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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDecision Letter City of Arcadia Development Services Department Jason Kruckeberg Assistant City Manager/ Development Services Director 240 West Huntington Drive Post Office Box 60021 Arcadia, CA 91066-6021 (626) 574-5415 (626) 447-3309 Fax www.ArcadiaCA.gov November 20, 2020 Prestige Design, Planning, and Development, Inc. Attn: Tom Li PO Box 660866 Arcadia CA 91066 Subject: Major Administrative Modification No. Major AM 20-15 Project Address: 995 Hampton Road Dear Mr. Li: The public comment period for the Notice of Pending Decision ended on November 17, 2020. Staff did not receive any comments during the notification period. The Development Services Department was able to make one of the required findings for the Modification request and has conditionally approved the modification for a reduced side yard setback of 5’-0” in lieu of the 15’-8” required setback for a new 625 square foot addition to an existing detached pool house locate in the rear yard of a property located at 995 Hampton Road. The project includes a new 139 square foot covered porch addition to the existing detached pool house, but is not included in this modification request. According to Arcadia Development Code Section 9107.05.050, it states that an Administrative Modification may be approved if at least one of the following findings can be made. 1. Secure an appropriate improvement of a lot; 2. Prevent an unreasonable hardship; or 3. Promote uniformity of development. An accessory structure such as a pool house is a common feature found on many residential properties in the city. The existing detached pool house currently has a legal nonconforming side yard setback of 3’-0”. The proposed additions to the pool house consist of a 625 square foot game room and a 139 square foot covered porch. The closest portion of the game room addition to the neighboring property will be 5’-0” from the east property line. The proposed additions would follow the same roofline as the existing pool house and add a new brick veneer to match the existing residence. Requiring the addition to comply with the 15’-8” side yard setback would result in an offset and imbalanced design for the existing pool house. With the proposed additions, the property will have a total floor area of 11,235 square feet, which is well below the maximum allowed 25,414 square feet. The lot coverage will be 11% whereas 35% is allowed. Additionally, there appear to be several other properties along Hampton Road with accessory structures that do not meet the current setback requirements. As such, the proposed addition to the existing pool house would maintain uniformity of development within the immediate neighborhood and with the existing setbacks on this property. Aside from the requested modification, the project will be consistent with the City’s Development Code and Single-Family Residential Design Guidelines, and has been approved by the Chair of the Rancho Santa Anita Property Owners’ Association Architectural Review Board. Therefore, the requested modification to reduce the required side yard setback for the proposed addition to the existing detached pool house is an appropriate improvement to the lot. The proposed project qualifies as both a Class 1 and Class 5 Categorical Exemption for an addition to an existing facility and minor alterations in land use limitations from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under Sections 15301 and 15305 of the CEQA Guidelines. Conditions of Approval 1. The applicant/property owner shall comply with all City requirements regarding building safety, fire prevention, detection, suppression, emergency access, public right-of-way improvements, parking, water supply and water facilities, sewer facilities, trash reduction and recycling requirements, and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) measures to the satisfaction of the Building Official, Fire Marshal, Public Works Services Director, and Planning & Community Development Administrator, or their respective designees. Compliance with these requirements is to be determined by having fully detailed construction plans submitted for plan check review and approval by the foregoing City officials and employees. 2. The applicant shall defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the City of Arcadia and its officials, officers, employees, and agents from and against any claim, action, or proceeding against the City of Arcadia, its officials, officers, employees or agents to attack, set aside, void, or annul any approval or conditional approval of the City of Arcadia concerning this project and/or land use decision, including but not limited to any approval or conditional approval of the City Council, Planning Commission, or City Staff, which action is brought within the time period provided for in Government Code Section 66499.37 or other provision of law applicable to this project or decision. The City shall promptly notify the applicant of any claim, action, or proceeding concerning the project and/or land use decision and the City shall cooperate fully in the defense of the matter. The City reserves the right, at its own option, to choose its own attorney to represent the City, its officials, officers, employees, and agents in the defense of the matter. 3. Approval of Major Administrative Modification No. Major AM 20-15 shall not be of effect unless the Property Owner and Applicant have executed and filed the Acceptance Form with the City on or before 30 calendar days after approval of this project. The Acceptance Form to the Development Services Department is to indicate awareness and acceptance of the conditions of approval. There is a ten (10) day appeal period for this application. To file an appeal, a completed Appeal Application form must be submitted to the Community Development Division along with a $600.00 appeal fee by 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, December 2, 2020. You will be notified if an appeal is filed. Approval of Major Administrative Modification No. Major AM 20-15 and shall not be of effect unless the property owner and applicant have executed and filed the enclosed Acceptance Form to indicate awareness and acceptance of these conditions of approval. The Acceptance Form is due now and if it is not received by December 20, 2020, this approval will become null and void. This approval shall expire in one year (December 3, 2021) from the effective date unless a building permit is issued and the construction is diligently pursued, a certificate of occupancy has been issued, or the approval is renewed. An extension may be granted by the Development Services Director or designee, or the Review Authority that approved the project for a maximum period of one (1) year from the initial expiration date. An extension can only be granted if the required findings can be made. Please note that acceptance of an extension request does not indicate approval of an extension. A building permit must be obtained prior to any construction activity. Please contact Building Services at (626) 574-5416 to determine the type of documentation, plans, and fees for the appropriate permit. This approval letter must be presented to Building Services to initiate the permitting process. You may visit the City’s website at www.ArcadiaCA.gov/noticesanddecisions to view this letter. If you have any questions regarding the above approval, please contact me at (626) 574-5447 or by email at csong@ArcadiaCA.gov. Thank you. Sincerely, DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT Community Development Division/Planning Services Christine Song Associate Planner Attachment C: Brad Koehler, Rancho Santa Anita Property Owners’ Association ARB Zhengbin Li and Ling Chen, Property Owners