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BACKGROUND <br /> On January 26, 2015, the applicants submitted an Administrative Design Review (ADR) <br /> application to: (1) construct an approximately 297 square-foot single-story addition with an <br /> open-sided second-floor balcony on the rear of the residence; (2) construct an approximately <br /> 558 square-foot second-floor addition above the garage on the east side of the residence; (3) <br /> install five new dormer windows; (4) install a new roof over the front porch; and (5) install new <br /> second-floor windows and doors. After the ADR public notice was sent, Jamison and Elizabeth <br /> Cummings (5204 Hummingbird Road) contacted staff and indicated that they had concerns <br /> regarding the subject proposal and the potential impacts to their home (Exhibit C). A primary <br /> concern expressed by the Cummings was that the second-floor balcony would enable views <br /> into their bedroom and backyard/swimming pool area. Staff asked the Cummings whether a <br /> new vegetative screen in combination with the existing on-site tree/foliage would satisfy their <br /> privacy concerns. The Cummings initially indicated they would reluctantly entertain this <br /> suggestion, but preferred the second-floor balcony to be removed completely from the project <br /> scope. Subsequently, the Cummings requested a Zoning Administrator Hearing to discuss the <br /> issue and potential solutions further with staff and the applicants. <br /> On March 10, 2015, a Zoning Administrator hearing was held on the subject proposal. The <br /> hearing was attended by Jamison Cummings and the property owner Zarina Kiziloglu (please <br /> refer to Exhibit E for meeting minutes). At the hearing, the Zoning Administrator asked Mr. <br /> Cummings whether a new vegetative screen, a reduction in the width and depth of the second- <br /> floor balcony, and/or increasing the height of the western balcony wall would adequately <br /> address the view concerns. Mr. Cummings generally rejected those options as presented, <br /> expressing concerns that a vegetative screen would deposit organic matter in his yard and <br /> would not function effectively at blocking views, among other issues. Mr. Cummings preferred <br /> that the proposed second-floor balcony be removed completely from the scope of work. After <br /> discussion with all parties and review of the proposed plans in the context of the project site <br /> and surrounding neighborhood, the Zoning Administrator approved the project, including a <br /> requirement that trees be planted to create a vegetative screen between the subject parcel and <br /> the Cummings parcel to block views from the balcony to the pool Because the Zoning <br /> Administrator believed that reasonable mitigation was required of the project to address <br /> privacy concerns, the application was approved with conditions as shown in the Zoning <br /> Administrator's Approval Letter dated "March 10, 2015" within Exhibit A. <br /> Between March 10 and March 23, 2015, staff worked with the applicants and the Cummings to <br /> craft mitigation that would be acceptable to both parties. This task included identifying a <br /> species of tree for the vegetative screen that would not drop a substantial amount of organic <br /> material or have invasive root systems so as to not negatively affect the Cummings swimming <br /> pool or irrigation system, evaluating potential alternative locations within the applicants' yard to <br /> plant a single larger tree, such as a camphor tree, as opposed to several trees along the <br /> fenceline to accomplish a vegetative screen, and adding a restrictive covenant giving the <br /> Cummings the exclusive right to enforce maintenance of the vegetative screen and fence, <br /> based on parameters established by staff. These measures/conditions were all rejected by the <br /> Cummings. <br /> P15-0037, Kiziloglu Addition Planning Commission <br /> 2 of 11 <br />