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working as a consulting Planner with the Planning Division for the past year on <br />implementing measures for both the Housing Element and the Climate Action Plan. <br />She noted that this is important work, particularly as implementing certain parts of the <br />new Housing Element will qualify the City for some streamlining review for its next <br />Housing Element that is coming up rapidly. <br />Ms. Diamond presented the staff report and described the scope and key elements of <br />the proposed Code Amendment. <br />Commissioner O'Connor inquired if the front yard setback area includes the driveway <br />between the curb and the garage door. <br />Ms. Diamond said yes. <br />Commissioner O'Connor further inquired if parking is then not allowed on the driveway <br />today. <br />Ms. Stern explained that a car can be parked there but it cannot be a designated <br />parking space; so any parking requirement would have to be met beyond the driveway. <br />Commissioner O'Connor requested confirmation that a two -car garage with a two -car <br />driveway that is available for parking would not count for three designated parking <br />spaces because the two in the driveway would not qualify as designated parking <br />spaces. <br />Ms. Diamond confirmed that that was correct. <br />Commissioner O'Connor noted that page 2 of Exhibit A shows that most of the existing <br />setbacks, other than for a 40,000- square -foot lot, are three feet and five feet. He <br />inquired if the setbacks are being increased to five feet and ten feet. <br />Ms. Diamond replied that that is true for most Class I accessory structures, but <br />detached second units are subject to different minimum setback requirements, as listed <br />at the bottom of page 5 of Exhibit A. <br />Commissioner O'Connor inquired why the setbacks for second units are being set at <br />five feet and ten feet, as opposed to three feet and five feet like all the others, if the <br />requirements for second unit are being relaxed. <br />Ms. Stern explained that the three -foot and five -foot setbacks assume that the structure <br />is not habitable, such as sheds and other types of units, as opposed to second units <br />which are habitable and potentially would have the windows open and some privacy <br />issues. She noted that these structures already have established setbacks that are <br />greater than the usual accessory structures. <br />PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, August 14, 2013 Page 11 of 17 <br />