HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 319-08TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
July 21, 2008
HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: PLANNING AND
COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT
JULY 21, 2008 CMR: 319:08
APPEAL OF DIRECTOR’S APPROVAL OF AN ARCHITECTURAL
REVIEW APPLICATION FOR A FOUR STORY COMMERCIAL MIXED
USE RETAIL/OFFICE BUILDING, INCLUDING DESIGN
ENHANCEMENT EXCEPTIONS TO EXCEED THE MAXIMUM
HEIGHT AND FLOOR AREA, AND A VARIANCE APPLICATION FOR
AN ENCROACHMENT INTO THE BRYANT STREET SPECIAL
SETBACK AT 278 UNIVERSITY AVENUE.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council set a public hearing on this item and the associated
variance for September 15, 2008.
DISCUSSION:
Following the Architectural Review Board’s (ARB) recommendation for approval on June 5,
2008, the ARB application for the construction of a new four story~building was approved by the
Director of Planning and Community Environment on June 12, 2008. The application request
included Design Enhancement Exceptions for five additional feet in height and to exempt the
existing basement area from the floor area calculation. The application also included a variance
request to encroach three feet into the required seven foot special setback along Bryant Street.
On June 30, 2008 a request for an appeal was filled by Lynn Chiapella. She has questioned the
calculation of the seismic bonus related to the inclusion of the basement square footage in the
calculation and the fact that the bonus is used for new construction rather than rehabilitation of
the existing building. She also objects to the three foot setback encroachment, the five foot
height exception and the exemption of the basement square footage (Attachment A)..
Section 18.77.070(f) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code (PAMC) requires that an appeal of the
Director’s decision shall be placed on the consent calendar for Council consideration within 30
days. The variance element of the application has a different path. The variance is required by
Section 18.77.060(e) of the PAMC to be heard by the Planning and Transportation Commission
(P&TC) prior to City Council review.
Staff is requesting that the hearing of the appeal by City Council be continued to September 15,
2008 so the variance can be heard by the P&TC prior to the City Council review. The P&TC
hearing is tentatively set for July 30, 2008. This will enable the variance and the other elements
of the application to be heard by the City Council at the same time.
CURTIS WILLIAMS
Interim Director of Planning and
Community Environment
STEVE EMSLIE/KELLY MORARIU
Interim Deputy City Managers
ATTACH1VIENTS
A.Appeal letters- original dated June 30, 2008 and the revised letter dated July 9, 2008
B.ARB Approval letter dated June 12, 2008