DRC 06-21-07
Design Review Committee
June 21, 2007
Cupertino, CA 95014
(408) 777-3308
APPROVED MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE DESIGN REVIEW
COMMITTEE HELD ON June 21, 2007
ROLL CALL
Committee Members present:
Marty Miller, Commissiner
David Kaneda, Commissioner
Committee Members absent:
Cary Chien
Gilbert Wong
Staff present:
Gary Chao
Staff absent:
none
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
None
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS:
None
POSTPONEMENTS/REMOV AL FROM CALENDAR:
None
ORAL COMMUNICATION:
None
CONSENT CALENDAR:
None
PUBLIC HEARING:
1.
Application No.(s):
Applicant:
Location:
R-2007-23, RM-2007-14
Reza Rafii
10484 Byrne Avenue
Residential Design Review for a new two-story 1,794 square foot residence and a Minor
Residential Permit for a second story rear deck on the new residence and exceptions to
allow five foot side yard setbacks instead of a combination of 15 feet, an exception to
allow a combined second story side yard setback of 23 feet instead of 25 feet, an
exception from the 10 foot second floor setback surcharge requirement and an
exception to allow more than 50 percent of the second story perimeter walls to have
over six feet exposed wall heights.
Design Review Committee decision final unless appealed.
Staff member Chao explained that the application is for a new house with a basement. The
application has several requests for exemptions to the Rl Ordinance because the lot is a very
2 Design Review Committee
June 21,2007
narrow and substandard in size. Staff supports the exemption request for 5 foot side yard
setbacks instead of the required combination of 15 feet, the request for exemption from the
required 10' second story surcharge and the exemption for exposed walls on the second story.
Staff does not support the second story setback exemption request since the second story can be
redesigned to meet the setback requirement. H the second story is redesigned, the exemption
for the 10' surcharge may also not be necessary. The current design calls for a rear balcony
which will need to be moved about l' in order to meet the side yard setback requirements for a
rear balcony. The applicant did not ask for an exemption for this aspect of the proposed
structure. They will be installing privacy p1antings and perhaps also frosting some of the
upstairs windows to further mitigate any privacy concerns. Commissioner Miller asked for
clarification on the setback requirements and measurements. He also asked about the existing
landscaping. The applicant, Reza Rafii, addressed the committee. He will be living in the
proposed house with his family. He has worked very hard with Staff to come up with a design
for the lot. He feels that the design is the best it can be considering the lot size and trying to
conform to all the City's rules. He said that he intends to keep the existing trees that are already
on the site. He is ok with planting more trees if the committee asks him to. Staff member Chao
talked about the proposed bay widow. There are several different requirements for bay
windows. Commissioner Kaneda asked for clarification on the different R zonings in the area.
Staff member Chao explained that the lot would be substandard in any zoning area.
Commissioner Miller asked the applicant which re-design option he preferred. The discussion
continued about which redesign would be better and still conform. Such as moving the second
floor in order to conform to the required second floor setback and surcharge, lowering the entry
way and the bay window. The rear balcony will be functional and is very small so it is mostly a
decorative feature. The discussion continued about privacy p1antings and obscured glass in the
upstairs windows. Commissioner Kaneda approved the 5' side yard setback exception and the
10' second story surcharge exception. He clarified that the house would be redesigned; by
moving the second floor, lowering the entryway and meeting fire code with a cantilevered bay
window. Commissioner Miller concurred.
MOTION: Commissioner Kaneda moved to approve R-2007-23 and RM-2007-14 with the above
mentioned conditions
SECOND: Commissioner Miller
ABSENT: none
ABSTAIN: none
VOTE: 2-0
OLD BUSINESS:
None
NEW BUSINESS:
None
Respectfully submitted:
~~
Beth Ebben
Administrative Clerk
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