Parks, Recreation & Open Space Commission - Regular Meeting

since it's 7 o'clock. I will call this meeting to order. The planning and zoning commission meeting of Wednesday, December 10th, 2025. And I will start with the land acknowledgement. The city of Albany recognizes that we occupy the land originally protected by the Confederated villages of Luchon. We acknowledge the genocide that took place on these lands and must make strides to repay the moral debt that is owed to this indigenous people, specifically the Aloney tribe. We thank them for their contributions which have transformed our community will continue to bring forth growth and unity. City of Albany commits to sustaining ongoing relationships with the tribe. Together build a better future for all that now make this their home. And with that, we can go to call.

Yes. Commissioner Pearson, yes. Commissioner Pilch, present. Mloud, present. And Commissioner Mowman is absent today. Right.

Okay. Um, exparte communications. Any none for me? Move on to item three, consent calendar. On the consent calendar, it's just the approval of minutes from November 12th, 2025. Um, anyone that would like to pull the consent count or pull the minutes from the consent count or anyone from the public? Seeing none, then I think we can move on to that. I will move approval of the consent calendar. A second.

Okay, we'll go to the vote. Commissioner Pearson, yes. Yes.

I vote yes as well. That's approved. Uh item four, public comment. This is for persons desiring to address the commission on an item that is not on the agenda. Please note that city policy limits each speaker to three minutes. Chair may reduce the time will be uh the Brown Act limits the commission's ability to take and or discuss items that are not on the agenda. Therefore, such items may be referred to staff for comment or to a future agenda. There anyone here who would like to make comment, public comment, city or otherwise? There anyone online who would like to make public comment? All right, seeing no one in the room and no one online, we will move on to item 5.1. Planning application PA25-035 11151 Garfield Avenue design and design review and use permit request to lift the existing singlestory home construct a new 1,111 square foot ground level and addition at back. staff, do you have a for us?

I do have a presentation chair. Uh, give me one second, please. Technical problems here, but we will make sure. I don't know why the presenter view is Oh, there we go. Okay, perfect. All right, so good evening commissioners and members of the public. U my name is Merra Han and I'm here to present use permit and design review application um PA25-035 at 1151 Garfield Avenue. All right. So, oh what's going on there? Okay. So, the project site, as you can see there, um, and this is this pretty much reflects, um, what is written on the staff report, but the project site is located on the north side of Garfield Avenue between Stanage Avenue to the west and Cornell Avenue to the east. The 5,000 foot lot is developed with an approximately 1,191 square foot, three-bedroom, one-b singlestory home with a basement constructed in a mission-esque style in 1925. So you can see there uh the existing house in context of the neighborhood which is predominantly uh single single family like residential some of them are two-story uh homes as well. All right. So um the residence has an existing non-conforming 13t front and 3 foot 8.4 4 inch right each side yard measuring uh I mean that's what they measure where a minimum of 15 feet and five feet is required respectively. Uh so it has two non-conforming set uh setbacks at the front and the east uh yard. The property has a driveway on the left west side of

the property leading to a detached rear garage. The project proposes to lift as you can see on the right hand side up. Uh that's the existing marked as an E and then the P is proposed. The project proposes to lift the existing single family residence by approximately 10 feet. So that's where um that kind of like blue arrow points. That's like how much it will be raised and construct a new first story. The project proposes uh additional to add approximately 37 square ft at the left and rear of the new second story to square off its existing L-shaped corner. So that's the orange kind of rectangle at the top left. Um the proposed building would be built on the existing foundation and within the footprint of the existing building. Other changes include a new covered entry porch to the right uh east side. Uh 263 ft lower level deck. It's almost um at grade at the um the left and rear of the house and a onecar detached garage at the left and rear of the lot which would um replace the existing one. It's it has actually a smaller footprint than the existing uh detached garage. Um a use permit is required to vertically extend the existing non-conforming right east sideyard and front yard setbacks. Okay, so we have the elevations of uh the proposed project. You can see here that the facades of the first and second stories are flush on all sides with a recessed entry porch and minorly recessed wall planes throughout. The raised house, I'm sorry, the entry porch located on the right side is recessed about 2 feet from the front facade and accessible from the street via a new set of atgrade stairs and landings. a new 17 square foot light well opens to the sky

as well on the uh right east facade. Um so yeah, that's pretty much what you can see here. That's the design. It's uh it's pretty modern and we'll talk about the design on the next slide. So uh yeah, as I was mentioning, the project proposes a new modern style uh for the twotory home. The proposed design articulates the facades with a minor variation of planes emphasized through the application of different textures and colors throughout. You can see that windows on the front facade are set with deep angle recesses where the window frames are offset from the stockcoings. Two bay windows project from the lower level on the left west side as you can see on the rendering. And one bay window is proposed which is very similar in design to those um bay windows that you can see on the rendering is proposed on the upper level at the rear. All of the windows are set back with a 2-in recess. Uh further differentiation on the pl on the facades is achieved through a recessed entry porch with wood siding walls and a variation in the fenistration design with the angled recessed windows that I already mentioned at the front and projecting bay windows at the left and rear. Uh the project includes colors and materials such as you know like you can see here. I'm not sure if you it's that visible, but on the ones that were posted online and the ones that are printed here um here in city hall, you can see that um the the different planes have different textures at the Stokeo wall planes uh that also offer a palette of off-white colors. It also has a contrasting dark gray fiberglass doors and windows, wood siding at the recessed entry, wood decking and fencing, powdercoated steel and metal mesh guard rail panel, concrete at the foundation and landscape walls and sandwash concrete paving at

the adgrade front stairs and landing. Uh windows have been designed at a size location andor height that aims to reduce potential privacy concerns. the architect paid close attention uh making sure that the windows um would not align uh with windows of their neighbor of the neighboring properties. Um all right, so with that uh staff received three comments from the public regarding this project. Uh the comments initially were submitted in response to a previous design while the project was being reviewed and the applicant had been sharing these plans with the neighbors. Um most of the comments that were received in regards to that design um were in regards to the bulk and size and style of the proposed design. Um but after having been aware of this, one commenter said that they like the new design and were in support of the project while one other commenter uh said uh stated that they remained opposed to it. Um the architects have shared with staff that they had made uh many attempts to reach out to the neighbors to discuss the project but uh as far as staff knows they didn't have a lot of success in um making contact with them. Um after review of the project uh staff recommends that the planning and zoning commission review and approve the proposed project subject to the findings and standard uh conditions of approval that were attached to the staff report. Um so yeah before I conclude my presentation I would like to let uh the commissioners know as well that um uh the I think the applicant and the architect is here and so they are prepare they have prepared a very short presentation in case that you have questions for them as well.

Okay thank you very much. Um before we do that we should see commission have questions for staff. No. Uh you're the applicant and you have a presentation for us. What uh had in mind? Think so. So I I feel like we may be a bit redundant, but um And you are the Oh, yes. My name is Aviva Rapaort. I'm the architect. I work with AAA architecture, one of the principal architects in the firm.

So um Our clients Naa and Akiko Maryama are a young family uh that are here to expand their home to meet their needs. Uh their home is an existing one-story bungalow as Meera mentioned and also as mera mentioned once we had a design we brought it to the planning department and our clients took it to their neighbors to have some preliminary discussions. We've been working iteratively with the planning department um on the design that you see here today. Um next slide. Also, as mera mentioned, the project is a lift um which essentially takes the existing house and lifts it up by 10 feet and creates a new lower floor. We wanted to kind of share with the community and we're sure that you are aware uh the advantages from a sustainable standpoint of a lift. Um that it provides the lowest carbon impact of any addition by maximizing the use the reuse of the concrete foundations. um also enabling zero lot coverage in our particular project. We've also demolished part of the garage. So, we've actually increased um the um increased total amount of open area on the site. Um, we also by doing this have increased the amount of pvious area which as I'm sure you're aware um helps to reduce uh storm water runoff, reduce flooding, recharge groundwater, filter pollutants and contributes to a healthier environment. Our clients also elected not to maximize the total height which is allowable. We're actually four feet under the maximum allowable height and we're sitting over 20 feet from the one-story home on the west side. Um, and if we can

go to the next slide, the project is contemporary as you have seen um, inspired from the mission style and we believe the particular inspiration is probably uh, the mission uh, St. Gabriel and you can see an image of existing house on the left and the mission on the right. Um at the same time that you can see the similarities, we felt that there are certain elements that sort of got lost in translation and notably the deep insets and the sort of um feeling of simplicity uh as well as some subtle planer v variations along with this kind of fun uh randomness uh clustering of of a asymmetrical moments as well. Um, if we want to go to the next slide. And again, these are some of those elements highlighted. Simple windows and thick plaster walls, angled sills cut into those walls, simple wood details and entries. And next, next slide. Oh, okay. So, we also we studied some earlier um earlier interpretations of mission style. These are two projects by Urban Gill. Um, and again, you can see here, you know, a similar scale in in elements to the bungalow, but in a slightly larger larger building. Again, uh, reflecting some item, some moments of the mission style, uh, with some shifting planes, some simple geometries. On the right, you see what happens when a singlestory bungalow sort of becomes a twotory um, volume. and the implications of that in terms of blank walls and the sense of mass. And

uh next slide, we also looked at some very contemporary interpretations of this style. Again, all with uh very uh clear attention to the detailing, especially around the windows and the openings and the thickness of the walls and the proportions. And next, and here we have our building. And I think Mera summarized a lot of the elements here and I've sort of reiterated some of those, but want to share once more. Again, we're um the building here is sitting in a California native landscape, drought tolerant landscape. And again, we've got deep inset windows, a strong recessed entry with wood detailing. Um, and along with those uh those angled sills and variations in texture and some subtle variations in in plane and we hope that this project will be a good neighbor and an asset to the community.

Hold on. Uh, does anyone have any questions for the applicant architects? I was just wondering do you have other you must have had other renderings to nice to have seen them I think. Oh other renderings of the other views of the 3D renderings or so we do we have some other 3D views. This is the one that we really rendered for this particular presentation but yeah we have we have some other 3D views. They weren't we did not forward them previously but we shared some of the axonometrics with Mera. Okay. I just have one other question. Yeah you're redoing everything. Are you going to go all electric with your construction?

Right now, we are proposing all electric. There's been some discussion about a gas stove, but I think that's still under discussion. So, yeah. Well, we're trying to encourage. Yeah, it's part of our climate action plan. Appreciate that if you did it. Great. Um, okay. I guess there are no other questions. Um, why don't we open it to public comment? And thank you very much. Um, is there anyone in the room who'd like to make a public comment on this project or online? Please use the raise the hand icon if you'd like to speak.

Okay. Okay, no public commenters online either. So, we will close public comment and move to commissioner discussion. Um, anyone comments? Anything? Um, I I mean I don't I think it's Thank you for your explanation, for your inspiration. I think it's a it is a modern design, but I think it's I I like it. like I I it complies with the regulations like the design. I think um it's going to fit into the neighborhood well and so I I really don't have much to say about this project.

Yeah, I concur. It's I think it's a a good design for a modern home and diversity in all things is good including architectural styles. So, I have no problem with having a modern style among our our McGregor and such. Um, and uh, that's all I have to say as well.

Okay. Well, uh, you know, I would agree. I think it's nice design. And I appreciate the inspiration photos you showed us, you know, kind of the planer elements, the placement of windows because it does look a little bit random, but when you look at the interiors and how that's all organized, it sense typically modern houses would have more regularity in the windows, but you know, that's that was 90 years ago. are in the 21st century in California. Okay to experiment. Oh, I encourage it. I think there's a room there's room for a lot of different styles in Albany. There's no one dominant style. Even the McGregor are not the dominant style here. They had some elements of that early some elements of modern design too. They had their little quaint groups. Uh so I support the project. Um in many cases I mean almost systematically we grant these vertically non-conforming wall extensions and we haven't granted that me wonder why we shouldn't just make it automatic somehow. Um change our base regulation. Um anyway, we could have a motion. Can I make a motion to support planning application PA25-035? [Music]

Hey, Commissioner Pilch. Yes. Yes.

I vote yes as well. There is a 14-day appeal period for our story pulls up in days after which lit. Okay. Well, thank you very much. Your project has been approved. That's Yeah. Planning application PA25-035 forward. Okay. Thank you. And with that, we will move on to item 5-2, planning application PA25-045 911 Evelyn Avenue. Design review request approximately 677 square foot 27 twotory edition 30 square foot second story balcony at the rear.

Okay. Staff.

Yes. Good evening. I'm Leslie Menddees. I'm planning manager and as noted this is planning application 25-045 for a design review application at 911 Evelyn Avenue. So, the subject site is a 3,750 square foot lot located on the east side of Evelyn Avenue um with Solano Avenue to the north and Marin Avenue to the west. The lot is developed with an approximately 1,132 ft two-bedroom, oneb home. And it is a partial split level. Interestingly, it's really just the rear um right quadrant that is the twostory um portion. There is the driveway that runs along the south side of the property and a detached garage. Property currently does have a non-conforming front and left or north sideyard set back. The project is requesting to construct a two-story addition of a total of approximately 665 square feet and a height of just under 28 ft. This includes a 325 ft firststory addition which includes a new bedroom with a halfb. The existing bedroom that's located on that north side would be converted to a walkthrough office to access that bedroom. And then there would also be the bicycle storage area which would be facing the rear yard area. The second story which is approximately 352 square ft would be a new master bedroom with full bath as well as include a balcony that would be facing the rear yard area.

The project would also include demolition of the existing detached twocar garage to provide more permeable and yard area for the residents of the home and it would result in a 2061q ft 3bedroom 2 and 1 halfb home. Design of the project includes gable roof that matches the pitch of the existing home. The new addition would be painted board and batten siding which would both differentiate as well as complement the existing home. Um the addition would be set in 6 in on the left north side. So it would be constructed at the conforming 3 foot 9 in sideyard setback. In addition, it would have a 1 and a half foot that should say overhang not overhang on the second story on the right or south side. Those differentiations provide a little bit of articulation and and interest visual interest of the property. As this is a 50% uh floor area ratio project, it is subject to exceptional design and a landscape plan was included. A lot of the landscape plan uh involves continuing the landscaping around the edge of the property where the garage is being replaced as well as the turf. And then there would be a new permeable paving patio which you can see in kind of that differentiated white area that's outside of the storage um room. There would be new windows with dark frames. Marvin Ultimate are similar as well as a uh redwood cedar balcony deck that differentiates in both color and materials from the rest of the home. Although staff had worked with the applicant to include more of a a rear access from the from the the new bedroom on the first floor because it is a little bit of a kind of dual shotgun

design due to the sort of odd split leveless. Um they felt it wasn't doable at this time and um though I wish there were a little more access to the rear yard area from that room. I do believe that perhaps future residents would be able to create that connection through what is the existing storage room. So with that, um I do state that the project does meet all objective development and design standards and staff does recommend that the planning and zoning commission approve the project subject to the attached findings and conditions. and I am here to answer any questions and I know that that the homeowner and uh architect are here as well and have a brief presentation that they'd like to

Okay, thank you very much. Um anyone have any questions? Oh. Uh and so you have a presentation for us? I don't have a presentation but I just wanted to make some comments. Leslie, thank you for the overview of um our project. Um so I'm Jonathan. Excuse me. You are the AR the homeowner. Homeowner. Okay. Yeah. So Tony is our architect. We've been working closely with Tony for

six months or so. Um so I I just wanted to tell you guys a little bit about myself. I grew up in Albany. Uh started at Moran. I still call it the old middle school or the the new middle school. You know, everything I kind of got a lot of history here. My parents are still living over on Santa Fe and in Thousand Oaks. So, we're really tied into this community. Um, so, you know, part of what we tried to do with the design is the kind of maintain the uniqueness of Albany. We really like um, you know, Alby's characteristics. So, we weren't trying to kind of do a full revamp. Um, but my wife and I, we've got two active kids, an eight and a 5-year-old. um and the they're quickly outgrowing the house. Um so we're trying to kind of come up with a design um that will kind of grow with with our family. Um so we did talk with with Leslie about you know rear access and my um my feeling on that is one of our boys that will be their room. They share a room currently. Uh, but I don't at this time I don't want to give one of the kids access to the backyard, you know. So that's part of it is kind of safety reasons. Um, you know, so that was kind of just comments there. But just in general, I mean, we we're trying to come up with, you know, an overall design that we thought would kind of maintain uh, you know, the characteristics of Albany and, you know, work with our family. and um prices have skyrocketed. So, you know, we've looked at buying other houses and it's just I feel like we could be priced out of Albany if we're not able to do this. So, it's, you know, I I just wanted to you guys to kind of understand where we're coming from and if there's any questions specifically about the design of the project in general, I mean, we're we're

definitely here. But I do appreciate you guys considering our project. All right. Thank you very much. Um, anyone have any questions for the architect? Yeah, maybe uh for the architect and um and staff. So, uh just to um clar first just to clarify, are we looking at um 11 or 12 foot ceilings in this in the addition? Is that height? Tony Valadz, the architect and thank thank you for hearing the project. Um, so it goes the height of the ceiling goes up to 11 ft. It's a vated ceiling. Okay. The primary bedroom upstairs. Okay.

Starts at 8 ft and goes up to 11 feet. Okay. And in the uh downstairs as well, we're maintaining an 8 foot high ceiling, which is we're continuing the existing ceiling height. Oh, okay. All right. I'll have to figure out how to see that in the plans. I'm not It's not the way I'm seeing it. If you go to sheet A303, the section drawings that sheet on the A303 locked out of um

locked out of Adobe so I can't open it. Oh, I think I I think I see where where Okay. Um there's the based all space that we have to to maintain we're continuing. Okay. All right. So that's uh that answers that question. I was just curious. Um section Yeah. Yeah. I got it. Yeah.

Okay. Thank you for that. Uh and then um and then question for both you and staff. Staff had mentioned working with trying to work with you about backyard access. Um, it sure seems like And so, uh, what suggestions did staff have for that? Just putting a door in the in the bedroom or

Well, one thing, uh, their prior plan had the bedroom as the walkth through with the office. So, one thing they did do was flip so the bedroom is is now kind of the end goal with the office being more of a hallway, which I did think was a positive move. Okay. Um, other suggestions were flipping the bedroom with the storage area andor putting a door in the bedroom itself. Um, and or I mean more extensively it would be kind of changing the whole house layout to remove the split level and make a pure first story and second story edition. They did however uh relay to me their their financial constraints and with that you know our goal is to make you know to do what we can but allow them to have the flexibility to do the addition that they need for their growing family as well.

Okay. Um and I don't know if you did you want to make any comment about that or did staff relay that pretty accurately? Said it pretty well. Okay. Yeah. I mean, we I I think budget limitations was, you know, we would love to make this a proper twotory project, but that's a different project and so we um we had I think we have to work within the uh you know, the budget. Okay. All right. Thank you. That's it for my questions. Okay. Um again, I'll ask any are you planning to do all electric on your

We haven't discussed it yet. Um the project is mainly if we were touching the kitchen I think I would we would have had the discussion but um we haven't gone there. I don't see any reason why the addition part couldn't be all electric. There's there's not a lot of you know a lot of hurdles to do that. Um well we're just encouraging people when there are major m when there is major work going on to try to Okay. So yeah this is where I'm learning about some of this pro process. So I was asking Tony all electric do you mean heat pump? It is um something that we have talked about.

Uh we've we updated our electrical I know a few years ago um partially for insurance reasons. We kept getting non-renewed as new homeowners and had knob and tube. Um we got solar panels installed. So we're kind of we're like heading in that direction. And um just the old furnace, floor furnace, we don't really love it. Uh it feels like kind of as we're running it right now, you know, it's just old. Um, so definitely I mean it's something that we've talked my wife and I have talked about and we've got to see how what I would say the total end cost comes out at because we've just got kind of the initial plans but we would like to incorporate a heat pump, you know, if we can.

Okay. All right. Well, that sounds good. it is an opportunity to do so. Especially if you need a bigger heating system, then it would be the time for the whole I mean like you could use it for the whole house because it's a it's an old home that heats up during the summers and I don't remember that when I was younger needing um you know AC, but now it's like I don't know, you only needed it like two, three weeks before and now it feels like it's six weeks plus. Um So, it's it is something we would like to incorporate in. Okay, fair enough. Um, why don't we move to public comment? Thank you for your comments. Um,

uh, the only anyone on attendee is the other property owner, but if you'd like to say anything, please use the raise a hand icon. Nope.

All right. Seeing no public comment then we will close public comment and move on to commissioner discussion of the project. Um anyone like to start? You can start. Um so with your project I can see sort of like the tension between like maintaining existing and putting something on the back and like you know as opposed to what we saw in the previous project or you know putting a full second story on also the cost considerations. So, I appreciate that, you know, you've maintained the front of the house because I think from the sidewalk, you still have like your, you know, beautiful original touches and architecture. I I will say that when I looked at the design, like I felt like it was just stuck on the back and the lack of windows, especially in the first story, um, like it's like a looks a little bit like a barn. I'm not an architect, so this is just my personal opinion. I understand the rationale that you explain the cost of adding windows and doors and you know it looks like if I understand plans correctly you walk through a stairwell upstairs you have a new bedroom and then downstairs is storage area so I understand why you have design meets all the regulations you know the the design guidelines so I don't see any reason to not support it um but I do think that if in the future you can add windows or or openings and try to make that, you know, make it less like varnish and more, you know, open. Um, I would encourage that. I don't have any reason to

Yeah, I think I can support those comments. Um, uh, but, uh, I didn't I found the design okay. Uh it um looking for the window openings now on the first floor here. Um uh you know, one thing to consider, I don't think it would be a a large um addition to the budget would be to put a door to the backyard in the bedroom. Um, and if you wanted to, you know, you could always have a deadbolt that remained closed if you didn't want that door used, but then for future use or for future homeowner, future owners of that house, uh, they would have access right to the outside. Um, I'd be in favor of that, but I don't really I don't think, um, yeah, I don't really have any other comments besides that. I I don't I don't I can't think of any conditions that I would put on the uh approval of the project. So that's it for me.

Hey, thank you. Um yeah, looking at I can definitely see there's the block with tower. Yeah, definitely keeping that as kind of a discreet item has saved costs on remodeling the rest of the house. There's the ration that kind of their smaller bedroom as a transition point upstairs although I I feel that doesn't integrate as well as it could old part and the new part above and maybe that could have been a little bit better integrated across the top nonetheless um you know I don't see a need to redesign it um you know and I see you know you make the point you want to make it work for your family and that's where you know we want people families to stay in Albany modeling and here happily with your kids um as far as yeah I can see the point about access to the back um on both sides but know for me it's even just more visual access nicer another window or you know maybe another window that's kind of the width of a for a potential door later. These are bigger for some other people. And you do have access to the backyard more through the office and then down some stairs in the back. Um so I mean I don't have any real issues with the project. Um similar the landscape plan should be developed better. I have a feeling. um stat. It didn't seem like it had enough detail per our guidelines.

Uh no, sorry, we're not taking public. Um the mirror will pull it up. So it doesn't have a lot of details. It's pretty and Mera is pulling it up. It is an extension essentially of what is there to allow I assume the children to have um play area maximize the play area for the children. We don't actually have standards for landscaping um or landscape plans besides that it's Willow compliant which is a condition of approval. I'm sorry that again. We don't have specific standards for landscape plans um that would make this either compliant or non-compliant. Okay.

If there we do we required a board developed landscape plan for

correct. So we don't have particular standards. So if that is something that the commission is willing to either condition on this project andor then we can then move forward with what we hear tonight for future projects as well. Um we can definitely do that or set that for a separate agenda item to discuss you know what should be included in the landscape plan because I think that would be helpful for staff as well as for the applicants as well as for for you all. Um but at this point we don't have specific uh specifications on what needs to be included besides uh the plant type and which they have.

Well okay I guess my only point is that I can't really tell from this that very well developed at all. Oh, I don't know if maybe just some more detail when the building permit is submitted and they're supposed to be at least identifying plants better. Maybe it's there. It's hard to Okay. Well, I'll leave that alone. Um

a question about that landscape plan. What about so the the setback on the on the bottom edge on the north side.

On the north side where there's the small setback you have your front vegetation, you have turf in the back with a little boundary and have your driveway. I'm um I'm gonna actually request if we can open the public hearing and have the property owner answer that question.

So So currently with that setback, it's about 3 feet from the fence and we've got um a couple trees that we had put in some tiny little trees. Um so what The ones in the front are going to stay, but we're probably going to have to take out a couple of the trees in the back that have only kind of been there a couple years. Um, and then the house is going to, you know, probably provide privacy to the neighbors. Um, or we there's already kind of an extension on the with the neighbor, uh, an extension on the the fence. And then we'll probably have I mean we'll probably re rellandscape you know, after the house and have some trees or bushes. There's like a lemon tree back there.

Um, but there is there's definitely room. There'd be like a three-foot walkway. Then I guess my only concern would be kind of putting stuff right up against the house and the foundation, which I've been told not to do. So, I don't know. I think the question was along the bottom edge there. There's a gravel strip. Yeah, the top. you know, you need that for access, I think.

Yes. Yes. Yes. Sorry about that. Okay. So, we talked with our neighbor about that. Um because on the on the other side, our other neighbor, there's um they've kind of taken um there's like a fence that they fenced off kind of the sideyard and our little access point. We've talked with our neighbor about that and they've suggested some kind of um lighter fence that we could grow vines through to provide some, you know, privacy here and there, but you know, if it needed to be removed, it could be removed. Um, so not kind of like uh we probably stopped the formal fence where it currently is uh which is kind of at the back end of the driveway and then some kind of modified fence with vegetation on it. Well, perhaps you could provide some details for that in uh submission for your building permit. Okay, that's about all I have then. Um, any other thoughts or Yeah, there is a way to get middle of the house. Yeah. Okay. Um, thoughts I mean the most of the additions in the back has very little impact on the street. I to live.

Yeah. Have a motion. Okay. Well, I can move uh planning application PA25-045 for 911 Evelyn Avenue. Move approval. Second. Second. Okay. vote. Yes. Yes.

I vote yes as well. So your project been approved. That is planning application PA25045 911 Avenue has been approved. There is a 14-day appeal period. If there are story pulls up, they should clean up that point. You're for a building permit. Thank you very much. that we will move on to item six, presentations. No presentations. Item seven, announcements.

As you can see, Commissioner Wadi has resigned from the Planning and Zoning Commission. Um, so unfortunate for us, but if you know anyone, we're still gathering applications for potential new commissioners. If you know anyone, please encourage them to apply. Experience is great, but interest is even better than experience, you know, and obviously time. So, do do you know if any applications have come in and how many? I don't know how many. I know it hasn't been overwhelming. Let's put it that way. But, um, I I I don't know how many. So,

okay. Thank you. And for this position in particular, we are looking not for a high school student um just due to the nature of the may I adjudicate work that you all do. So I know we did get some high school students, you know, the council member may choose to appoint one of them, but it's it's more of a position for for um permanent resident. Um other than that um just thank you for your work and happy holidays in the new year. We can bring back just a short study session on landscape plans because we do often struggle with it since we don't have set you know set plans. So that has been helpful in the past regarding say vinyl windows and every time um we do come forward with guidance on what we're looking for for exceptional design review and we could open it to other things other than landscape plans. Um I know um if there's anything else that you would like to see for exceptional design review other than that um we will have a more robust work plan but more immediately one of our first things will be to update our ADU ordinance. So we will be will be taking the lead on that. So that should be coming in spring and that would be the the first probably policy document that you'd be viewing.

Are the updates to conform to new state law or

yes new state law and we are going to be considering um we would like to move forward the ability to do um for sale of the ADUs um to encourage more middle housing. I'm not sure how many people will do it, but um I think it was that was passed right when we were doing the ADU update the last time. So, we didn't want to backtrack, but I think now we'd like to provide that opportunity to Albany residents for that. So, other than that, it will be mostly updates to state law, but that would be the one change that's more um discretionary, but allowable.

Okay. All right. Thank you. going to be okay. Yeah, man.

Yeah. What's our first meeting in January? [Music]

Can I ask a question about the work plan? probably wait for him. Okay. We officially don't have a meeting right now.

We don't have a meeting right now because it's gone. Yes. With with with a little bonus.

Yes. Well, it's not

had one question about the work plan. I was just curious if next year we have any plans to take a look at Golden Gate Fields, if there's been any action or if that's a council initiative. Um it isn't um we don't have it on our work plan and um very honestly it's it's at this point there you may know as much about any action moving forward. Um the last I heard and I I do not have a seat at the table is that the property owners are still trying to sell the property to the state and I don't know how that's going now that the state bought um point motti. Um that said, if there is any movement whatsoever, most definitely. Um we did have a study session, I think it was two years ago, maybe in fall, I don't think it was last fall. I do think it was two years in front of um the council to see if they wanted to move forward with any type of study in the in the interim. Um and there was not too much action from council at that time. So I think we're in a waiting pattern. I think uh our zoning code waterfront zoning

correct and that requires a not all we could do on our end and that requires a voter uh init ballot measure so we're it's a tricky situation so yep no so it says our next scheduled meeting is January 7th but I will let you know now that Just due to the holidays and vacation time, our next meeting will be on January 28th. So, correct. We don't have anything ready yet to notice and we have to send out notices. Correct. Two day three days after we back.

Yes. Okay. Well, if there's nothing else then I will call this meeting adjourned. Great. See you next year. Yes. And thank you all for what you do. Happy holidays. You'll have to show me how to open