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<br />Draft Minutes Excerpt - 12/14/06 Planning Cummlssion Meeting
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<br />privacy, shadows and such. The proposal, contained in new Section 2-537 that also clarifies
<br />the definition of a Daylight Plane, would extend Daylight Plane restrictions to R Districts
<br />(the single-family districts as well as Bay-O- Vista, RO and RD). Secretary Pollart explained
<br />that Daylight Plane focus in the proposal would address potential privacy and shadow
<br />impacts to adjacent residences, while allowing exceptions with administrative review by the
<br />ZEO. Under the proposal, once a home design extends beyond ] 9.5 feet, any height above
<br />that mark (even dormers) could not intmde past a plane that runs at a 45-degree angle from
<br />the edge of the structure to the roof line. Exceptions could be granted with ZED
<br />administrative approval, which introduces an extra level of review for Planning staff as well
<br />as for adjacent neighbors.
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<br />· Article 5, Section 2-539
<br />The current San Leandro Zoning Code regulates lot coverage and setbacks, and the City has
<br />guidelines for second-story development. However, a FAR standard would be new for the
<br />City. The FAR standard would put residential development in context to the square footage
<br />of the property, and whereas the Daylight Plane proposal would involve only immediately
<br />adjacent neighbors, the FAR standard has a broader scope to ensure greater conformity
<br />within a neighborhood. Exceptions to the maximum FAR would call for a Major Site Plan
<br />Review, including a noticed public hearing. Ms. Pollart showed the Commissioners a table
<br />that she had prepared [or the joint worksession. It showed, for example, that for the RS, RS-
<br />40, RS- VP and RD Districts, the recommended FAR for lots of less than 5,000 square feet is
<br />50%, for 2,500 square feet of living space, plus 450 square feet to accommodate a standard
<br />two-car garage. For lots up to 8,000 square feet in the RO district, the proposed 50% FAR
<br />would allow construction of a home with up to 4,000 square feet of living space with an
<br />additional 500 square feet for a garage. For lots between 5,001 and 8,000 square feet lot, the
<br />maximum 50% FAR standard would bump allowable square footage up to a maximum of
<br />4,000 square feet of living space. Staff used a "graduated" formula to develop
<br />recommendations for larger lots, so that the 50% FAR applies to the first 5,000 square feet of
<br />the lot, with FAR dropping to 30% [or the next 5,000 square feet. If the lot exceeds 10,000
<br />square feet, the FAR [aIls to 10% for that portion of the lot in excess of ] 0,000 square feet.
<br />Secretary Pollart noted that the proposed standards would have permitted approximately
<br />1,000 square [eet more than the applicant requested on the 1.5-acre Darius Court property.
<br />She also noted that in the RO District, lots exceeding 14,000 square feet may have more than
<br />one residence, such as two single-family homes or one single-family home plus a duplex. In
<br />such circumstances, the additional level of review would come into play only if the
<br />cumulative FAR reaches the maximum standard. Under the proposed changes, the large
<br />homes would require Major Site Plan Review, but instead of going to the ZED, would go up
<br />to the BZA. That process, she explained, was to alleviate concerns about having more public
<br />input and public review for large home applications in the future,
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<br />· Article 5, Section 2-574
<br />The proposed amendment to this section would add Daylight Planes to the list of
<br />administrative exceptions that may be approved by the ZEO,
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<br />. Article 5, Section 2~580
<br />The proposal would amend Sub-section B to incorporate language pertammg to FAR
<br />standards in the context of properties that require Major Residential Site Plan Review. It
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