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BREAK <br /> Mayor Hosterman called for a break at 8:07 p.m., and then reconvened the regular meeting at 8:17 <br /> p.m. <br /> MEETING OPEN TO THE PUBLIC <br /> 7. Public Comment— None <br /> PUBLIC HEARINGS AND OTHER MATTERS <br /> 8. Continued from January 17, 2012 - Public Hearing: P11-0709/P11-0717, Brian and Christine <br /> Bourg (Appellants); Dave Cunningham (Applicant) — Consider an appeal of a Planning <br /> Commission decision approving a Design Review to replace the approx. 482 sq. ft., single-story <br /> house at 205 Neal Street with an approximately 1,844 sq. ft. two-story residence and Variances <br /> to: (1) reduce the front yard setback from the required 23 feet to 20 feet to accommodate the new <br /> house; (2) allow one required off-street parking space to be located in the required front yard <br /> setback; and (3) allow tandem parking <br /> Community Development Director Brian Dolan gave the staff presentation, referring to a location map <br /> and briefly describing the subject site and details of the two residences. The proposal is to transform <br /> the small home at 205 Neal Street into a significantly larger home. It is one lot but sits at two different <br /> levels and from the street, but appears as if there are two lots. In considering the proposal, staff <br /> determined whether the small home had historic significance. As required by the Downtown Specific <br /> Plan (DSP), a professional consultant evaluated the site and, after review, concluded it did not. <br /> Therefore, policies as outlined in the DSP allowed the City to entertain transformation of the home. <br /> The application has a fairly significant history in terms of processing. Staff was first presented with a <br /> preliminary application in March 2009. The original home proposed was 1,200 square feet. In response <br /> to staff comments, 3 additional plans were presented at square footages of 1,752, 1,817, and 1,800, <br /> and in August 2011, staff received the first formal application. A revision on November 9, 2011 was <br /> submitted and the application which is currently before the Council was received on November 30, <br /> 2011. Staff has had some fairly significant revisions with this current application towards the end of the <br /> process, which he said will be described later in the report. <br /> Three variances are required in order for the City to approve the project; the first 2 relate to the parking <br /> situation. The house is proposed to have a single car garage included in the main house structure and <br /> it would then require the second space to be behind it on the driveway in a tandem type situation. While <br /> this is not allowed in the code; however, it is a condition that exists with great frequency in the <br /> downtown. <br /> The second variance required is because the City does not typically allow required parking to be in the <br /> front yard setback and this is what is proposed. <br /> Councilmember McGovern referred to the front yard setback being 20 feet. She said it looks as though <br /> there is a deck in front of the house and questioned if it was in the setback. Mr. Dolan said this is <br /> correct. Councilmember McGovern asked why the setback was not measured from the front of the <br /> porch. Mr. Dolan said there is a different setback requirement for a porch. He confirmed the distance <br /> from the deck to the sidewalk is 12 feet. The variance being requested is supposed to be 23 feet. The <br /> applicants are asking for 3 feet in the front. Councilmember McGovern voiced surprise with the porch <br /> not being counted as part of the house, and Mr. Dolan noted that porches are addressed differently. <br /> Vice Mayor Cook-Kallio questioned and confirmed that the setback allowance for the porch is 12 feet. <br /> Mr. Dolan added that the variance being requested is the difference between 20 feet to the house and <br /> the requirement of 23 feet. <br /> City Council Minutes Page 7 of 26 February 7,2012 <br />