HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/27/2016 - Hearing Officer NEWPORT BEACH HEARING OFFICER MINUTES 06/27/2016
NEWPORT BEACH HEARING OFFICER MINUTES
100 Civic Center Drive, Newport Beach
Corona del Mar Conference Room (Bay E-15t Floor)
Monday, June 27, 2016
REGULAR HEARING
3:30 p.m.
I. CALL TO ORDER—The meeting was called to order at 3:30 p.m.
Present William B. Conners, Municipal Law Consultant, Hearing Officer
Staff Present: Chelsea Crager,Assistant Planner
Gregg Ramirez, Senior Planner
II. PUBLIC HEARING ITEM(S)
ITEM NO. 1 2294 Channel Road Reasonable Accommodation (PA2016-075)
Site Location: 2294 Channel Road Council District 1
Hearing Officer Conners opened the public hearing and provided an overview of his procedures and
expectations for the hearing.
Chelsea Crager, Assistant Planner, provided a brief project description stating that the application was a
request for a reasonable accommodation for relief from side setback and height development standards for a
property in the R-1 single-family zone. The proposal is to add an elevator to an existing home to allow an
individual with a disability to access the upper levels of the home. The existing residence is legal
nonconforming related to side setback and height. Staff recommends approval of the project subject to
conditions.
The Hearing Officer asked for clarification regarding the total square footage of the home, Ms. Crager
confirmed that one of the two numbers identified in the staff report included the garage area and one did not.
Applicant Pete Laux of Designdlaux stated that although he had tried to find a location within the home for the
proposed elevator, but could not find a location that was feasible without a risk of requiring a complete
structural rebuild. Therefore, in his opinion the proposed location was the most appropriate.
The Hearing Officer inquired about draft Condition No. 6 requiring the improvements to be removed should
the disabled person no longer occupy the home unless the Community Development Director determines
otherwise, and asked the property owner, Charles Ryffel, if he would prefer to keep the improvements
indefinitely. Mr. Ryffel stated he would prefer that the elevator be permitted to remain in place. Mr. Laux also
noted that the home could be restored and the elevator removed, but it would involve significant additional
cost.
Mr. Ryffel reiterated that the proposed elevator is not as tall as the existing legal nonconforming roof, nor
does it encroach farther into the side setback than the existing legal nonconforming structure.
Seeing that no one from the public wished to comments, the public hearing was closed. The Hearing Officer
indicated he would deliberate on the information received in this public hearing and render a decision within
one week.
On June 28, 2016, Hearing Officer Conners approved Reasonable Accommodation No. RA2016-001,
modifying Condition No. 8 and allowing the elevator to remain should the requesting individual no longer
occupy the residence or convey the property.
Action: Approved
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NEWPORT BEACH HEARING OFFICER MINUTES 06/27/2016
III. PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS
None.
IV. ADJOURNMENT
The hearing was adjourned at 3:53 p.m.
The agenda for the Hearing Officer was posted on Tuesday, June 21, 2016, at 9:05 a.m. on the City
Hall electronic bulletin board located in the entrance of the Council Chambers at 100 Civic Center
Drive and on the City's website on June 21, 2016, at 8:55 a.m.
Gregg R ; irez
Senior Planner
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