Parks, Recreation & Open Space Commission - Regular Meeting

one. It's 7 o'clock, so I will call this meeting to order. And I will start with the and acknowledgement. The city of Albany recognizes that we occupy the land originally protected by the Confederated villages of Lishan. 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. Thank them for their contributions which have transformed our community will continue to bring forth growth and unity. The 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, uh, we can go to roll call.

Yes. Commissioner Mowen here. Commissioner Pearson here. Commissioner Pelch, present. Commissioner Wy present. And Chair Mloud present. Uh, item number two, exparte communications. Have there been any regarding any agenda items?

None. We'll move on to item three, consent calendar. Does anyone wish to pull this item from the consent calendar? It is only the approval of the minutes from September 10th, 2025. Or any member of the public wish to pull this from the consent calendar. There's no one here in the room, so if you're online, please please use the raise a hand icon if you wish to speak on the consent calendar and or pull it. No. Okay. Seeing none. Um, anyone to motion? I'll move the consent calendar. Second.

Second. And with that, we can go to the vote. Mman, yes. Commissioner Pearson, yes. Milch, yes. Yes.

Vote yes as well. That has been approved. Uh, now we'll move on to public comment. Item four, persons desiring to address the commission on an item that is not on the agenda. Please note that city policy limits each speaker three minutes and 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. Uh there's no one in the room. So, if anyone online would like to make a public comment for the good of the city, please raise your hand. And seeing no hands raised, we will close item four and move on to item five. 5-1, planning application PA25-037, 1,6 Ventura Avenue. Design review and use permit request construct an approximately 748 square foot two-story edition. and staff. Do you have a presentation for us?

Yes, we do, Chair. Um, so good evening, commissioners and members of the public. My name is Mayor Han, associate planner with the city. Uh, tonight I'm here to present item 5-1, uh, use permit and design review application PA25037 at 106 Ventura Avenue. So the project site, as you can see here, is located on the west side of Ventura Avenue between Sonoma Avenue to the north and Beverly Place and Posen Avenue to the south. The 3,620 ft downward sloping lot, as you can see there on that um kind of like uh detail of the elevation, is developed with an approximately 1,67 square ft, two-bedroom, one bath, singlestory home with a basement constructed in the bungalow style in 1928. The property has a 7 foot2inch wide driveway on the left south side of the property and a 186qt rear deck. So the project proposes, as a chair mentioned, to construct a two-story 754t addition at the rear of the property. So the project requires excavating the existing basement and extending the existing main level and basement towards the rear because the addition extends the existing non-conforming 2 foot 4 in right north side yard setback where a 3 foot 6 in setback is required. The project requires a use permit. The lower level addition would accommodate a new bedroom, bath, laundry room, and closet. The upper level construction consists of an L-shaped addition as you can see there in the orange and a 261 square foot rooftop deck um there uh in light blue. The L-shaped upper level addition would be recessed from the rear facade

of the lower level by 11t 11 in on the left side and by 8t 9 in on the right. This upper level addition would accommodate a breakfast nook with vated ceiling on the left north side and a stairway on the right south side. The plans include a 261 square foot roof deck which is flush with the proposed lower level and includes a fire rated parapit wall on the right north side. We'll take a look at the elevations shortly. The project results in a 1,821 square foot three-bedroom, two- bath, two-story single family residence. No changes are proposed at the front facade. All right. So the elevations as you can see the front elevation um stays the same. Proposed addition does not propo uh does not include any changes as I said and is significantly recessed from the front facade. Uh the addition extends the existing home as we mentioned towards the rear and does not physically raise the roof ridge. Um, in terms of privacy, the proposed windows on the right south side are located 7 feet 6 in from the lot line and provide light into the stairwell and lower level bedroom. The applicant is open, however, to obscure in the glass at the stairwell if privacy concerns arise. The lower and upper level windows at the rear facade are located 21 feet and 29 ft respectively from the rear property line. No windows are proposed on on the right north side because it's it would be too closed and not complying with building code. Um the roof deck is located again 6 ft 6 in from the right side property line and more than 21 ft from the rear lot line. It includes a fire rated parapit wall on the left north side which reduces further reduces potential privacy concerns for the residents and nextdoor neighbors.

Um so as we mentioned before the project does not physically raise the existing roof reach. However as you can see on the left side due to the downward uh slope of the lot to the rear the overall height dimension of the home increases uh from 19 and 1/2 ft to 20 ft and 4.75 in. Um, in terms of design, moving to to that, um, the proposed scope of work retains the existing front facade, as we said, which features an arched cover porch, windows with divided lights, and a saltbox roof with asymmetrical gables. Uh, the design creates a variation of planes at the rear edition by recessing the L-shaped, as we said, upper level addition from the rear facade of the lower level. A lower gable roof is proposed uh over the north side of the addition which mimics the pitch and eve style of the main roof. Um so the plans include details that overall reflect and complement the architectural style of the home such as asphalt composite roofs to match painted stucco fiberglass clad windows and doors and decking and metal rail railings at the rooftop deck. In terms of landscape, uh this per the city's residential design guidelines, projects exceeding 045 F must submit a detailed landscape plan. The project uh proposes to retain the existing shrubs uh at the front end to install a new lawn in the front yard and includes a new landscape, PA, patio, and plantings in the rear rear yard. In uh so staff has received one comment from the public regarding this project. Uh the commenters shared that they have met with the applicant about the possibility of adding some landscape between the addition and their property to reduce its visual impact. And um staff recommends that the planning and zoning commission review and approve the proposed project subject to the findings

and standard conditions of approval. With that, we conclude this presentation. Okay. Thank you very much for the presentation. Uh do any commissioners have any questions for staff about this project? Seeing none, uh, why don't we open it to public comment? There's anyone online who would like to comment on this project, please raise your hand.

Uh, yes. Hello, this is Gabriel Guerrero. Um, I am the architect and applicant for this project. I work with Curry Designs Architecture. Um, I just wanted to mention that we developed this project in close uh consultation with planning staff and just to ensure that uh we met and and met the Albany design guidelines. Prior to the meeting, we we met with the neighbors and provided them with printed plans for a view. Um the neighbor to the south at 10008 Ventur Avenue um had raised some concerns about parking availability during construction. Um, and in response, uh, Fred Zimberman, the owner, has committed to helping, uh, make sure those contractor vehicles won't be parking in front of, um, the neighbor's lot. Um, we also met with um on site with neighbors to the north at 10004 Ventur Avenue, both the owner owner and tenants, and they had expressed some concerns about shade impacts to the rear yard and the building and um the impacts to the root structure of a large palm tree in the yard um as well as potential view obstruction from their kitchen window. And to initially address those concerns, as a courtesy, we prepared some shadow studies and compared the existing and proposed structures during the winter solstice. Um, and you know, we can share those with you if you request. Um, at our follow-up meeting, um, the neighbor Aaron and property owner Fred reached an agreement on several sort of mitigation measures really to install some a bamboo hedge along the property line um to adjust the fence location and retain an arborist to protect the large existing palm tree. Um, and so we intend to incorporate those changes into our building permit

application. So, um, happy to field any other questions? Thank you. Okay. Thank you very much. Does anyone have any questions for the applicant architect? No. All right. No questions. Uh, are there any other public comment? Hands up. No. Okay. We will close public comment and move to commissioner discussion. Would anyone like to start? I can start. Okay. Please.

Now, I don't have too much to say except that I like the design and the project. I like that the facade has been maintained, that the addition is in the rear. It's great to hear that um the applicant work with the neighbors and figured out some of these issues themselves. I think that that's a that's a um just um alleviates issues that could come up later. So, appreciate that. And um yeah, I mean I don't have any issues extending the nonconformity and um I don't think it's a great project.

Okay, thank you. Anyone else? Jim Pilch.

Uh, sure. Yeah, I don't have much to say. I can um agree with those previous comments and say that I think the only reason this came to us is due to the use permit. Um and uh it seems like a [clears throat] perfectly valid uh reason to have a use permit to extend the um non-conforming setback and uh otherwise it's a great project and uh yeah the um applicant and owners have gone above and beyond what they need to do. So uh uh fully in support of this. Okay. Anyone else?

I'll just add that um yeah, the main issue for us is extending the non-conforming wall and at 2 foot4 is it? Um that's something we've approved on numerous occasions almost automatically due to Alb's small lots and you know hard to build without [laughter] you know non-conforming walls sometimes. So I fully support it. We've we've approved walls that are much much closer to the property line. So, that's fine. That's the major planning question. And I like the design and I'm I'd like to commend the applicants and owners for being proactive and meeting with the neighbors and addressing their issues and I'm sure that'll be a collaborative process as they go forward. So, I I would support this project as well. So, we have a motion. I can go ahead and u move planning application 25-037 uh that to approve the one 10,06 Venture Avenue uh changes.

Have a second. Second. Okay, let's vote. Commissioner Wadi I. Commissioner Pilt. Yes. Pearson. Yes. Mman, yes.

And I vote yes as well. That project has been approved 5 to zero. There is a 14-day appeal period. Uh I don't know if there are story polls up. If there are, they should stay up for the appeal period, the duration of that. And with that, your project has been approved. And we will move on to item 5-2, planning application PA25-036 1037 Curtis Street design review request to construct a 632 foot second story edition. And with that, staff us

report. Yes. So good good evening members of the public and commissioners. My name is Mayor Han again, associate planner with the city. I'm here to present item 5-2, design review application PA25-036 at 137 Curtis Street. Okay. So project location, we have uh a map there showing that the 30 3500 square foot subject lot is located on the east side of Curtis Street between Sonoma Avenue to the north and Frances Street to the south. Uh the lot is developed with a three-bedroom, two bath singlestory home of approximately 1,293 square ft constructed in the bungalow style in 1928. A 458 square foot deck and a 46 square foot shed are located at the rear. Um and a 7 foot 11 inch wide driveways on the right south side of the residence. The existing home has a non-conforming 2 foot 5 inch left north sideyard set back with 3 feet 6 in is required. So let's take a look at the site plan. The proposed project consists of a 632 square foot secondstory addition at the rear of the resident which is shown in light green here. The addition includes a 284 square ft roof deck at the rear which is shown in light blue set at top the existing lower level the area of which is shown in the red dotted line. So, I included a south elevation there just to kind of like compare um where that um second story would be located in relation to the first story as well as the roof deck. Okay. So, moving on to the elevations. Uh the seconds story addition as you can see there is set back approximately well it's considerably set back uh in this

case around 10 ft from both the existing front and rear facades as well as slightly inset on the left north side which helps it uh to comply with the required 3 foot 6 in minimum sideyard setback. So this project does not require a use permit. Uh it complies with the setbacks. The project would expand the existing residence to a four bedroomedroom two and a two and one halfb uh twotory single family dwelling with a maximum height of 27 feet and 9 in at the addition. In terms of oh I'm sorry in terms of privacy the windows at the rear of the addition are more than 39 feet from the rear lot line. um on the sides transom windows um are installed to allow light into the interior while providing privacy for the residents and neighbors. So um staff work with the applicant very closely to make sure that um you know of course a balance would be achieved in terms of you know having well-lit interiors while preserving privacy. Um and uh the plans also show an egress window on the left north side that faces the neighboring home um the neighboring home's roof and partially overlooks the neighboring kitchen window below. Now moving on to the design. As mentioned previously, the second story edition is is considerably set back uh from the front and rear facades and of course this creates helps create plane differentiation and reduced uh reduced massing at the resulting building. The design accentuates the front facade with a bay window on the second story uh addition. The roof deck at the rear further breaks up the massing and adds visual interest to the project. Uh the plans show also a mix of materials and

colors that you can see there. Uh they include shingled uh pitch roofs at the addition and bay window, painted stucco at the walls, uh wood siding at the bay window and gable walls, fiberglass clad windows, and wood decking and railings. The city's residential design guidelines, as we mentioned on the previous uh project, require that projects exceeding um 45 F submit a detailed landscape plan showing how it how it will enhance or enhances the home curve appeal. Um the project includes a landscape plan uh but does not and does not propose changes but does not include enough details to show how the landscape would meet the guidelines either the the existing or proposed landscape. Um staff has added an a condition of approval for the applicant um or has not added a condition of approval but has um added some language to an existing condition of approval uh so that the uh landscape plan includes improvements to the front yard as well as more details on the uh species. Um let's see. So moving on to the last one. So staff has not received comments from the public regarding this uh project. With that, staff recommends that the planning and zoning commission review and approve the proposed project subject to the findings and standard conditions of approval with uh the um added language to condition of approval 11 stating that the landscape plan shall include landscape improvements to the front yard and a complete list of plant species. With that, we conclude our presentation.

Okay. Thank you very much. Are there any questions for staff? I have one question. You go back to that design slide, building design slide. Um, in the proposed front that the um the slope of the existing roof is that on the the left hand the left image is that does that roof slope change from existing to new? No. Okay. No. Okay. I know. I could have checked that out. That's a good question. But yeah, I think it's just looking at the um tiles there or the roofing makes it look like it's so big and steep. Yeah.

Um was my only It's existing. Yeah. Existing slope. Okay. Thanks. Any other questions?

No. Uh we'll open it to public comment then. And if you're online, please raise your hand. Uh hello, this is Richard Weiss at 1034 Neielen and uh that house is in back of ours to the west uh caddy corner. It blocks a bit of our view, but of course there are no view regulations in Albany, but I think they did a pretty good job on both the exterior and the interior, and it's a modest addition. So it it It's okay with us.

Okay. Can you hear me? Uh, yes, we can hear you. Just listening. Oh, very good. Yes, that was our comment. Thank you.

Right. Thank you very much. Hi all, this is uh John Moss um one of the homeowners. Uh just wanted to say hi and thank you for your consideration here. Uh my wife Hannah and I have been Albany residents for about five years now. Uh we love the community. Uh we have a growing family. uh and want to stay um and just looking to add a little bit more space.

Okay, thank you very much. Other comments? Anyone else use the raise the hand icon? Okay, we will close public comment and move on to commissioner discussion. Anyone comments to start with?

Well, I'll just say um yeah, I appreciate the idea of improving our housing and making it more suitable for growing families. I think it's, you know, part of what we're here is to encourage really. So, um I don't have any issues with this project at all. I think it's a nice project. Um we'll be to support it. else has any comments? Make a motion. I can move planning application 25-036 1037 Curtis Street. Second. Seconded.

Okay. Commissioner Mullman did the second. Uh so let's vote. Commissioner Mullman. We'll vote now. Uh yes. Commissioner Pearson. Yes. Oops. Yes. I

I vote yes as well. That motion carries five to zero. Your project has been approved. There's a 14-day appeal period and you should leave up any all story polls until that period ends. Uh so that we will move on to item six, presentations. I have no idea if there are any. None. Item seven, announcements. Yeah, just a few announcements since we haven't met for a while. Just an update that the city council did pass the bike parking ordinance uh the bike parking standards as well as the guidelines in September. So, we did meet the deadline. So, yay. Thank you for your help on that one. Um, also the residential care and residential use changes were also passed by city council in October. We did pull the ADU portion of it because what was a cleanup amendment turned immediately out of date. So, we will be coming back. I I don't know if it's worthwhile, but we will be coming back to gather not just last year's amendments, but uh changes to state law, but this year there's also some new ones to uh state law. So, that will be upcoming in the in 2026. I wanted to give you an update on that. And though not directly related to the planning and zoning commission, more tangentially, the housing advisory commission has finished their work for this year and provided comments on the tenant protection um housing element program as well as the housing element program regarding feedback to our rent review program. Due to some comment we got from the public, we will be holding a study session at city council on December 1st and that should be at 6 pm. So if you're interested in attending as as a resident um or of Albany, that would be great to see you then. Um, so

it will just be one more chance for the public to have maybe a little bit more expanded time to express their views on the various aspects of tenant protections. And then we expect to bring that in the second meeting in January to city council and get their direction on whether they would like staff to pursue a local ordinance. Our announcements. Okay. Thank you. Um, and no other announcements. um on our part. So,

yeah, just um quickly the I believe Berkeley did end up upzzoning it's part of Solano Avenue. Uh so that's something we might want to keep in mind because I believe that's one of our programs to implement in our housing element is consider upzoning our part of Solano Avenue. So that's it. Okay, thank you very much. Um point well taken. There's still more work to do on our housing element. quite a lot I think. Uh, okay. And with that, I will call this meeting adjourned. And our next meeting will be Wednesday, December 10th at 7 p.m. That would probably be our last meeting of the year. I would think that is correct.

One more meeting. Okay. All right. Thank you everyone. Thank you. Good night.