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HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff ReportPLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA REPORT AGENDA ITEM NUMBER: 7.4 MEETING DATE: December 11, 2018 CASE/FILE NUMBER: Development Review No. PL2018-92 PROJECT LOCATION: 2909 Steeplechase Lane Diamond Bar, CA 91765 (APN 8713-014-002) GENERAL PLAN DESIGNATION: Rural Residential (RR) ZONING DISTRICT: Rural Residential (RR) PROPERTY OWNER: Ming Huang Tsai and Shu Hsi Chen 2861 Oak Knoll Dr. Diamond Bar, CA 91765 APPLICANT: Feng Xiao 2540 Huntington Dr., Suite 207 San Marino, CA 91108 SUMMARY: The applicant is requesting approval of a Development Review (DR) application to demolish an existing 2,422 square-foot residence and construct a 4,586 square-foot single-family residence with an 860 square-foot garage and 424 square feet of porch/balcony area on a 1.29 gross acre lot. RECOMMENDATION: Adopt the attached Resolution (Attachment A) approving Development Review No. PL2018-92, based on the findings of Diamond Bar Municipal Code (DBMC) Sections 22.48, subject to conditions. CITY OF DIAMOND BAR ~ 21810 COPLEY DRIVE ~ DIAMOND BAR, CA 91765 ~ TEL. (909) 839-7030 ~ FAX (909) 861-3117 7.4 Packet Pg. 194 Development Review No. PL2018-92 Page 2 of 10 BACKGROUND: The project site is located in the Diamond Bar Country Estates (The Country), on the southeast corner of Steeplechase Lane and Shadow Canyon Dr. The property was developed in 1978 under Los Angeles County standards with a 2,422 square -foot, single-family residence and garage on a 1.29 gross acre (56,263 gross square -foot) lot. There are nine trees on the property that are classified as protected trees , and which will remain on the property. The proposed project was approved by the Diamond Bar Country Estates Architectural Committee on July 6, 2018. The property is legally described as Lot 14 of Tract No. 30289, and the Assessor’s Parcel Number (APN) is 8713-014-002. Site and Surrounding General Plan, Zoning and Land Uses The image below highlights the subject property: 7.4 Packet Pg. 195 Development Review No. PL2018-92 Page 3 of 10 Project Site as Seen from the Northwest Corner of Steeplechase Ln. and Shadow Canyon Rd. Adjacent Property to East Adjacent Property to South 7.4 Packet Pg. 196 Development Review No. PL2018-92 Page 4 of 10 The following table summarizes the land use status of the subject property and its surroundings: General Plan Designation Zoning District Land Use Site Rural Residential RR Single-Family Residential North Rural Residential RR Vacant/Undeveloped South Rural Residential RR Single-Family Residential East Rural Residential RR Single-Family Residential West Rural Residential RR Single-Family Residential Project Description Site Plan As stated, the property’s gross lot area is 56 ,263 square feet (1.29 gross acres), which includes a 30-foot wide private street easement for Steeplechase Lane and Shadow Canyon Drive. The property is a rectangular shaped lot and the property’s net buildable area (i.e., minus the private street easement) is 44,867 square feet (1.03 acres). There are two existing driveways on the property: a 15-foot wide shared driveway located on Shadow Canyon Drive that provides access to the two properties to the east; and an existing 18-foot wide driveway located on Steeplechase Lane which provides access to the subject property. The property is a hillside property and is located on an ascending slope that starts from the private street easement to the rear property line. The proposed house is situated toward the rear of the lot, 111 feet from the edge of the private street easement line on Shadow Canyon Drive and approximately 48 feet from the rear property line. The front elevation—including the entrance to the proposed house and three-car garage—faces Shadow Canyon Drive. Grading Plan The applicant is proposing to cut 1,011 cubic yards of soil and fill 392 cubic yards of soil throughout the property to expand the building pads at the front and rear of the property. Therefore, 619 cubic yards would have to be exported from the site. Standard dump truck capacities range from 10 to 15 cubic yards, so the proposed amount of export would require approximately 42 to 62 total truck trips. The applicant is proposing two retaining walls with a maximum height of four feet at the front of the property to support fills above the natural grade to expand the buildable pads for the house. Additionally, two tiered retaining walls, with a maximum height of 7.4 Packet Pg. 197 Development Review No. PL2018-92 Page 5 of 10 six feet, are proposed at the rear of the property to support cuts into the slope in order to extend a pad to create a rear yard area. All exposed portions of retaining walls will be stuccoed to match the house. Architecture The architectural style is Italian Renaissance. Exterior finishes include ashlar pattern stone veneer and smooth stucco. Features proposed to emphasize the Italian Renaissance design vocabulary include an arched entrance with wrought iron front doors, tall arched and rectangular windows, a porch with arches and columns at the rear of the house to resemble an arcade, and a low-pitched hipped roof with mission tiles. The proposed two-level house’s floor plan is comprised of the following components: First Floor – Common areas (foyer, family room, kitchen, dining room, and living room), one powder room, pantry, three-car garage, and porch. Second Floor – Master suite with a bathroom and walk-in closet, two bedrooms with bathrooms and walk-in closets, tatami room with a balcony and bathroom, a covered patio with access from the master bedroom, and a laundry room. Patio and balcony areas totaling 424 square feet throughout the two levels of the residence. Rendering of the Front Elevation 7.4 Packet Pg. 198 Development Review No. PL2018-92 Page 6 of 10 The floor area distribution is summarized below: The height of the building is 28 feet, measured from the finished grade to the highest point of the roofline. Landscape Plan The applicant is proposing a variety of trees to be planted throughout the property, including: four 24-inch box crape myrtle trees, four date palm trees with 20 feet in trunk height, two 36-inch box Japanese dwarf pine trees located along the driveway; and eight 24-inch box fruit trees at the rear of the property. Eleven existing trees will remain on the property including: one Aleppo pine, one California pepper, and nine California black walnut trees. A condition of approval is included to require five-foot high chain link fencing to be installed to keep construction activity, equipment and materials at least five feet outside of the driplines of the trees. A condition of approval requiring site verification prior to grading activity has been added to ensure compliance with this requirement. Additionally, various 5-gallon and 1-gallon shrubs that have a variety of color, texture, and form are proposed throughout the street side and rear yard slopes. Overall, landscaping consist of drought tolerant and non-invasive species to minimize irrigation and reduce the area of turf. The project is required to comply with the City’s Water Efficient Landscaping Ordinance, and compliance will be verified during building plan check and final inspections. The subject property is located within the Los Angeles County Fire Department “High Fire Hazard Severity Zone.” Therefore, the proposed landscaping must comply with the Fire Department’s Fuel Modification Plan requirements. The landscape plans will be submitted for review and approval by the Fire Department during building plan check. 2,080 2,506 4,586 860 178 246 1,284 5,870 PROJECT SUMMARY (square footage) First Floor Porch Total Garage/Courtyard/Balcony Area TOTAL FLOOR AREA Second Floor Porch and Balcony Living Area First Floor Second Floor Total Living Area Garage/Porch/Balcony Area Garage Area 7.4 Packet Pg. 199 Development Review No. PL2018-92 Page 7 of 10 ANALYSIS: Review Authority The proposed project requires a land use approval through the Development Review process. The analysis that follows provides the basis for staff’s recommendation to approve the Development Review application. Development Review (DBMC Chapter 22.48) New construction of a single-family home requires Planning Commission approval of a Development Review application. Development Review approval is required to ensure compliance with the City’s General Plan policies, development standards, and design guidelines, and to minimize adverse effects of the proposed project upon the surrounding properties and the City in general. As stated in Section 22.48.010 of the Development Code, the Development Review process was established to ensure that new development and additions to existing development are consistent with the General Plan “through the promotion of high functional and aesthetic standards to complement and add to the economic, physical, and social character” of Diamond Bar. Development Standards: The following table compares the proposed project with the City’s development standards for residential development in the RR zone: Development Feature Residential Development Standards Proposed Meets Requirements Front Setback 30 feet 111 feet Yes Side Setbacks 15 feet on the street side, 10 feet on one side 75’-1” – west side (street side) 36’-5” – east side Yes Side Yard Minimum Between Adjoining Structures 25 feet N/A – west side (street side) 69’-5”– east side Yes Rear Setback 25 feet 48”-6” Yes Lot Coverage Maximum of 30% 6.25% Yes Max. Building Height 35 feet 28 feet Yes Parking 2-car garage 3-car garage Yes Retaining Wall Height 4-foot exposed (supporting fill) 6-foot exposed (supporting cut) 4-foot exposed (supporting fill) 6-foot exposed (supporting cut) Yes 7.4 Packet Pg. 200 Development Review No. PL2018-92 Page 8 of 10 Compliance with Hillside Management Ordinance (DBMC Section 22.22) The proposed project was reviewed for compliance with the City’s Hillside Management Design Guidelines and regulations. The project complies with all of the regulations and guidelines to ensure that development will complement the character and topography of hillside areas set forth in the Development Code, and incorporates the following features: All proposed retaining walls associated with the building pads are at a maximum exposed height of four feet; The project is terraced on split-level pads. From the street view, the build ing is a two-story structure, but the rear of the building is one level; and Earth tone building materials and color schemes are used that blend in with the natural landscape. The project complies with all of the regulations and guidelines to ensure that development will complement the character and topography of hillside areas set forth in the Development Code. Compatibility with Neighborhood The project is located on an existing leveled pad, ranging between 11 and 40 feet above street level. The new house will not be intrusive to neighboring homes since the proposed house will not block existing views from adjacent properties. The adjacent home to the east has views to the north. The existing house to the south has views to the north and west and is located on a higher pad than the project site. Additionally, the house across the street to the west has views to the north and west. The proposed house is smaller in mass and scale compared to existing homes on similar lots in The Country. The architecture in The Country is eclectic, and includes a variety of architectural designs. The scale and proportions of the proposed home are well balanced and appropriate for the site. In sum, the proposed project fits the character of the neighborhood on which it is proposed. The new single-family residence will conform to all development standards, including building height and setbacks, which is consistent with other homes in The Country; A gradual transition between the project and adjacent uses is achieved through appropriate setbacks, building height, landscaping, and window and door placement; The proposed new single-family residence is appropriate in mass and scale to the site; Elevations are treated with detailed architectural elements; 7.4 Packet Pg. 201 Development Review No. PL2018-92 Page 9 of 10 Proper screening for ground and roof-mounted equipment is architecturally compatible with the dwelling in terms of materials, color, shape, and size and blends in with the proposed building design; The exterior finish materials and colors blend with the natural environment; and Effective landscape design should serve the dual purpose of intrinsically enhancing a project setting, as well as integrating the landscaping into the overall architectural design. Staff finds the proposed plant palette to be diverse, and the plant selections are compatible with Southern California native landscapes. Additional Review The Public Works Department and Building and Safety Division reviewed this project, and their comments are included in the attached resolution as conditions of approval. NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING: On November 28, 2018, public hearing notices were mailed to property owners within a 1,000-foot radius of the project site. On November 30, 2018, the notice was published in the San Gabriel Valley Tribune and Inland Valley Daily Bulletin newspapers. A notice display board was posted at the site, and a copy of the notice was posted at the City's three designated community posting sites. Public Comments Received No comments have been received as of the publication date of this report. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT: This project has been reviewed for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Based on that assessment, the City has determined the project to be Categorically Exempt from the provisions of CEQA pursuant to the provisions of Article 19 Section 15303(a) (construction of a new single-family residence) of the CEQA Guidelines. No further environmental review is required. PREPARED BY: 7.4 Packet Pg. 202 Development Review No. PL2018-92 Page 10 of 10 REVIEWED BY: Attachments: A. Draft Resolution No. 2018-XX and Standard Conditions of Approval B. Color and Material Board C. Site Plan, Floor Plans, Elevations, Landscape Plans, and Conceptual Grading Plans 7.4 Packet Pg. 203