look right. we are regrading the driveway so the front portion of the house right at the garage will be slightly higher, than it used to be. so we are pursuing adding about four inches to the garage to the new garage door height. the other items that i want to be sure the commission to know is that the first floor rear addition in the back of the house, it will be curved, if there was any digital copies of the drawing that showed it as a square, that is actually not the case it will be curved, i believe in your 11 x 17 packets they are curved. but the size of it remains the same. i like to focus the commission's attention to a specific issue that was in the conditions for approval. in terms of the driveway.

this is the driveway as it currently stands, it is an extremely steep slope, i believe that it is more than maybe 2 and a half inch to 12, it is almost like a roof slope. the cars have a difficulty in getting in and that is really the reason why we are regrading the driveway. i think that if given an alternate to that, we would have liked to have keep the front facade as is, but regrading the driveway is trying to solve a functional issue. and the other thing to point out in this driveway is that there is retaining wall on both sides that are quite tall and it has been fairly difficult for the home owner to be able to actually pull up and unload things and etc., without actually banging the door into the retaining wall. and we would like to request the commission to consider the widening of the driveway, which is actually shown on the

packets. and the idea here being is that you know, we do know and understand that we like to keep the driveway as minimal as possible throughout the city in residential areas. what we are really proposing here is to keep the paving width about the same but to widen it so that we can add plantinging area just in that spot. now the idea being is that it is better to open a car door and maybe bank in to the shrubs verses open a car door and bang into the retaining wall and this also helps soften, we believe the over all front facade and provide more greenry and the other idea is that given how long this particular driveway is to get to the garage, with the retaining wall on either side it does kind of create a tunneling effect where you are looking at the garage

which is fairly prominent and so part of the lowering of the grade is to also help normalize that, and we believe that the widening of this area in the driveway will actually help minimize that effect. and deprominize and that is not really a word. and make it less prominent. i was going to turn it over to the home owner and speak a little bit to the issues that he might have had in terms of using the current garager. >> i don't have much to add to that. it is, and it has resulted in some car door dings and fender dings just given the narrow width of the driveway and backing in in and out, has its challenges as well and makes it a little bit more difficult for when my father comes over, or friends with kids, to get them in and out, it is hard to pull up in the street, because the street is fairly steep, there is not a lot of traffic just

given the tourists and all in the neighborhood, so pulling in and trying to unload kids and elderly folks and groceries and that kind of a thing would be a little easier to do if we had a little bit more width in the driveway, but we appreciate the staff's comments, and i think that we will leave it at that. thank you. >> thank you. >> commissioners? any questions? comments? >> commissioner highland? >> yes, i have a question for the staff. is the issue with the offseting of the stair width of the driveway, or the fact that the stairs is being offset? >> it is kind of a two faceted issue. we both felt that in keeping that straight run, to a certain extent kind of maintains the historic character of the problem, and the street scape. so we felt that that would be more in compliance with the secretary of interior standards and on the other side the

residential design guidelines express that she should be kept as narrow as possible essentially. more so just allowing for cars to enter into garages rather than being kind of a parking lot type of space. and so the residential design team has expressed that they would like to see the width of the driveway remain the same as well. >> as well as keep the stairs straight? >> there was no stance on the stairs from the residential design team. >> okay. commissioner pearlman? >> i am wondering if there were any historic photos before the garage might have been put in, because clearly those are different stairs, you know the stairs that start at the landing point and go up to the house are original and then everything below are all concrete and clearly put in when the garage was put in and so i am wondering about the historic nature of that last, you know the flight from the

sidewalk to the first landing. >> yeah. >> and then, one other question, related, is in that general area, are all of the stairs straight up or do some of them shift? >> so, for a quick clarification, we asked that the retaining wall retain the straight run, sorry. and we are opened to the kind of i don't... i guess that it is like where there is a turn in the stairs were open to that because there is a pattern of that within the neighborhood. it is more of a matter of the retaining wall itself. and as far as historic photos, the 1976, survey photo, of the property already has both the straight runs and the garage and so we have not been able to find anything earlier. >> thank you. >> i just want to let the commission know that we did look at the sf public library for older photos and we are unable to find any. >> thank you.

>> commissioner highland? >> yes, so, i don't have a problem with the shifting of the stairs, but it seems like because it is only a slight shift that it just seems a little bit odd and so to two thoughts that i had is one that if the stair could be shifted further to the east? >> to the east. >> yeah, and then just so that the stairs is not just kind of jogging just slightly and making more of a deliberate jog, and i know that you have the cherry tree in the way and so that might be a problem and so could we put a curb along the drive as opposed to a retaining wall so that the drive is established? >> are we discussing this or are we... >> yeah, i think..., yes. >> okay. >> let's discuss it. so on the curb, what do you mean by that. >> the staff recommendation was to continue the retaining wall and i am wondering if the stairs moved over then it does

not need to be a retaining wall it could be a curb so that the driveway is delen ated. >> and just so that we understand, then how much room is because it comes sorry i am just trying to get this. so you are saying, push the stair all the way over, almost a property line, basically and have it go straight down once it jogs. >> yes. >> at least the width of the upper stair. >> right. >> where the retaining wall stops, there could be a curb that could delen ate the planting. >> well, rather than this..., and do it..., yeah, and on the straight. there is a tree there. >> well it could go here, though. >> and i don't know how close we can get to the tree. >> that is not on there. >> >> you have to go out further.

>> yes, you have speaker cards? >> yes. >> not there yet. >> commissioner johnk? >> yeah, well, i sort of process and technical issue here. so, the project proponent is saying that they have a issue with the staff recommendation, you want to expand the width of the driveway. okay? and then the staff is saying, no, and well, no, and you brought this up duriright.

>> okay. >> what you are and what you are talking about right now curb issue, does that help with this issue? >> i think that the one issue. >> yeah. >> that is the drive width. and the driveway width is one issue. >> yes. >> but the fact that the stair jogs in the man their it does is kind of odd. and so if it shifted and then was straight. >> down and then is shifted the width. >> only shifted once. >> that will help. >> it would help it look better. >> but it does not address the driveway width issue. >> and yeah, it does.

>> because you are shifting it even more, early. >> and i was thinking that you achieve both things. >> and then, delineate the drive with a curb and you have an entire planting area. >> right. >> commissioners if i may interject, just to reflect on the commissioner highland last comment is i think that regardless of where that stair ends, while we do think that a straight run stair is more appropriate for the building historically, the residential design team would want to insure that that area does not become a paved over area and so adding that as landscaping or adding planters there, would be the ideal situation. >> yeah, commissioner pearlman. >> that is exactly what the architect this suggested was that the driveway is delineated no different than it is now, in terms of width and there is a planting area, for however, far the stair is shifted to the east, i agree with commissioner highland that the double jogging is kind of awkward. and that is why i asked the question as if the stairs do

shift, clearly the garage was not there when the house was built and it is not, you know, obviously it is now part of the house and considered part of it. but if the shifting stair is okay from a historic perspective of the neighborhood, and the district, then we are giving everything that the home owner is requesting and we are not changing the quality relative to the secretary of interior standards and i know with the residential design team as long as you are not paving that area, even if you took that entire driveway area in the front and you did permeable pavers so that even that greener than it would be, with a paved surface tha, would increase the greenness of the front of the house. >> right. >> and further, emphasize the house itself. because i agree with that kind of tunnel effect, makes you look at the garage, and so opening it up a little bit

helps you focus more on the house itself than the garage. >> and then putting in a curb would hopefully prevent them from paving over. >> yeah. >> i don't think that is the intention. >> certainly it would prevent that. i mean, the owner is clearly committed to the house, and the maintenance of it as a victor an home. >> mr. fry? >> commissioners, tim fry, department staff just for clarification for discussion purposes on the overhead, this is commissioner highland's sketch, just to clarify, the you know, the changing of the straight run stair, ever so slightly and then insuring that this area be maintained as landscaping. >> yeah. >> so the challenge is going to be the cherry tree, and i don't know how close we can get. >> how how the root system is, but if it could be moved, that would be also, if it could be moved to the east side above the new run of stairs? >> possible.

>> and sponsor? it seems like an acceptable solution. >> i am finding through this process that it just mattered a lot and i would love to keep the stairway straight and widen it and i understand that we can't do that and i appreciate the comment and i think that it is a good idea, whatever marginal space that we get in the driveway will be helpful and i am happy to keep it green i think that it looks better that way. >> thank you. >> before we go to public comment, i have one other comment on the facade of the building and actually lowering the garage and i think that it helps the facade of this building, tremendously by getting the garage door opening further away from the window and we have seen it a couple of times in the passed and it helps the look of the facade and reestablishing the bay. >> and just as a practical concern, having that driveway, really requires an suv or a large vehicle to get in there and i know that those are very friendly for the community for reasons and i would love to have a smaller car if i could get it up the driveway.

>> thank you. >> we will go to public comment and i have two speaker cards. >> i am sorry, the first name, erin morris? >> commissioners, my name is erin morris and i reside at the property that is adjacent to his home. and i want to also just state really quickly, that an endorsement for a board member from the alamo is not an endorsement from the board as a former 8-year member of that board and i just want to clarify that. and so i wanted to and just read my letter and i am sorry i am nervous, but also made inquiries and kind of a crazy last seven months. but when we heard about this project we had made inquiry and so thought that this was our opportunity to voice our

concerns. just i wanted to clarify that. i will give you a picture. can you see where our house is, and in relationship to the project this besinger is us and this is his home. we have resided at 720 stiener street for 13 years with our two daughters, 15 and 17 1k3 we are drawn to the wonderful lighting that we received from the east west position that is maximized by the two sets of french doors on the east or rear side of our home on the first floor. we are opposed to the addition of a story on the property, as it will dramatically alter the lighting atmosphere and warmth that we receive from the east side of our home. the rooms located in the rear of our home are breakfast and family room and kitchen these are the most used rooms in our home day and night. and i am showing you these to also give you an idea of what well what the lighting is light

that is all natural lighting without lights. and it is where our family gathers we are able to warm and light these rooms from direct lighting that we received from the eastern sun in the morning and the lighting during the day. and in addition to direct sunlight we also rely on and enjoy the openness of our back deck, the proposed story will create an immediate wall that in its proximity and height will eclipse most of our direct sunlight and darken the space between our homes. while the plan indicates a 3-foot, two inch increase in height, it is actually greater than 4 feet for us, because it is from the roof line not the facade and so this area here, is actually a four feet increase for us from the original wall. are you calling time? >> you have 25 seconds. >> thank you. >> so, in the words of the

architect we will still get a sliver of sunlight after the proposed story is built, this is heart breaking to us, for 13 years we have enjoyed the privacy of the deck and the windows that have looked on to nothing more than a blank wall and a blue sky, in in addition to the loss of lighting we will lose all privacy in the rear of our home, should the additional story be built. >> thank you. >> thank you for your consideration. >> i do have photographs. >> thank you. >> if you have anything you can leave it right there for us. >> thank you. >> next francis compra. >> i live at 718 stiener street which is also, next to 720 and it is right behind tim's house.

my backyard is already very, it is like a tunnel. and right now, he has one story with a slanted roof, and he said that he wanted to go up three and a half feet and i said if it were three and a half feet and kept the slanted roof that is fine but it is not, it is going up above the roof line another four feet. so where there was one story, and he is digging down so now there is going to be three stories. and already i can barely see the sky when i am down in the garden. and there is going to be and it is going to go up whatever the slant is plus four and a half feet and so, i am going to be and it is going to be like buried there. so, they are going to be taking away sunlight and light. and that is my concern. and i already voiced that to him more than once.

that is it. >> thank you. >> thank you very much. >> any other member of the public wish to speak on this item? please come up to the podium. >> hello my name is john morris, and erin's husband and yes, we have lived 720 stiener for 13 years, and i do appreciate the out reach that he has done and shared the plans with and asked about our opinions and we have it is the sunlight and the height i really appreciate his love of victor ans i share that. but the project at 891 grove street will expand this historic victor an home from a one floor home to a three floor home and the facade remains and i appreciate the concern for that and that is all fine. but the victor an home is severely changed. yes, as my wife said the

kitchen and the living room is where we spend most of our time, this is sort of an aside, but i came off some brain surgery in january, and that was my infirmry, and i slept in that part of the house and it is our family room and i was aware of how much that bright sunlight adds to the atmosphere in that room as i was benched for a while to recover. any way, so the atmosphere is changed by the increased just in the height of his property. and so it is not the back but it is the height of the building the blue skies and sunshine, coming in through the rear windows will be blocked and we spend the majority of our time in those rooms. by raising the height of this house's side wall four feet to accommodate a full floor in place of what is existing, which is an attic, the sky line, and sunshine, is severely limited and me, and not just fran, but several neighbors homes, and this is

significantly alters, this home and significantly effects the surrounding homes on grove and stiener street and we do believe the out reach. they have talked about you know, painting colors and that is nice and i appreciate those considerations, roofing surface, and i appreciate that. he also called two days ago and said hey, if this all goes through and everything is fine, and you decide that you do want to change the back of your house, he said that he would you know, be happy to contribute, $3,000 to any sort of work that we are going to do in the back of the house. you know, i appreciate their consideration, but it is the severely altering his house and the atmosphere around it. thank you for listening. >> thank you, any other member of the public wish to speak on this item? >> jim warshow victor an alliance, i really do appreciate the comments that were made by the commissioners

regarding the staircase, and driveway. i do think that they reflect very creative and good interpretation to have the project really come out better. and since the driveway as you pointed out is a really non-historic element, i am really delighted that you took issue with that. and my only concern was that the staff position was that they thought that they were following the secretary of interior standards, in keeping it as narrow and having these harsh retaining walls. and i know that it is good intent, but i think that the discussion that you brought to it, is really how do we accomplish the goals, and not get incredibly narrow, and fixated on what might be a less than desirable out come.

and so again, thank you so much for your creativity, and your vision in reimagining it more creatively, thank you. >> and any other member wish to speak on this item? >> seeing none, we will close the public comment and bring it back to the commission. questions? comments? >> the height situation, i think mr. fry, where that is all within legal limit, correct? >> correct. miss kirby may be able to add some to this, but the residential design team did review the project and found that it met not only the code requirements but also the guidelines and the residential guidelines in preserving the light and air to surrounding properties. >> okay. commissioner highland? >> that was my question, i don't think that the height is under our purview, if it is within the zoning, if it is

applicable without a variance it is not in our purview. >> commissioner pearlman. >> i wanted to say the same thing, that the neighbors have an opportunity to file a discretionary review if they are unhappy with the design but it is not in our purview, and just for the neighbors, this is just, this is a hazard of living in san francisco. and you know, neighbors don't own the sky and they don't know the view and things like that and so it is just sad that this happens sadly all of the time. but you do have another avenue to pursue, that is, you know, not in our purview, but in the planning commission's purview. >> thank you. >> commissioners. anything else? >> motion? >> anything? >> yeah, i would like to make a motion to approve this certificate of appropriateness, with the sketch of the design changes that commissioner highland included, and that the staff can review the final details of how that is implemented. >> okay.

>> second. >> second. >> thank you. >> call the roll. >> commissioners on that motion to approve the project with conditions as modified to allow for the widening of the driveway with the landscaped area by jogging the stairs as far east as possible without impacting the existing cherry tree, on that motion? >> highland >> yes. >> johnck. >> yes. >> matsuda. >> yes. >> pearlman >> yes. >> wolframs. >> yes. >> hasz. >> yes. >> and that passes and concludes your agenda. >> we will close this meeting. >> if you are interested in our local city government and would like to work with 18 other

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