3A Public Hearing 2008 1201 - Laserfiche WebLink

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CITY OF SAN LEANDRO STAFF REPORT DATE: December 1, 2008 TO: Stephen L. Hollister, Interim City Manager FROM: Luke Sims, Community Development Director Kathleen Livermore, Planning Manager I I BY: Elmer Penaranda, Senior Development Planner SUBJECT PROJECT/PROJECT DESCRIPTION: APPROVED AND FORWARDED TO CITY COUNCIL Stephen L. Hollister Interim City Manager MATTER OF PLN2007-00062; MODIFICATION OF PLANNED DEVELOPMENT; TO CONVERT THE CARRIAGE HOUSE AND BLACKSMITH'S SHOP BUILDINGS INTO DWELLING UNITS AND TO REPLACE A STORAGE SHED WITH A NEW STORAGE ROOM ON THE PROPERTY KNOWN AS THE FORMER DANIEL BEST HOME AT 1315 CLARKE STREET. DA -3 (PD) DOWNTOWN AREA 3, PLANNED DEVELOPMENT OVERLAY DISTRICT. ASSESSOR'S PARCEL NUMBER 75-19-5; D. FRIEND (APPLICANT AND PROPERTY OWNER). SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATION The subject property is the historic former Daniel Best Home which is designated as a City Landmark per the Historic Preservation Ordinance. In May 2005 the City Council approved a Planned Development (PD) to restore the use of the main structure on the property to a single- family dwelling and to use the former gardener's cottage as professional office use. There are three other detached buildings on the property known as the Carriage House, Blacksmith's Shop and shed which were intended for storage use only. The applicant proposes to convert the Carriage House and Blacksmith's Shop into studio -like apartment units and replace the dilapidated shed. Both interiors of the Carriage House and Blacksmith's Shop contain second floor lofts. Because the Carriage House loft would not be used for sleeping but for light storage, the proposed conversion to residential use would not have any effect on the exterior shell of the Carriage House. However, because the second floor loft in the Blacksmith's Shop is proposed for sleeping, Building and Fire Codes require a larger egress window and taller head clearance inside. Thus, the conversion of the Blacksmith's Shop requires an increase of 14 -inches in height to the walls and the roof to accommodate an egress window and the head clearance. Being a Landmark designation per the Historic Preservation Ordinance, the Library -Historical Commission reviewed the proposal and recommends against increasing the height of the Blacksmith's Shop to the City Council. The Commission however did not have any objections to the conversion of the Carriage House and the replacement of the dilapidated shed. The proposal to convert the Carriage House and Blacksmith's Shop and replace the shed requires a modification of the PD (approved originally in 2005) which is subject to the review of the