3A Public Hearing 2007 0507 - Laserfiche WebLink

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A high level of architectural detail is also provided for the rear row of five townhouse units and the two attached townhomes on Herma Court. The elevations facing the interior driveway have the same windows, detailing, trim, etc., as the front elevation along MacArthur Boulevard, exhibiting four-sided architecture. The garages have varied window and wood panel styling that break up the long row of garage doors in the interior of the site. The proposal includes a prominent porch element for the homes, raising the building by two feet to include a total of four steps to the front entries. The proposed five-foot tall wood fence bordering the porch provides a level of privacy. A large overhang/entry element is provided for every two units, creating a prominent Craftsman statement with heavy timbered gables. With the average building height for the townhomes at 34 feet, six inches the proposed building height is well below the 50-foot height maximum in the RM-2000 District (Zoning Code Section 2-536). The third story of all units is stepped back five feet at the front gable bays and eight feet from the main portion of the third story to front building plane, providing depth in the front articulation and reducing the overall mass of the structure with its partial third floor. Per Planning Commission comments at the worksession, the roof lines have also been staggered in height across the row of townhomes to provide greater visual variety. Parking As described above in the discussion for the need for the Planned Development, the off-street parking supply for the overall project is slightly less than the 2.5 spaces per unit required per the Zoning Code. In addition, seven of the units contain tandem, two-car garages, which is not outright allowed in the CC zoning district. Staff believes that the proposed residential development, with one car garages limited to the inclusionary housing units and two-car tandem garages allocated to the smaller C 1 units, the parking for the site is adequate. The site is located on a transit corridor, with an AC Transit bus stop right at the comer of the subject site. Additionally, Planning staff has indicated to the applicant that they may utilize the on-street parking immediately along the building's frontage, which was increased by lO additional spaces to a total of 16 spaces, to count towards their guest parking, with approval of the exception for parking in the Planned Development. Although staff notes that these spaces will remain open to public use. Transportation staff, as well as the West San Leandro Redevelopment Advisory Committee (RAC), expressed concern about the lack of off-street parking for guests to the residential units, as the on-street parking spaces would not specifically be designated for use by the project only (i.e., they would remain public spaces available to anyone wishing to use them). The RAC specifically had requested that staff and the Planning Commission consider limiting the possible uses of the commercial space to office uses, or other uses with low parking requirements. At this time, the commercial use has been eliminated, so the concern over commercial parking is moot. Planning Commission Staff Report PLN2006-00 I 04 April 12, 2007 Page 11 of 16