PC 10/23/96 - Laserfiche WebLink

and 50 feet. Each unit has its own individual driveway at least 18 feet in length. The one access driveway for this project is at the intersection of Old Santa Rita Road and Santa Rita Road. A deceleration lane will be added to Santa Rita Road and the existing bus stop will be relocated to the north side of the driveway. . All units will be 26 feet in height, three-bedrooms, with 1550 sq. ft. of floor area. The buildings will feature a horizontal lap siding instead of stucco siding and a concrete tile roof. The site is zoned High Density Residential and the project has 11.3 units per acre which is consistent with the General Plan zoning designation. The developer has included rear building articulation features on those units backing onto Santa Rita Road. Staff is recommending the sidewalk on the east side of the driveway should be converted to landscaped area (per staff memo distributed at the Commission meeting). Staff feels the 23 visitor parking spaces as well as the two spaces per individual driveway provides more than adequate visitor parking. There are a few heritage trees on the property, and the applicant will be able to save two of these trees. Additional landscaping has been added along Santa Rita Road. The sycamore trees along Santa Rita will have to be removed for the relocation of the bus shelter, and staff is advising 36" box trees as replacements. The General Plan Update addressed discouraging the use of soundwalls. Therefore, staff looked at reducing the amount of soundwall in this project by using other design elements. Open wrought iron fencing is being proposed in places where the soundwall does not protect rear patio areas. Staff feels there are more areas where the soundwall could be further eliminated (Building 6, units 21 and 22 could be flipped as well as by Unit 1). . Staff recommends approval of this project, feels the project is in conformance with the General Plan and is a much better project than was originally approved in 1991. Chair Barker thought that in the case of high density areas, the use of soundwalls was necessary and permissible. She feels the intent of the elimination of soundwalls is being misinterpreted. Mr. Iserson advised that the only areas to be opened up visually are those areas that don't need to be protected from noise, Le., parking areas, driveways, etc. He clarified that the General Plan seeks to minimize the use of soundwalls. Chair Barker questioned the location of the tot lot and feels it is too close to Santa Rita Road. Staff noted that it will be completely fenced in. Commissioner Wright advised that in 1991 the Planning Commission changed the project totally, moving the tot lot, etc., and then the City Council reverted back to the original plan. Commissioner McGuirk clarified that the sideyard fencing actually connects to the soundwall. Staff concurred. General discussion ensued among the Commissioners clarifying Commissioner Wright's suggestion of cha1lgi~ the units around. . PUBLIC HEARING WAS OPENED Planning Commission MInutes Page 11 October 23, 1996