HomeMy WebLinkAbout1546 - APPROVE VA AND MD_405 DAHLIA AVERESOLUTION NO. 1546
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF NEWPORT
BEACH APPROVING A VARIANCE NO. 2001 -004 AND MODIFICATION NO. 2001 -098.
(PA2001 -173).
The Planning Commission of the City of Newport Beach does hereby find, resolve and order as
follows:
Section 1. An application was duly filed by the Applicant, Jeffrey Brown with
respect to property located at 405 Dahlia Avenue (PA2001 -173) and legally described as a
portion of Lot Nos. 3, 5 & 7 of Block 331 of the Corona del Mar Tract, requesting approval of a
variance to permit a duplex to exceed the 1.5 floor area limit applicable within Corona del Mar
(VA2001 -004). The application also includes a request to reduce the rear yard setback from 10
feet to 5' -0" (MD2001 -098).
Section 2. A public hearing was duly held on November 8, 2001 and January 3,
2002, at 6:30 P.M. in the City Hall Council Chambers, 3300 Newport Boulevard, Newport
Beach, California. A notice of time, place and purpose of the aforesaid meeting was duly given.
Evidence, both written and oral, was duly presented to and considered by the Planning
Commission at the aforesaid meetings.
Section 3. The Planning Commission finds as follows:
a) That because of special circumstances applicable to the property, including size, shape,
topography, location or surroundings, the strict application of this code deprives such
property of privileges enjoyed by other property in the vicinity and under identical
zoning classification.
The location of the property without alley access and its larger width creates a larger rear
yard and front yard setback area that has the effect of disproportionately reducing the
buildable area of the property below that enjoyed by identically zoned properties in the area.
The typical Corona del Mar comparable size to the project site has a percentage of gross floor
area to lot area of 100.4 %. The same percentage for the subject lot without approval of the
variance is 81.87 %. Due to these factors, the property is deprived of privileges enjoyed by
other property in the vicinity and under the identical zoning classification.
b) That the granting of the application is necessary for the preservation and enjoyment of
substantial property rights of the applicant.
The granting of the additional floor area is necessary for the applicant to enjoy a similar and
substantial property right which is to develop a residential project that is proportionately
consistent, based upon lot size, with other properties in the area and under identical zoning
requirements.
c) That the granting of the application is consistent with the purposes of this code and will
not constitute a grant of special privilege inconsistent with the limitations on other
properties in the vicinity and in the same zoning district.
The approval of the additional floor area is consistent with the intent of the code that is to
preserve property values and create design compatibility of proposed projects with
surroundings. The increased floor area is necessary for the applicant to create a residential
project that is proportionately consistent in size, based upon lot size, with other properties in
the area and subject to the same zoning requirements. The typical Corona del Mar lot of
comparable size to the project site has a percentage of gross floor area to lot area of 100.4 %.
The same percentage for the subject lot without approval of the variance is 81.87 %. The
applicant proposes a 5,100 sq. ft. building which has a gross floor area to lot area percentage
of 97.9 %. The approval of this increase in floor area is below the percentage of gross floor
area to lot area enjoyed by other properties and therefore does not constitute the granting of a
special privilege. The additional area approved for the enclosure of the carport creating a
second two -car garage is necessary for the project to be compatible with and not detrimental
to the abutting property located at 407 Dahlia Avenue. This is due to the close proximity of
that portion of the building if designed as a carport and a belief that it would negatively
impact the entry area of the residence located at 407 Dahlia Avenue. This additional area for
the carport enclosure is non - habitable. Due to these factors, the granting of the additional
area for the second garage does not constitute the granting of a special privilege.
d) That the granting of such application will not, under the circumstances of the particular
case, materially affect adversely the health or safety of persons residing or working in
the neighborhood of the property of the applicant and will not under the circumstances
of the particular case be materially detrimental to the public welfare or injurious to
property or improvements in the neighborhood.
The granting of the variance for additional floor area will not be detrimental to surrounding
property or the city as it does not increase the density of development permitted by the
General Plan. The project will provide the required off - street parking spaces in accordance
with the Zoning Code. A portion of the floor area increase is necessary to avoid a potentially
detrimental situation with an open carport located in close proximity to the entry of the
abutting residence located at 407 Dahlia Avenue. The portion of the increased area is
devoted to garage spaces and will not increase the occupancy of the structure, as it is non-
habitable.
e) The establishment, maintenance or operation of the use of the property or building will
not, under the circumstances of the particular case, be detrimental to the health, safety,
peace, comfort and general welfare of persons residing or working in the neighborhood
of such proposed use or be detrimental or injurious to property and improvements in
the neighborhood or the general welfare of the City, and further that the proposed
modification is consistent with the legislative intent of this code for the following
reasons:
• The rear yard encroachments, as depicted on the revised plans, is similar to a side yard
relationship that is allowed to be setback 4 feet from the property line and 8 feet between
buildings. The proposed encroachments that are not less than 5 feet from the abutting
property and are limited in area. The proposed encroachment of parking spaces are required
to be enclosed garage spaces as opposed to being open carports. The enclosure of the spaces
eliminates a potential detrimental situation due to the close proximity of the spaces and the
abutting property.
The proposed encroachments do not effect the views from nearby properties and the project
complies with applicable height limits.
Section 4. Based on the aforementioned findings, the Planning Commission hereby
approves an amendment to Variance No. 2001 -004 and Modification No. 2001 -098, subject to the
Conditions set forth in Exhibit "A" attached.
Section 5. This action shall become final and effective fourteen (14) days after the
adoption of this Resolution unless within such time an appeal is filed with the City Clerk or this
action is call for review by the City Council in accordance with the provisions of Title 20, Planning
and Zoning, of the Newport Beach Municipal Code.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED THIS 3'" DAY OF JANUARY, 2002.
AYES: Kiser, Tucker
Gifford, Kranzley and Selich
NOES: - McDaniel. Aaaianian
ABSENT: None
BY: �-2
Larry Tucker, Chairman
Earl McDaniel, Secretary
EXHIBIT "A"
CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL
Variance No. 2001 -004 & Modification No. 2001 -098
The development shall be in substantial conformance with the approved site plan and floor
plans revised and dated February 18, 2002 or December 19, 2001 except as revised by other
conditions of approval. The architectural style and quality shall be substantially as set forth
in the plans dated August 21, 2001. **
1 The Variance No. 2001 -004 and Modification No. 2001 -098 shall expire unless exercised
within 24 months from the date of approval as specified in Section 20.91.050 if the Newport
Beach Municipal Code, unless an extension is otherwise granted.
3. The project shall comply with applicable structure and building height regulations contained
within Chapter 20.65 of the Municipal Code.
4. The applicant shall obtain all applicable permits from the Building Department.
5. Stair access within the side yards is required to bedroom windows if required by the
Building Department.
6. The lower level shall comply with the Uniform Building Code definition of a basement
otherwise the project shall provide 2 stairways for exiting purposes for each unit from the
third and fourth floors to grade.
7. The building shall be equipped with an automatic fire sprinkler system as the building
exceeds 5,000 square feet in area.
8. All improvements shall be constructed as required by Ordinance and the Public Works
Department.
9. In accordance with the provisions of Chapter 13 of the Newport Beach Municipal Code
or other applicable section or chapter, additional street trees shall be provided and
existing street trees shall be protected in place during construction of the subject project,
unless otherwise approved by the General Services Department and the Public Works
Department. All work within the public right -of -way shall be approved under an
encroachment agreement issued by the Public Works Department.
10. That arrangements be made with the Public Works Department in order to guarantee
satisfactory completion of the public improvements, if it is desired to record a parcel map
or obtain a building permit prior to completion of the public improvements.
11. Each dwelling unit shall be served with an individual water service and sewer lateral
connection to the public water and sewer systems unless otherwise approved by the
Public Works Department and the Building Department.
12. On -site parking, vehicular circulation and pedestrian circulation systems shall be subject
to further review by the Traffic Engineer.
13. The owner shall provide the City Building Department with a recorded reciprocal access
agreement between the subject property and the abutting property to the west if vehicular
access to the garages is to be taken from the northerly driveway. This agreement shall be
subject to the review and approval of the City of Newport Beach and shall be recorded
prior to issuance of building permit to modify the garage access. **
14. The footings for the proposed property line retaining walls shall be designed so that their
footings remain on private property and will not encroach into the public right -of -way.
15. The existing unused portion of the drive approach on Dahlia Avenue shall be removed
and replaced with curb, gutter and sidewalk. If vehicular access to the garages is modified
in the future to take access from the northerly driveway, the property owner shall reduce
the width of the drive approach to match the on -site driveway. All work shall be
completed under an encroachment permit issued by the Public Works Department. **
16. A drainage study shall be prepared by the applicant and approved by the Public Works
Department for the on -site improvements prior to issuance of any building or grading
permits.
17. Disruption caused by construction work along roadways and by movement of
construction vehicles shall be minimized by proper use of traffic control equipment and
flagmen. Traffic control and transportation of equipment and materials shall be conducted
in accordance with state and local requirements.
18. The project shall be consistent with the design originally submitted in terms of material
and style as depicted on the elevation drawings dated August 21, 2001.
19. The carport depicted on the approved plans shall be enclosed creating a garage, The
width of the garage, in conjunction with of the approved site plan and floor plans shall be
no larger than necessary while providing a 15 -foot front yard setback and a 5 -foot rear
yard setback. The depth of the garage shall not exceed the depth depicted on the approved
floor plan identified in Condition No. 1.
20. The second level deck located above the carport depicted on the site and floor plans dated
December 19, 2001 shall be reduced in size or eliminated. A reduced deck shall not extend
northwest of the adjacent bathroom depicted on the approved plan.
21. The gross floor area of the project shall not exceed 5,100 square feet plus an additional
amount of floor area necessary to enclose the 2 -car carport as described in Condition No. 19.
The garage depicted on the site and floor plans dated December 19, 2001 shall be included
in the 5,100 square feet figure cited in this resolution.
** Conditions modified by the City Council on May 14, 2002.
\PA2001- 173\Final Resolution.doc