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Excerpts from the Planning Commission Meeting Minutes January 25, 2007
<br />Agenda No. 07-02 Page 2 of 5
<br />project, too, would have retained the existing duplex at 254 Callan. After approval,
<br />however, in 2003 Mr. Wong decided against building the apartments for himself, his
<br />brothers, and their families in favor of the improved livability of single-family detached
<br />housing. He went through an architect or two that didn't work out to his satisfaction, then
<br />retained Victoria Leung to design the proposal. As Planner Penaranda indicated, issues
<br />for work session discussion include land use, setbacks, parking, open space, architecture,
<br />height of the three-story house, and other elements of a comprehensive proposal, such as
<br />landscaping, fencing, color and materials, and paving specifications. He showed slides
<br />depicting a two-story apartment to the back of the subject property, fronting Chumalia
<br />and the single-family house next door (259 Chumalia); a two-story apartment building on
<br />the left of the subject property, and the existing duplex on the right. He noted that
<br />Michael Fone, who lives in the house at Chumalia, called with questions about fencing
<br />and rear setbacks. Mr. Penaranda indicated that the 15 -foot rear setback conforms to the
<br />code, but setbacks and separation between garages, for example, are shallow. He pointed
<br />out that an interior driveway, with decorative paving, would serve as a court as well. He
<br />showed where the parking needed for the duplex (four off-street spaces, two of which
<br />must be covered) minimizes open space, and that the home fronting Callan would have
<br />limited open space as well, but structures on the back of the site have 15 -foot setbacks
<br />from the rear property line. House 1, the one in front, has 2790 square feet, and a full
<br />porch facing Callan. The design of the new homes call for horizontal siding, a selection
<br />of hung windows, and a complex roof design. Mr. Penaranda also showed a photo
<br />simulation of the proposed development. He noted the points on which the proposal
<br />deviates from RM2500 requirements:
<br />• Some of the lots will be less than 2500 square feet.
<br />• Side yard setbacks will not reach the 10 -foot average.
<br />• The existing duplex will lack the open space minimum.
<br />The three-story house, he pointed out, would be unusually tall for a single-family home,
<br />and staff recommends lessening the apparent height by redesigning the third story as
<br />perhaps an attic bedroom with dormer windows, and lowering the ceiling, which is 11
<br />feet in the proposed elevations. He noted that dormer windows incorporated into the roof
<br />design for the third floor would not only provide for lighting and ventilation, but also
<br />minimize the vertical appearance of the building. Due to lack of access to the Sketchup
<br />program to run the applicant's three-dimensional graphics, the Commissioners came to
<br />Ms. Leung's laptop to see her presentation, which showed the proposal from a number of
<br />angles and views.
<br />Victoria Leung indicated that her presentation shows what the project would look like
<br />upon completion, noting that the colors can vary. House 1, on the east side of the
<br />property, includes a front porch and bay windows, and a parking garage on the side. She
<br />called attention to its roof line and details reminiscent of Craftsman -style homes. She
<br />suggested that Sonny Wong, his wife and children would occupy the first house. The
<br />second house, although somewhat smaller, has a similar style and floor plan for one of
<br />Mr. Wong's brothers and his family. The third lot, intended for Mr. Wong's second
<br />brother and their parents is smaller than the others; hence the plan for a third floor, which
<br />at 500 square feet meets the criteria. She also noted that a parking garage occupies the
<br />area on the east of the third lot, so there should be no residential concerns about privacy
<br />there. If Commissioners are concerned about the height, however, she indicated that it
<br />may be feasible to bring it down as much as 2.5 feet. She noted that the brothers like the
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