COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES AGENCY

DATE:

November 27, 2006

BOARD MEETING DATE:

December 12, 2006

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

300-foot Notice

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Lisa Grote, Director of Community Development

SUBJECT:

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Consideration of a Planned Agricultural District Permit, Coastal Development Permit, Grading Permit, and Certification of a Mitigated Negative Declaration, to convert an agricultural well to domestic use, construct a new 6,456 sq. ft. single-family residence, place up to seven water storage tanks for fire suppression, install a septic system, construct and grade a private access driveway/turn-around, and legalize an existing mobile home as temporary housing during construction, on a legal 143-acre parcel located just east of the unincorporated El Granada area of San Mateo County (Appeal of the Planning Commission’s denial of a more ambitious project). This project is appealable to the California Coastal Commission.

RECOMMENDATION

Certify the Negative Declaration, approve the Planned Agricultural District Permit, Coastal Development Permit and Grading Permit for the construction of a new residence, access road, water tanks and associated grading by making the required findings and adopting the conditions of approval.

VISION ALIGNMENT

Commitment: Responsive, effective and collaborative government.

Goal 20: Government decisions are based on careful consideration of future impact, rather than temporary relief or immediate gain. This project has undergone full environmental review and no comments objecting to the revised project have been received.

BACKGROUND

Proposal: The applicant is proposing to: (1) convert an agricultural well to domestic use, (2) construct a new 6,456 sq. ft. single-family residence, (3) install up to seven water storage tanks for fire suppression, (4) install a septic system, (5) construct a private access driveway from the end of San Juan Avenue to the house site, (6) grade approximately 690 cubic yards of combined cut and fill associated with the driveway/

turnaround, house and water tanks, (7) remove 8 significant trees, and (8) legalize an existing mobile home as temporary housing during construction.

Planning Commission Action: On September 14, 2005, the Planning Commission denied the project, primarily due to its inclusion of a two-lot subdivision and associated critical visual impacts, as seen from Cabrillo Highway and other public viewing points in and around Pillar Point Harbor, posed by the applicant’s proposed residence and that of a future, but not yet submitted house on the proposed second parcel. After consideration at three hearings, the Planning Commission ultimately denied the project because of its non-compliance with critical policies within the County’s Local Coastal Program (LCP) regarding Agriculture, Locating and Planning New Development, and Visual Impacts.

DISCUSSION

The applicant appealed the Planning Commission’s denial to the Board of Supervisors. However, soon thereafter, they revised the project. By withdrawing the subdivision and relocating their proposed residence, staff concludes that the revised project no longer conflicts with the LCP policies cited by the Planning Commission in its denial of the project. However, the applicant requested that the revised project still be considered by the Board, instead of being remanded back to the Planning Commission due to the controversy over the project since 2000.

Upon submittal of the revised project plans and materials, all interested parties were sent a notice of the revised project, to which there were no comments. Additionally, a revised Negative Declaration was prepared and circulated. Comments received support the project as currently proposed.

FISCAL IMPACT

Upon completion, due to the improvements made on the property, the assessed tax revenue on the subject parcel would increase.