AgdaPkt 2008-02-11 Clsd and Reg - Laserfiche WebLink

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. . . .. REPORT 8A Page 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To theH()norableM8.yorllndqityGp. ullcU <Frorn .theCityManager February 11, 2008 SUBJECT Appeal of an Architectural Permit denying a standing seam metal roof proposed for a single- family residential addition at 3705 Brandy Rock Way. RECOMMENDATION Uphold the decision of the Zoning Administrator and deny the appeal based on findings provided in Attachment 1. BACKGROUND Project History On May 7,2007, an Architectural Permit application was submitted to the Planning Services Division for a second story addition to an existing single-family dwelling located at 3705 Brandy Rock Way. With the exception of the proposed roofing material which was described as a "low profile" standing seam metal roof (SSMR), a preliminary review by Planning staff indicated that the proposed application would meet all the requirements ofthe Zoning Ordinance and design review objectives. Staff met with the applicant on several occasions to clarify the applicable City regulations and policies regarding SSMR's and to seek alternatives to the materials used for the project's roof. The project vicinity contains a predominance of ranch-style homes with traditional (small scale and textured) roofing materials such as composition, tile, shake or shingle roofs (Attachment 2). Staff further explained to the applicant that the City's current policies would not allow the approval of SSMR's because the appearance of such a large scale and non-textured roof system would make the proposed addition visually incompatible with other properties located in the Farm Hill Neighborhood. Although staff supported the applicant's direction towards the creation of an environmentally sustainable project, the proposed SSMR would be in conflict with the provisions of Article 45.8 of the Zoning ordinance (see Regulatory Context section below). The rationale for disallowing the subject SSMR was consequently based on the anticipated visual impact to the streetscape, longstanding City-wide policies disallowing the uses of SSMR's in single-family residential districts, as well as the precedent-causing and undesirable visual consequences to Redwood City's traditional neighborhoods, should the City not follow past practices. In order to move the application forward and because the construction of the proposed second story addition was not the issue, the applicants revised their plans by specifying a neighborhood-compatible 50-year composition roof (Attachment 3) and the Zoning Administrator subsequently issued an Architectural Permit on June 4,2007 (Attachment 4). On June 11, 2007, the applicant filed an appeal of the Zoning Administrator's approval for an Architectural Permit "Request for consideration of roofing material" (Attachment 5) on the basis that the proposed standing-seam metal roof would be more energy efficient, fire