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A 1844 Bancroft Avenue Appeal 2 September 17, 2001 PLN2001-00041 Previously, the second floor had been conditioned to be utilized for storage space only due to the limited number of parking spaces. • At its August 9, 2001 meeting, the Planning Commission voted to deny the proposed revision because the Commission stated it could not make several of the findings. The Planning Commission expressed concerns regarding the lack of windows on the first floor office building; the overall height of the office building; and the architectural features of the residence and the office building. The Planning Commission's denial is a final action that can be appealed to the City Council. • On August 16, 2001, the applicant filed an appeal of the Planning Commission's decision for the City Council. In response to the concerns expressed by the Planning Commission, the appellant has added windows on the first floor (street frontage) of the office building; has lowered the height of the building from 24 feet to 22 feet (measured at peak), which is only three inches taller than the previously approved building height; and has modified the architectural features to more fully integrate the two structures. Recommendation: With the proposed modifications offered by the appellant, staff believes that the findings for approval can be made. Staff believes that the modifications presented by the appellant respond to the comments made by the Planning Commission and improve the architectural integrity of the project, and that the proposed site plan is an improvement over the site plan layout approved by the City Council last year. Staff recommends that the City Council approve the appeal; make the appropriate Findings of Fact; and approve the project subject to the attached Conditions of Approval. The City Council also has the following options: 1) deny the appeal and uphold the decision of the Planning Commission; or 2) refer the matter back to the Planning Commission. BACKGROUND • In October of 2000, the City Council approved a rezone (from RS Residential Single - Family District to RS (PD) and P Professional (PD)); subdivision of the property into two parcels; and a Planned Development for 1844 Bancroft Avenue. The approved Planned Development was for conversion of a legal, non -conforming commercial building into an office building with parking at the front of the building, and to remodel and expand an existing single-family residence. With the approved subdivision, each use would reside on its own parcel, with the residential property configured as a flag -lot and located to the rear of the office building. • The previously approved rezone and Planned Development included remodeling of the commercial building for office uses, with three parking stalls located at the front of the building. Although designed as a two-story building (21 feet, 9 inches in height), the limited on -site parking precluded use of the second floor for anything other than storage. /GD