3A Public Hearing 2008 0707 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Excerpts of Board of Zoning Adjustments Regular Meeting April 17, 2008 Minute No. 2008-08 Page 2 oj7 would be no crawl space and the ground floor would be constructed as a slab on grade. This design conformed to the DA-3 zoning, which allowed for zero side yard setbacks, three parking spaces and 100 percent lot coverage. The proposed design was meant to be considerate of the adjacent neighbors and the Williams Street appearance. The second story would be set back from the front to maintain asingle-story and split level character along the streetscape. There were no unique floor to ceiling heights and the roof pitch was very low. Photos showed the original story poles that showed- the original height design and the story poles that showed the new proposed height. A mature Avocado tree and other vegetation screened the raised deck belonging to the neighbors to the east as seen from the backyard of the property. Two-story homes and apartments were nearby. Photos taken from the adjacent neighbors' raised deck showed the story poles that could be seen through the mature vegetation that was located on the neighbors' property. Afour-story apartment behind the applicant's property could also be seen. Photos taken at 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. showed how the shadows from the story poles and the connecting lines fell onto the adjacent Woolston's property. At 10:00 a.m. no shadows had fallen on their property and 3:00 p.m, a shadow could be seen on the Cordero-Johnson house to the east but not on their raised deck, which was difficult to see because of the mature vegetation. Esther Collier, contractor, stated that the original plans had been revised, along with the story poles. They had tried to address the concerns of the neighbors and still have a viable project. Besides lowering the overall height of the building, a window that was planned to be closer to the deck was moved further back to look into the tree. The first floor was narrowed and shortened by redesigning the stairs, which made a more compact and logical living space. Member Gilcrest asked if the applicant had chosen to keep the extra parking space that had been discovered at the conclusion of the last meeting. Ms. Collier replied that staff had recommended the extra parking space be retained, since parking was difficult on Williams Street. Planting blocks could be used rather than full concrete to retain some green space behind the building. Chair Goldt opened the public hearing. Sharon Christian, 1284 Dutton Avenue, stated that she and her husband had bought the subject home in 1988. Her brother had lived there until he passed away. Her husband's brother now lived there and they wished to add the duplex to accommodate their son. They had done everything the City had told them to do. They originally did not want to build atwo-story addition, but it was required by the City. The neighbors were complaining about the additional parking, when they had just one parking space with three vehicles. They also had an upstairs. Their Avocado tree and other foliage were so tall that the height of this addition would reach to just half the height of the tree. They had always tried to be a good neighbor. When the Woolstons moved into their home on the other side of this home, she had allowed them to come into the yard to trim vegetation. She had trimmed the tree in front of house to keep the Iimbs away from the Woolstons' gutters. Her brother-in-law now lived alone in the original home and her son would live alone in the addition. There should be no problem and the city would receive more taxes.