Williams v. Board of Permit Appeals, et al.,

San Francisco Superior Court Case No. 987418. The trial was held on July 31, 1997. This case involved one of the most significant residential land use decisions in San Francisco in the last two decades. The case tested the application and enforceability of the Residential Design Guidelines (Proposition M from 1986) which are part of the San Francisco Planning Code. After extensive briefing, including proposed statements of decision from both sides, the court reversed a prior decision by the Board of (Permit) Appeals approving the demolition of a small Victorian house and its replacement with a four-story condominium. The court determined, over the strenuous objections of the City Attorney, the Developers and Joe O’Donoghue’s RBA, that the Residential Design Guidelines are a mandatory part of the Planning Code and that the City has an obligation to determine that projects comply with the Residential Design Guidelines before permits may issue. (See, Statement of Decision issued by Court) The case was tried before Judge Raymond D. Williamson, Jr. Opposing counsel representing the respondents was the San Francisco City Attorney’s Office, Reuben & Alter (now Reuben, Junius & Rose), and Alice Suet Yee Barkley, Esq. (See SF Chronicle story 12-22-97)

Represented San Francisco Tomorrow against the $30 million give away at the Bloomingdale’s project
Illegal demolitions of sound, affordable rent-controlled houses at 324 & 328 28th Avenue
Illegal demolition of 710-10th Avenue
Illegal demolition and out of scale development at 1725 Lake Street
Citizens Alternatives for Bryant Square
3995 Alemany Group opposing inappropriate development Panama Street
Save Poppy Lane– Fighting the illegal RBA development
Barry & Barbara Deutsch – Fighting destruction of affordable and rent-controlled housing at 690 DeHaro Street
Representing Golden Gate Commons and neighbors fighting the Butterfly Discovery Park
115 Parker Street –Destruction of affordable and rent-controlled housing
Lombard Street Hotel – Fighting oversized development of hotel
Russian Hill Preservation Society– fighting illegal over-sized development on Green Street
Riley’s Mortuary –Fighting oversized development in Noe Valley
501 Noe Street– Fighting destruction of affordable rent-controlled housing
2645 Baker Street– Fighting the destruction of affordable rent-controlled housing
1 Saturn Street –Fighting the destruction of affordable rent-controlled housing
993 Tennessee Street –Fighting illegal and over-sized live/work project
Friends of St. Thomas More –Fighting over-sized planned unit development by the Archdiocese of San Francisco
835 Minnesota Street B Fighting over-sized and illegal live/work development
Russian Hill Community Association– opposing over-sized development at 1170 B 1180 Green Street
131 Missouri Street Fighting over-sized and illegal live/work development
407 Connecticut Street –Fighting illegal demolition of sound, rent-controlled housing
342 21st Avenue –Fighting the destruction of sound, affordable, rent-controlled housing
539 8th Avenue –Fighting the destruction of sound, affordable, rent-controlled housing