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
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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
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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.
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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.
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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]
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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
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Lisa L. F res
Secretary of the Planning Commission