CC Min 1997-01-27 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

I I I III Affidavits of mailing and publication of Notice of Hearing are on file in the City Clerk Department. '-- 1. Staff report; REPORT: Senior Planner Jany, January 27,1997 Senior Planner Jany presented the staff report giving an overview of the zoning process and how it regulates the granting of variances. He advised: "In order to grant variances ITom established Codes and Ordinances, there has to be a burden of proof that special or unique circumstances exist pertaining to the subject property and nowhere else, particularly not the neighboring lots." If it is not unique, then a precedent would be set and what was approved for the subject lot would then be acceptable for all similar lots in the City. "There cannot be a grant of special privilege. In this case the Zoning Administrator's actions must be consistent in support of past actions, policies and future direction for the City. There is also a fairness and parity issue, "" especially if one application has consequences over a multitude oflots, and is expected to fit whole neighborhoods. "The approval has to meet the rules of the Zoning Ordinance, the health, safety and welfare portion. That is the main concern here. We have to look at zoning, existing '-- land use and the general plan." Senior Planner Jany described the background of this variance application and said staff did a neighborhood analysis and looked at the location of similar conditions in Redwood City. "The neighborhood is primarily Single Family Residences and has some duplexes and a scattering of higher density apartments dating back to the 1960s. It is primarily a single family neighborhood." Senior Planner Jany said the application was denied, "not because of the design of the project, but rather because of the Findings." He said although adding to the housing stock, especially affordable housing, is always an extremely important consideration, the potential impacts and consequences of granting a variance for a triplex on this lot were unacceptable to staff. Planning Commission Chairman Bursak and Member Giannini told Jany they agreed that triplexes should not be allowed on 50- foot lots. (The Planning Commission and the Housing and Human Concerns Committee are studying how to increase housing in Redwood City.) Senior Planner Jany showed overheads and said there are currently 200 developable lots in Redwood City that do not require a variance. However, there are currently 89 parcels similar to the subject property that would require a variance, and those lots are ---- concentrated in three neighborhoods. 59% of them are in the subject neighborhood. REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTE BOOK NO. 55 JANUARY27,1997 MINUTES Page No. 109 PAGE 6