3A Public Hearing 2008 0707 - Laserfiche WebLink

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CITY OF SAN LEANDRO STAFF REPORT DATE: July 7, 2008 TO: John Jermanis, City Manager FROM: Luke Sims, Community Development Director ~~~~ p~ ~~ Slit. BY: Elmer Penaranda, Planner II ~,~%U""_ SUBJECT PROJECT/PROJECT DESCRI OPTION: APPROVED AND FORWARDED TO CITY COUNCIL John anis City pager MATTER OF PLN200$-00022 APPEAL BY P. WOOLSTON AND L. FRANKS OF THE DECISION OF THE BOARD OF ZONING ADJUSTMENTS APPROVING A SITE PLAN REVIEW, CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT, AND PARKING EXCEPTION; TO CONSTRUCT A ONE-STORY 1,300 SQUARE FOOT ADDITIONAL DWELLING UNIT ATTACHED TO THE REAR OF THE EXISTING SINGLE-FAMILY HOME AT 78 WILLIAMS STREET (PLN2008-00003). SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATION The applicant and property owners, D. and S. Christian, propose to develop a 1,300 square-foot duplex addition onto an existing single-family home located at 78 Williams Street. The roof height of the addition would be an average of 14 feet. The duplex would include a minimum of three uncovered parking spaces, including one space in tandem. Site plan review was required as the proposal created a new dwelling unit. A conditional use permit was required since the lot was 40 feet wide where 50 feet is the minimum lot width in the DA-3 Downtown Area District and a two-family residence is also conditionally permitted in the DA District. A parking exception was required for the two-family dwelling since the DA District requires two of the three parking spaces to be covered spaces. The application was reviewed by the Board of Zoning Adjustments at the March 6, April 17, and May 15, 2008 meetings. At the first two meetings the Board received opposing testimony from adjacent neighbors regarding the size and height of the proposed addition. The neighbors argued that the original two-story design would have obstructed sunlight to the adjacent properties. In addition, as only five of the seven Board members were at that first meeting and four of the seven Board members were at that the second meeting, the Board felt that it would be helpful to have the full Board for this project's discussion and consideration. Thus, the Board continued the matter to its meeting on May 15, 2008. After the April 17th Board meeting, City staff and the applicant met to discuss the comments received from the neighbors and the Board. Although there was no direction to revise the project the applicant and staff discussed an alternative to revise the plans to a single-story design to address the adamant concerns by the neighbors about the two-story design. Thus, the applicant revised the plans to reduce the size (i.e., height and bulk) of the proposed dwelling in an effort to address the adjacent neighbors' concerns. The floor area of the addition and the total height of the addition were reduced further.