Board of Adjustment/Design Review Board - 9 - February 23, 2023
4.4. 31421 HOLLY DRIVE (MCBEAN), APN 056-061-16 APPROVED DESIGN REVIEW 22-2245, VARIANCE 22-2266, AND CATEGORICAL EXEMPTION [Section 15301 and 15331].
City Staff: Kevin Parker, Associate Planner (949) 497-0632 [email protected] Project Applicant: Dave Frith, Architect (949) 376-3080 | [email protected] The applicant requests design review for a 760 square foot addition (first level: 351 SF; second level: 409 SF) to an existing 1,875 square foot single-family residence within the R-1 zone. The request includes the removal of an existing chimney, a new 300 square foot second-level rear balcony, new doors/windows, a new bay window, a new above ground spa, a 340 square foot remodel that includes the conversion of a bedroom into a new master bathroom, new metal roofing, new AC unit, and replacement of siding. The applicant requests a variance to construct the proposed addition without adding an additional covered parking space or without expanding the existing, legal nonconforming 279 square foot, one-car garage into a two-car garage (LBMC Section
25.56.008(C)).
Disclosures: Ms. Neev and Ms. Thalman and Ms. Gannon visited the site with Mr. Frith and spoke to Ms. Austin.
Staff Presentation: Associate Planner, Kevin Parker, summarized the staff report.
Project Representative: Architect, Dave Frith, presented the project.
Public Testimony: Mr. Austin stated his biggest concern was the newly proposed windows and its negative effects on his privacy. He requested the side panels of the window be frosted.
Ms. Austin explained how the pop-out windows were an invasion of their privacy.
Rebuttal: Mr. Frith believed each homeowner had their own responsibility to privacy and the owners were not willing to remove the proposed bay windows.
Board Questions: Ms. Thalman confirmed with Mr. Frith they would be amendable to an obscure glass only if necessary.
Board Comments: Ms. Neev did not believe the bay window caused privacy issue and believed the deck would have been more of a concern over the proposed window. She supported the variance and staff’s findings.
Ms. Gannon agreed with Ms. Neev and understood how the windows were going to be a reduction in size. She did not believe there was a privacy concern and agreed with the variance findings. Ms. Gannon commended Mr. Parker’s staff report and supported staff’s findings.
Ms. Thalman stated her colleagues did not believe a privacy issue existed and clarified she was wishing for a compromise between the neighbors but did not believe it would be achievable. She supported staff’s findings for the proposed variance and supported Attachment 10
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Board of Adjustment/Design Review Board - 10 - February 23, 2023 the proposed project.
Ms. Gannon made a motion, seconded by Ms. Thalman, to approve Design Review 22- 2245 and Variance 22-2266 at 31421 Holly Drive with the findings as outlined in the staff report, and to adopt the categorical exemption pursuant to state CEQA. The motion carried, 3-0. Mr. Sheridan and Mr. Weil were absent.
Motion JG Second KT Action APPROVED
Gannon __Y__ Sheridan _ABSENT_ Thalman ___Y___ Neev ___Y___ Weil _ABSENT_
5. STAFF AND BOARD REPORTS
6. ADJOURNMENT
Adjournment at 7:03 p.m. to the regularly scheduled virtual Design Review Board on March 9, 2023, at 5:00 p.m.
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