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<br />construction of a detached or attached second unit outside of the building envelope on this lot <br />in this POD, staff foresees that prohibiting them in other similar PODs could become <br />problematic. Staff views the construction of any structure outside of a designated building <br />envelope as contrary to the mitigating effects of designating building envelopes on a lot-by- <br />lot basis to off-set the impacts of development on visually or otherwise sensitive sites. <br /> <br />IV. CONCLUSION <br /> <br />Although State law indicates that local jurisdictions cannot prevent the construction of second <br />units in residential zones outright, it does provide a list of criteria to which all second units <br />must adhere before they can be approved for construction. The law clearly states that the <br />construction of a second unit must conform to the zoning requirements of the residential <br />district in which the property is located. In situations where PODs govern the development <br />of the property, the development plan, conditions of approval, mitigation measures, etc. of <br />the POD are the zoning requirements of the property, in addition to any other applicable <br />zoning requirements. These POD requirements, therefore, must be met by any proposed <br />second unit on any portion of an area governed by the POD. In Mr. Raber's case, the <br />second unit must be constructed within the building envelope, since the POD states that "No <br />structure shall be constructed outside of the area shown on the development plan, Exhibit A, <br />as building envelo.,pe with the exception of open type fencing approved by the Planning <br />Division. " <br /> <br />Staff cannot concur with Mr. Raber that the building envelope on his property is unduly <br />restrictive and arbitrary. The size of the building envelope on his lot is almost triple the size <br />of the building envelope on the smaller, flatter lots nearer Foothill Road. In fact, the area of <br />the building envelope on his lot is substantially greater than the typical 6,500 square foot lot <br />common to medium-density residential subdivisions. (Since four second units recently have <br />been approved and constructed successfully [without variances] on lots within the R-I-6,500 <br />zoning district, it should be possible to construct a second unit within a large building <br />envelope.) Staff feels that the location of building envelopes in this POD are not arbitrary. <br />Building envelopes were located as much as possible to avoid the need for extensive grading <br />and vegetation removal to accommodate home construction and to reduce the visual impacts <br />of the development from off-site. In addition, building envelopes are located in areas which <br />can be accessed from the street by fire and emergency personnel. Also, building envelopes <br />generally are positioned in areas of less steep topography to avoid the risks of erosion and <br />landslides inherent with development of steep hillsides. <br /> <br />Staff feels that permitting Mr. Raber to construct a second unit outside of the indicated <br />building envelope will set a precedent within the numerous other PODs which utilize building <br />envelopes, rather than setbacks, to identify building sites. Staff feels that permitting <br />construction outside of the building envelope would violate the intent of the POD and the <br />measures included to mitigate the effects of development. <br /> <br />-7- <br />