COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES AGENCY

 

Date:

September 19, 2001

Set Time:

9:15 a.m.

Hearing Date:

October 2, 2001

 

To:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

 

From:

Marcia Raines, Director of Environmental Services

 

Subject:

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Consideration of an appeal of the Planning Commission's decision to approve a Coastal Development Permit to allow the construction of an 845 sq. ft. addition to an existing single-family residence located at 123 - 7th Street in the unincorporated Montara area. This project is appealable to the California Coastal Commission.

 

RECOMMENDATION

Deny the appeal and uphold the decision of the Planning Commission and approve the Coastal Development Permit by making the required findings and adopting the conditions of approval.

 

PROPOSAL

The owner proposes to construct an addition to the existing residence that would involve a 105.88 sq. ft. addition to the ground floor as well as a 739.12 sq. ft. second-story addition.

 

PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION

The Planning Commission voted 4-0 (Commissioner Silver was absent) to deny the appeal and uphold the decision of the Zoning Hearing Officer to approve this project. In doing so, the Commission modified the approval to require only minimum trimming of the cypress tree in the front yard.

 

BACKGROUND

The project was heard before the Zoning Hearing Officer in November and December of 2000 with a final decision made in January 2001. That decision was appealed to the Planning Commission on a number of issues mainly dealing with the size of the addition and impacts to both private and public views. The Planning Commission heard the project in April and May 2001 and made a final decision at the May 2001 meeting. The Planning Commission modified one condition of approval related to the cypress tree.

 

SUMMARY

The key issues being raised in the appeal relate to the project's size, denial of due process in approval of a prior addition and definition of floor area. Although not clearly stated in the appeal, the impact on views is still an issue of concern. Staff has reviewed all the appeal issues with regard to the project and all applicable requirements inclusive of the General Plan, Zoning Regulations, Local Coastal Program Policies and Design Review Guidelines and found the project to conform. Staff is recommending that the Board of Supervisor's uphold the decision of the Planning Commission and deny the appeal.

 

MR:SB:fc - SMBL2407_WFU.DOC