COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES AGENCY

DATE:

October 20, 2003

SET TIME:

9:45 a.m.

BOARD MEETING DATE:

November 4, 2003

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Marcia Raines, Director of Environmental Services

SUBJECT:

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Consideration of an appeal of the Planning Commission's approval of a Resource Management Permit for a new 4,303 sq. ft. single-story residence and conversion of an existing 1,206 sq. ft. unit with 2-car carport to a second dwelling unit, located at 114 and 130 Hildebrand Road, in the unincorporated La Honda area of San Mateo County.

RECOMMENDATION

Deny the appeal and uphold the Planning Commission's decision to approve the Resource Management Permit, County File Number PLN 2002-00536, by making the required findings and adopting the conditions of approval in the staff report.

PROPOSAL

The proposal includes a new 4,303 sq. ft. single-story residence, including a 724 sq. ft. 4-car garage, one 256 sq. ft. detached pool cabana, and a swimming pool. The project also includes conversion of an existing 1,206 sq. ft. single-story residence with 2-car carport to a second dwelling unit.

PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION

The Planning Commission considered the proposal and voted 4-0-1 (Commissioner Silver abstaining) to deny the appeal and uphold staff's decision to approve this project.

SUMMARY

The Planning Commission considered and denied an appeal of staff's decision to approve the proposed project on September 24, 2003. The Planning Commission reviewed the proposed project and found it to be in conformance with all of the required Zoning Regulations. Staff received an appeal of the Planning Commission's decision from the neighbor adjacent to the proposal, with property facing Roquena Drive. The appellant raised several concerns in the letter stating grounds for appeal, but the primary issue is the drainage off the proposed driveway accessing the new residence. The appellant surmises that the new driveway will exacerbate existing drainage problems in the area that apparently have caused flooding in the appellant's rear yard in previous years.

Staff is aware that in any new construction project, drainage control is of utmost importance. The applicant has already submitted a preliminary drainage plan for the entire property, including the driveway, that has been reviewed by staff and was presented to the Planning Commission for review. This drainage plan will also have to be submitted with the building plans for the new residence and at that time will require approval from the Building Inspection Section and the Department of Public Works, in addition to the Planning Division.

Staff feels that a drainage control plan, adequately designed by an engineer, will improve the drainage in the area, rather than exacerbate it. Therefore, staff recommends that the Board of Supervisors uphold the Planning Commission's approval of this project, as proposed.