3A Public Hearing 2007 1119 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Excerpts from the Planning Commission Meeting Minutes October 11, 2007 Agenda No. 07-19 Page 2 of 4 that produce an informal courtyard feel and nice textured appearance, will serve all of the dwellings. Fencing along the perimeter and between the homes will be dog-eared style redwood. Each of the two-story homes has a first -floor entry, living room, kitchen, dining area, bedroom and half bath; the upstairs has three bedrooms and two baths. The three- story home, which has a 15 -foot setback from the rear property line, has been revised to reduce its height and make a more graceful roofline. With the redesign, the height is approximately 30 feet when averaging the ceiling line and the ridge line. The original submittal was for a structure 33 feet tall (averaging a 31 -foot ceiling with 35 -foot ridgelines). A family room, kitchen and dining room occupy the ground floor, while the second floor has two bedrooms and a bath, with a master bedroom suite (with bath) on the third floor. The applicant has also added a "story band" across the front of the duplex to break its vertical mass. Planner Penaranda noted that the proposal requires Planned Development status because some of the lot sizes may be smaller than 2,500 square feet and have limited open space. Because a civil engineer has not yet come in to work on a subdivision map, that will go to the City Council later. Staff considers this a medium - density development, and asks the Planning Commission to forward to City Council a recommendation for approval of the proposed rezone, the categorical exemption and the planned development, subject to conditions of approval outlined. Chair Reed invited Commissioners for their questions and comments. Commissioner Finberg said that she had spoken with Commissioner Nardine, who had some questions. First, she asked whether rezoning was within the purview of the Planning Commission, and wondered whether this had been taken to the Board of Zoning Adjustments. Planner Penaranda replied that this rezone is within the purview of the Planning Commission, as is the planned development proposal. Commissioner Ponder expressed concern whether cars would be able to turn around in the driveway so as to exit the property without having to back out. Planner Penaranda said that if no vehicles were parked in some of the uncovered spaces, it would be possible to turn around, but it would take considerable maneuvering to do so if vehicles were parked there. Chair Reed thanked Planner Penaranda for a nice report and invited the applicant to address the Commissioners. Victoria Leung, accompanied by Lance Chen, gave Commissioners a "virtual walk- through" of the proposed development via a three-dimensional software program. She pointed out some of the Craftsman features, porches, stone veneers, and varying size roof elements to minimize the appearance of mass. She agreed that reducing the height of the three-story home improves its appearance and helps it blend in with the other homes on the property. She noted that a 12 -inch horizontal wooden strip has been added to the duplex to complement not only the new homes but also the adjacent properties. The Commissioners had recommended bringing the porch roof around to serve this purpose, but she explained that it was not feasible to do so. Commissioner Collier said she likes how the applicant responded to the Commissioners' input in January, but suggested that perhaps simulated wood siding, such as Hardiplank, would be better than wood siding because termites are a problem in that area, where roots have been left in the ground for many years.