy the fact that they were not permitted, he would sue me. i'd promptly went to the city and found out i could get an over-the-counter permit which i did on that day. it calls the $540, not $30,000. only after that did the d.r. requester file an appeal and he got his next-door neighbor friend to file a second appeal. he then made the rounds in the neighborhood and managed to stir up some excitement about my windows, which were installed more than four years ago and nobody has ever complained about them. next, i want to point out that i also now have never been

support. nobody is here, but i have a three letters of support. finally, last but not least, the window permit he just applied for last month that was approved, are neither here nor there. this d.r. is about my windows and permit. it is not about any permit he has recently applied for or wants to apply for. it is not about any other neighbors. the planning department knows what they're doing. there are professionals and work with these guidelines all the time. guidelines are guidelines and not rules. they have discretion and they agree my windows are appropriate for the building and the block. i ask that you follow the recommendation and not accept this matter for d.r. thank you. president fong: are there any speakers in favor of the project sponsor? >> good evening.

i am an architectural designer with an architectural firm in the city. over the past six years, i have worked with dozens of projects. quite possibly two-thirds or more all-out aluminum-clad windows exactly like these ones. these are marvin windows, they have a great reputation, a stellar reputation. they may need an eighth of an inch or a quarter of an inch here or there, but this is the modern day. we have got to hang a lot more class in these windows. we heard from someone over the road who was compelled to put in marvin solid wood windows. those are the exact same profile with no differences to the window that she has installed in her house. i also want to point out, because there seems to be some question about the fairness of

this and the judging of the planning department, but i know that the planning department, they are at a very diligent organization. it will not let people install windows they do not approve of. this is not some permit that slid on the radar. the residential design team, the historical preservationists, have always -- they have all looked at these windows and they agree they are fine. we will keep facing the judgment of the planning staff and not allow the personal vendettas gone wrong to deny that her permit. thank you very much. >> i am an attorney and my office represents her with

regard to these windows. what is important to remember, as the planning department found in its initial review, there is nothing extraordinary about the aluminum-clad windows that she has had installed. they meet in the architectural type of the street. there are less than 50% windows on the street made of wood, contractor -- contrary to the d.r. request your's statement. the majority of windows are from sub sub standard material. she has improved the property, increased the volume of the property. she has not received any complaints whatsoever. the aluminum-clad windows are code-compliant, unlike these plastic windows.

there were professionally installed. it was her unfortunate and awareness that a permit was required at the time of the installation several years ago. that is the reason we are here. that and whatever personal issues have arisen with regard to the d.r. requester error and his neighbor. what is important here is that the windows should maintain the integrity of the street, and of the property. there is nothing exceptional about them. the d.r. should not be accepted and the windows should be approved. president fong: d.r. requester, you have a two-minute rebuttal. >> thank you, commissioners to.

we came here to talk about the building. we are going to continue to talk about the building. i would be happy to answer any questions that you have related to what was just said. i am a general contractor. i have been a general contractor for about 10 years. i have lived in this house for 15 years. every square inch of the interior of this house i have meticulous the upgraded, restored back to its original condition. milling the woodwork, installing everything. the outside of the house was next on our list. then these windows went in. i just do not understand why it is so hard to believe it is not a personal vendetta when this is what i do. this is my home. i will be here another 30 years, i hope. if we want to talk about exceptional and extraordinary, what i find exceptional and

extraordinary is that mincing window types is against the policy that i did not write but that the planning department wrote. i just do not understand why i cannot have wooden windows and follow the standards. these standards are not to be regarded as guidelines. standards referred to ceqa and they are important. this house is right on the street. this is how my house could look. at the hearing last week, the appellant said it, i would like to sell our property and move on. commissioners, i am asking you to help me prepare my home before she sells for property and moves on. her contractor made a mistake. she did not make the mistake. the state of california licenses

her contractor. she should go to her contractor. she is asking me to eat it. i do not understand. president fong: project sponsor, you have a two-minute rebuttal. >> again, this is not about his windows and windows he would like to install in the future. this is about the windows i installed in 2007 and the fact that there is nothing exceptional or extraordinary about them. the planning department has approved them. i believe that this is actually not a debate about window material and what is best for the building but a way for him to try to use city process as leverage in a lawsuit against me. if he really cared that much about his windows and preserving the building, why has he waited this long to install wooden windows. he just apply for a permit and

got it approved last month after trying to sue me about this. i just do not understand. his desire to suddenly improve a building like this with wooden windows, that is his prerogative. i should not be punished for putting code-compliance would and -- windows in that are not wouldn't more than four years ago. he points out that i was planning on selling a property. that is neither here nor there. this d.r. is about my windows and one's right to sell their property is one's right. it has nothing to do with my windows. the planning department has established that my windows are pri and that is what this is about. thank you. president fong: the public hearing is closed. commissioners. >> i would like to make a clarification. a couple of things i skipped in my presentation that were partially stated by the project

sponsor. initially, the windows were installed in 2007. the permit was filed to correct that in 2011. it was signed over the counter. what happened was, it was signed and that individual failed to be contacted. that person is the d.r. filer. after the permit was signed, it was suspended. they were then contacted, allowed to file d.r. they subsequently filed an appeal to the board. the board had a hearing the prior week and put that on hold until after the planning commission had an opportunity to review this discretionary review upon being sent back to the board. again, this was reviewed by the residential design team. there were also reviewed by our

preservation staff. both bodies felt that these windows were writ for this location, this style of home. i just want to make that clarification. president fong: thank you. commissioner sugaya. commissioner sugaya: maybe you have already clarified it. the project sponsor is somewhere in here and says that the historic preservation commission review this. >> preservation staff had an opportunity to review it as well. commissioner sugaya: i was going to say, sayhsc looked at it, we should have something in there. but obviously they did not. i am curious. the d.r. requester now has a permit specifically for his window replacement project? if so, what were -- why is he

being -- i do not understand. he has a permit and is installing wooden windows. did we tell him to install the wooden windows or is that his choice? >> that was his choice. that permit has already been issued. commissioner sugaya: ok. this has nothing to do with the windows situation. i was going to ask the question anyway. i do not know who to ask. this building is a two-ownership building? the d.r. requester, can you answer that? >> this is a two unit building. >> are they condos? >> it is. >> do you have to agree on >> it is. >> do you have to agree on