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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2076RESOLUTION NO. 2076 A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF ARCADIA, CALIFORNIA, DENYING THE APPEAL OF SITE PLAN AND DESIGN REVIEW FOR SINGLE-FAMILY ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN REVIEW NO. SFADR 19-29 FOR A PROPOSED FIRST AND SECOND STORY ADDITON TO AN EXISTING ONE STORY RESIDENCE WITH A CATEGORICAL EXEMPTION UNDER THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT ("CEQA") AT 139 LAUREL AVENUE WHEREAS, on October 29, 2019, Site Plan and Design Review for Single -Family Architectural Design Review No. SFADR 19-29 was filed by Alan Gao on behalf of the property owner, Ms. Xinwhen Zhang, for a new 512 square foot first -story addition, a 697 square foot second -story addition, and a 51 square foot front covered porch to the existing 1,182 square foot one-story residence at 139 Laurel Avenue; and WHEREAS, on February 25, 2021, Planning Services completed an environmental assessment for the proposed project in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") and recommended that the Planning Commission determine that the proposed project qualifies as a Class 1 Categorical Exemption under CEQA pursuant to Section 15301(e) of the CEQA Guidelines for additions to existing structures; and WHEREAS, on January 21, 2021, the Development Services Department denied SFADR 19-29 on the basis that the proposed project was not compatible with the other homes in the neighborhood in terms of mass and scale and it did not meet the intent of the City's Single -Family Residential Design Guidelines; and WHEREAS, on February 4, 2021, an appeal was filed, by Ms. Xinwnen Zhang ("Appellant") to appeal the Development Services Department's denial of SFADR 19-29; and 1 WHEREAS, on March 23, 2021, a duly noticed public hearing was held before the Planning Commission on said application, at which time all interested persons were given full opportunity to be heard and to present evidence. NOW, THEREFORE, THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF ARCADIA, CALIFORNIA, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. The factual data submitted by the Community Development Division in the staff report dated March 23, 2021 are true and correct. SECTION 2. This Commission finds, based upon the entire record, that pursuant to Section 9107.19.050 of the Arcadia Development Code, all of the following findings cannot be made. 1. The proposed development will be allowed within the subject zone. FACT: Aside from design review criteria addressed hereafter, the subject site is zoned R-1 (7,500), Low Density Residential zone, which allows for a single-family residence. The proposed project will not change the use or density allowed in this zone. 2. The proposed development will be in compliance with all the applicable criteria identified in Subparagraph 9107.19.040.0.5 for Site Plan and Design Review application. FACT: The proposed project would not be in compliance with all the applicable criteria set forth in Subparagraph 9107.19.040.0.5 and the City's Single -Family Residential Design Guidelines because the proposed additions will be too massive and out of scale compared to the rest of the homes on this street which is comprised of solely one-story homes, and within the neighborhood, which is comprised of primarily one-story homes. Also, the design has too few articulations to minimize the bulk and mass, and the 2 proposed Spanish architectural home does not blend with the other architectural styles that exists in this neighborhood. Therefore, the proposed project is not consistent with the City's Single -Family Residential Design Guidelines, nor can the findings be made to support it. 3. The proposed development will be in keeping with the character of the neighborhood, in terms of structure(s) general appearance. FACT: The proposed project would not be in keeping with the character of the neighborhood in terms of the structure's general appearance, since the subject site is located in a residential neighborhood that is comprised solely on this street, and primarily in this area, of one-story, Ranch or Traditional style homes. The architectural design does not minimize the mass and scale of the second floor to help allow this house to transition from a one-story neighborhood to two -stories, and very little articulation is proposed on the street -side elevation to help soften the appearance. One of the objectives of the City's Single -Family Residential Design Guidelines is to Protect the character of single-family residential neighborhoods through the preservation and improvement of their character - defining features. The neighborhood's one-story homes are a defining character and should, therefore, be protected by ensuring that any proposed construction is thoughtfully designed to minimize impacts to the neighborhood's existing streetscape. The proposed Spanish architectural style would also be out of character as the homes on this portion of Laurel Avenue consist of only Ranch or Traditional style residences. Therefore, approval of a Spanish design on this portion of Laurel Avenue would not be in keeping with the character of this neighborhood. 3 4. The proposed development will not be detrimental to the harmonious and orderly growth of the City. FACT: The proposed project would not be harmonious with the neighborhood since the second story is out of scale with the existing neighborhood, the placement of the second floor does not create a balanced look, and the overall style needs to be enhanced significantly in order for the house to blend with the other homes. Furthermore, the proposed second floor addition is not designed to minimize impacts to the neighborhood's streetscape, and it would change the visual appearance of the neighborhood. The proposed Spanish style would not be consistent with the City's Single - Family Residential Design Guidelines as it would not be consistent with the neighborhood's Ranch or Traditional style homes. Therefore, the proposed additions would be detrimental to the harmonious and orderly growth of the City and the surrounding neighborhood, would not be consistent with the City's Single -Family Residential Design Guidelines, nor with the City's General Plan and their following policies: Land Use and Community Design Element policies related to single-familv development Policy LU -3.1: Protect the character of single-family residential neighborhoods through the preservation and improvement of their character -defining features. Such features include but are not limited to tree -lined streets, building orientation, sidewalks, and architectural scale and quality. El • Policy LU -3.5: Require that new construction, additions, renovations, and infill developments be sensitive to neighborhood context, building forms, scale, and colors. Policy LU -3.7: Ensure that the design and scale of new and remodeled single- family residential buildings are appropriate to their context. Single -Family Residential Design Guidelines: • Site Planning o Guideline 1a. The location, configuration, size, and design of new buildings and structures, or the alteration or enlargement of existing structures, should be visually harmonious with their respective sites and compatible with the character and quality of their surroundings. o Guideline 1c. In neighborhoods with an established architectural style or pattern(s), new homes or remodels should enhance the neighborhood character. The stronger the existing neighborhood pattern, the more important it is for an applicant to reinforce and respect those existing patterns. • Forms and Mass o Guideline 2j. Proposed height and bulk should respect existing structures on neighboring properties and not overwhelm them with disproportionate size and scale. Architectural Style o Guideline 5c. Consistency and/or complementary architectural styles should be maintained within an existing neighborhood context. 5 Height, Bulk and Scale o Guideline 6j. A structure's size and bulk should complement the predominant massing types of the neighborhood. SECTION 3. The Planning Commission finds that the proposed project is not in compliance with the Arcadia Development Code and the City's Single -Family Residential Design Guidelines, and that the proposed project is incompatible with other homes in the neighborhood in terms of context, architectural design, and mass and scale. SECTION 4. The proposed project is Categorically Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15301(e) of the CEQA Guidelines pertaining to the additions to existing structures. SECTION 5. For the foregoing reasons, the Planning Commission denies the appeal and upholds the Development Services Department's decision to deny approval of Site Plan and Design Review for Single -Family Architectural Design Review No. SFADR 19-29 for a new 512 square foot first -story addition, a 697 square foot second - story addition, and a 51 square foot front covered porch to the existing 1,182 square foot one-story single family residence at 139 Laurel Avenue. SECTION 6. The Secretary shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution. Passed, approved and adopted this 231d day of March, 2021. [Signatures on the following page] 9 Marilynne Wilander Chair, Planning Commission ATTEST: Lisa L. FI res Secretary APPROVED AS TO FORM: Stephen P. Deitsch City Attorney STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES) §: CITY OF ARCADIA ) I, Lisa Flores, Secretary of the Planning Commission of the City of Arcadia, hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution No. 2076 was passed and adopted by the Planning Commission of the City of Arcadia, signed by the Chair and attested to by the Secretary at a regular meeting of said Planning Commission held on the 23th day of March, 2021 and that said Resolution was adopted by the following vote, to wit: AYES: Chair Wilander, Vice Chair Lin, Chan, Thompson, and Tsoi NOES: None ABSENT: None &4 -- Lisa L. F res Secretary of the Planning Commission