All right.

I think we're good.

Good evening, everyone.

Welcome to tonight's Planning Commission meeting for the City of Belmont.

Today is Tuesday, December 2nd.

It is 7 01, and we're going to get going.

I'm going to start with some preliminary instructions letting folks know how to participate and to provide public comment.

First of all, this meeting will be broadcast live to Belmont residents and beyond, presumably, on Comcast Cable 27.

It's also streamed live via the city's website at Belmont.gov.

And of course, the meeting is available over Zoom by clicking the link and following the instructions included in the agenda.

For public comment, members of the public can comment by submitting a speaker slip to our clerk here, and then commenting in chambers by stepping up to the lectern, and you'll have three minutes to comment.

And one can also comment over the Zoom app by again following the instructions set out in the agenda.

And lastly, if a public comment for a particular item is received before 4 p.m.

on our C dev uh email account, that uh comment will be considered for the item uh for which it's submitted.

And with those instructions, I think we will now turn to a roll call, please.

Okay, roll call.

Uh Commissioner Adam Kavich here.

Kramer?

Here.

Chair Coolidge?

Present.

Majeski?

Present.

Twig?

Yeah.

Jadala?

Here.

Thank you.

All present.

Great.

The full house.

Wonderful.

Item two, the Pledge of Allegiance.

Please rise and lead the pledge.

The flag is here.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

To the Republic or what does it say?

One nation.

Under God.

And invisible with liberty and justice for all.

Okay, thank you for that.

Moving to item three, this is our community forum portion of the agenda.

This portion of the meeting is reserved for persons wishing to address the commission on any uh matter within our purview, not on the agenda.

The period for public comment at this point is limited to a maximum of three minutes per speaker.

We'll first see if anyone is has submitted a speaker slip for this item in chambers.

No speaker slips or in-house speakers for this item.

Great.

Is there anyone on Zoom who'd like to speak as to item three or community forum?

No current raised hands.

Great.

And I'll ask uh Director Domella whether we receive any comments before 4 p.m.

today regarding this item.

We have not received any uh comments on this item, actually, nor for your public hearing items tonight as well.

Great.

Thank you for for that.

Uh that concludes uh excuse me, item three, our community forum.

And next on the agenda is uh uh commissioner announcements and agenda amendments.

Turn first on the dias to see if we have any announcements from the commissioners.

See shakes of heads, so no, and then I'll ask staff if we have any uh agenda amendments.

We have no uh no amendments for this this uh item tonight.

Great.

Uh our next item is item five.

Uh our consent business.

We have no items listed for this agenda item.

Uh so we'll move to item six, which is our study session.

Again, we have no items listed for this agenda item.

And we'll turn now to item seven, which is our public hearings portion of the agenda.

We have uh two items under um uh item seven.

We have first of all item seven A, which is a single family design review and tree removal permit for 1502 Escondido way.

Before turning to a staff presentation, I'll first ask if anyone of my colleagues has any reasons for recusal, any ex party communications or anything else to report.

Yes, thank you.

I'm within 500 feet, so I need to recruise myself.

Great.

Thank you for that.

Go ahead and step out of the room.

I guess we'll let uh let uh herno when it's ready to bring her back in for the next item.

So thank you.

Wonderful.

Thank you.

Anyone else?

Uh, I made a slight those of nothing else.

Sorry, not quite slight visit.

Okay.

Uh site visit only.

Uh nothing to report.

And I also have nothing to report.

Excellent.

So let's turn to Jeremy with a presentation.

Thank you so much.

Thank you, sir.

Hi, Commissioners.

This is for 1502 as conduit away.

For the proposal will be a complete ground floor addition of 1,077 square feet with the lot summary of 13,326 square feet, an average slip of 17.24.

Um, and due to the size of the lot, they have a maximum gross floor area of 3,999.

The existing home is proposed at 1,891, proposed to be 2,968, with the maximum being 3,999.

For the findings for the particular design review, the addition should be well designed, articulated, and consistent.

Um the public view should not be impacted, as well as uh the design should be compliant with the residential design guidelines criteria established by the city.

They are noted to have tree removal due to the project scope, uh, specifically for four trees.

I'll be later introduced.

And those findings is for the balance of criteria for supporting removal and criteria supporting retention in this staff report.

It discussed the removal portions outweighing the potential reasonings for retention.

And I shall get further into that.

But for the site plan, the required setbacks for this R1H single family lot is that they have a front setback of 25 feet, side dirt setback of seven, and a rear of 30.

The proposed setbacks located for this area is the front septic of 25, the sides being seven, and the rear being approximately 102 feet away from the property line.

As noted, all these setbacks have been met for this area and have been deemed to be meeting our standards of compliance.

For the landscape plan, they have proposed for four large cedar trees to be removed, uh specifically three incense cedars as well as one day OEDR.

The arguments for the removal is that they're needed to construct improvements that would otherwise allow or otherwise allow conforming use for the property.

Um, the proximity of the tree to the existing pro structures, specifically uh three of the trees are within the proposed structure's immediate adjacency, and one of the trees, while not in the immediate adjacency to the structure, is impeding the uh noted sewer lateral line that it's required for the house, and would need to be removed in order to have a complete replacement for that.

Um the arguments for retention is that it's for the aesthetic appeal.

However, four noted uh replacement trees of 15 inch gallon or 15 gallons uh would be replaced to the left and to the rear of the house, as noted here in the cloud.

For the front elevations, as you can see, it's a normal uh single story home with dashboard shingling and timbering on the sides for wood siding.

And it's going to maintain that concept but add some stucco to the sides as well as adding a new feature wall for the front in order to break up that material and maintain that same almost same composition for the roof.

Similarly for the rear of the elevations, you can see the glass siding doors.

Again, more of the wood siding.

And now for this instance, they are replacing the wood siding for steckos, as well as having new two uh new separated two sliding doors.

For the left elevation, you can see the proposed chimney as well as again the wood siding, but then going for again the stucco and wood siding combo uh to break up the materials, as well as adding more articulation due to how uh the additions were being made.

Similarly for the right elevation for the existing more wood siding and porches, but it's now going to have the location for the primary addition to the home, and it will be compositely made of the stucco as well as that wood louvere um wall that's noted in the front.

For the color and material board, I have a rendition that was uh provided by the architect.

Uh, however, do note that the tree that is noted in the redition will be removed.

Um, it is just there for um as deck purposes, and the material palette for this location would be composite gray shingling, uh the off-color gray slash green um stucco, as well as the accent uh of light oak wall cladding.

In conclusion, staff recommends for approval for both the single family design review as well as street removal.

Any questions?

We'll see if the applicant uh if the applicant is present, whether they wish to uh present, it's not required, but um that would be the opportunity for you to do so.

You can yeah, if you want to present, go ahead and step up here to the lectern and you can push the microphone.

Thank you.

Say your piece.

Uh hi folks.

Uh, my name is Gavin.

Uh I'm the house uh homeowner of 1502 as a getaway.

Uh we have uh my wife, Margaret, um uh my daughter uh Magnolia and uh our designer, our architect Jesse here.

Uh we just uh want to say thank you for for your reviews.

Uh we don't have any.

Yeah, it's we we just really like the neighborhood.

Uh you we bought the place uh knowing it only has uh two bedrooms, but we we really like the you know the Belmont and the neighborhood.

So we decided to uh expand it even though it's a lot of work.

Um but we are building the house for our next generation.

Uh I think it's it's gonna be worth it.

Uh we we also have uh like a uh we also have a five-month-old daughter who couldn't be here today.

But yeah, the house is ready for for both of them.

Um yeah, uh that's pretty much it.

Thank you for your for time and your reviews.

Great, thank you so much.

Appreciate it.

Alright.

Before opening the public hearing, I'll see if there's any questions uh from uh the commission.

Maybe we'll start here.

I had a quick question.

There was a as part of the community outreach, there was a conversation about the sidewalk at the front of the lot, and I know they the comment was to come back and start a discussion.

So, what was the outcome of it?

Because it looks it looks like it's still there, right?

The out of the sidewalk.

For public works, as they have a condition of approval, um, I can't really speak much to the requirements, but I do note that public works have received their um exemption process, but right now it's just a condition of approval until otherwise stated um by that uh agency.

They are in discussion in regards to whether or not they would be truly required for it.

But okay, but the general plan is that each new application provides this section of sidewalk so that we're eventually providing sidewalk throughout Belmont.

Right?

Is that is that?

That is correct.

They we do have the sidewalk and stillation policy.

Um there are ways to exempt yourself from said sidewalk insulation policy, however, they would have to talk with the call public works officials for it.

Correct.

Okay, so so there are certain streets that might not be required to, but it would be done.

I'm more kind of uh curious whether it's done this piecemeal way, like they kind of nodded towards a different application that didn't on their street.

And is this something that's like a connected part of the story?

Like would it just be the whole street and that this would be flagged somewhere, or are we gonna find um over time odd sections of sidewalk that don't connect?

Certainly, there are opportunities to connect and um fix gaps where there's like a uh let's say there are seven homes that have sidewalk and this is the one that doesn't.

Trying to fill in that gap and create the consistency is the goal.

But there are certain streets where we have the sidewalk policy where you look at the street itself and say, you know, there isn't much sidewalk there to uh have, so then the city then works with the property owner to say that this is something that's not not needed or not required, or a deferred uh um uh issue until the street gets fully.

So it's something that could be deferred and captured later, but it's sort of a street by street decision, but it's kind of a holistic approach, the whole street.

Um, yes, it's a holistic approach.

Yes, we have a policy.

Certainly it needs some work, but it's what's the type of policy that we have now to try and address the issue of creating gaps and fixes.

Um we have many, many instances of of of properties and uh property owners that work with our public works department then to have that issue um cleared.

Okay, so it's marked the uh sidewalk will be provided, but it might not necessarily be once it goes through public works.

Correct?

Yes, that is correct.

Um currently it's just issued as a standard condition.

However, um they do have the process of getting the seeking exemption afterwards during the building permit process.

Oh okay, thank you.

That answered my question.

Right.

Thank you.

Great.

Sir, no questions?

No questions.

Yeah, if you're gonna respond, you can please step up to the lecture.

And could you just introduce yourself?

Uh hi everyone.

This is Jassy.

I'm the architect of the podja.

And then just um answering to that question regarding the sidewalk, we um check with the public works and then we do include a section of the sidewalk that is compliant to the public requirement of um basically piecemealing that um uh when the podja is um more than 50% of the um existing um area.

But uh the based on the interest of the homeowner and then everything, we are also in the process of trying to basically uh waive that condition if that is applicable, because we don't see any sidewalk in the ascondido way right now as an existing condition.

It just basically has um a gutter around it basically has a drain to the the edge of the sidewalk.

So there's no sidewalk in the ascondido way.

And then if we put a new sidewalk there, we understand the like voting that time over the time is probably probably gonna create a continued sidewalk.

But for this project specifically, we wanna understand if we can waive that um just for the consistency of the of the look.

So that will be one of the questions that we have for today.

Great.

That's and that's a question again for public works, exactly.

Um it's a condition of approval if if it's exempt, it's exempt.

If it's not exempt, then it'll be required.

So that's a later conversation.

We have many, many instances of this improvement being deferred to a later date.

If other instances of sidewalk get established and then the applicant would then be required to do so.

But um again, it is a policy that certainly needs work, but we have a standard condition of approval that we do have from our public works department that we levy with all of these projects.

But again, yes, they are gonna work with our public works department on the fix.

Thank you.

I had one question.

Um, one of the trees being removed is to accommodate the sewer lateral.

Um is there only one location where that lateral can be installed?

Uh at least proposed, um, that is where the current uh serilateral portions are.

And the reasoning for is that already with the three other trees, they also technically already impede the sewer lateral connection around that same point for area.

Um, and it was just for consistency purposes that made more sense to continue the line versus reinstating said line somewhere else for a different location.

They may have other unforeseen impacts.

Okay.

Uh I just had a question.

Um, not so much to uh affect this project, but just this is one of the only lots I think I've seen since I became a commissioner where there's a a creek um fronting.

Um and I don't see anything, I'm just curious about our design standards for that.

For example, you mentioned the setback from the lot line is 30 feet, but there's a creek.

So are there additional requirements or setbacks based around like waterways?

Uh yes.

So for the creek particularly, um, it's more subject to the public or to the public works um for their review portions.

However, we do require to have approximately I believe 50 feet away um from that portion, in which case this project is able to.

Yeah, it's fully as a hundred and two, there's no problem.

I'm just curious because you didn't mention it at all.

Oh, yes.

But that so there is a a limit based on the the creek as well.

Yeah, and similarly under the um conditional the project conditions, um, I didn't say anything about particularly um, I don't know, any any more than usual like erosion control, for example, given that again the property uh would flow into a a creek if there if erosion control wasn't done in a certain way.

So again, it sounds like that's not I just see our standard conditions there.

I didn't see any particular condition because of uh a creek on the property or backing on the property.

At least for that portion, I I believe they determine it's based off the grading portion for the erosion control, at least for the creeks.

Um public works deemed as not needing that particular um requirements for creating condition approval.

Okay, thanks.

Yeah, I'm mostly just asking for my own information because it just hasn't come up in the past years before.

Thanks.

There's a general um condition number 21.

Is it kind of a general uh condition that requires protection of sensitive areas including wetland repairing areas and minimizing changes to the natural topography?

Yeah, we also have condition 19, works on grading and drainage as well.

So didn't see anything that's specifically acknowledged.

It just says like number 19 is just sort of standard.

Yeah.

Um, but I just wonder if there were anything that sounds like not, so thank you.

Can I ask a follow-up question?

So there's nothing that requires any approval from like the Army Corps or any other kind of state agency.

Like the the construction does not kind of in any way impact it to that degree, or if they were within 50 feet, then they would have to seek for the Army Corps as well as the uh state agencies for that portions.

Um but as this is currently right now not expanding further past the current home uh base um for the additions, it was deemed to not need it as it's already ri technically reduced further back.

Understood.

Thank you.

Thanks.

Any further questions before we open the public hearing?

Okay.

Seeing now let's open the public hearing.

We'll start with uh anyone in chambers who wishes to submit a comment.

Um no speakers in-house.

Great.

Is anyone on Zoom who'd like to comment on item 7a?

Currently no raised hands on Zoom.

Great, and as we were told, uh at the outset, we don't have any comments regarding this item that we received before 4 p.m.

today on the C dev email.

Right, and we still haven't received any comments in the last 15 minutes.

So we're great.

We are completely up to date.

Amazing.

Um so with that, uh, we will I will close the public hearing and uh turn to commissioner deliberations.

Would anyone like to start?

I can start.

Thank you.

Thorough report.

Uh good questions from my uh colleagues up here.

I can uh fully make the findings.

Anyone else wish to comment?

If not, we can.

Um sure, yeah.

Um having done some construction in Belmont, I know that our conditions of approval are pretty thorough in terms of protecting soil from normal construction uh becoming an erosion issue, especially when you get above a certain volume of soil.

Um it looks like we are staying away from the creek pretty far and not doing anything that will unpack that.

I feel comfortable in that way.

Um yeah, not hearing anything from the public to resist this project.

I could make the findings.

Great.

Thank you.

Oh, and thank you for a great presentation.

Great.

There's nothing further.

We can entertain a motion, I think.

All right.

I'll offer a resolution of the planning commission of the city of Belmont approving a single family design review and true removal removal permit at 1502 escondido away.

Application number 2025-0043.

Thank you.

I'll second.

Okay.

We have a motion and a second.

Let's take a vote, please.

Okay, Commissioner Adam Kavich.

Aye.

Framer?

Aye.

Chair Coolich?

Aye.

Majeski?

Aye.

Twig.

I okay.

Motion passes five-zero with one recusal uh for 1502 escondido away, single-family design review, and tree removal permit.

Great.

Thank you so much.

Thank you, staff, for the presentation, and congratulations to you all.

Uh good luck with your project.

And this item is appealable within 10 calendar days.

Yeah.

Great.

And thanks for bringing your daughter down too.

That's cool.

Yeah.

I will go get Commissioner Janella for the next item.

Thank you.

Okay.

Congrats.

Bye thing, Ngolia.

You're done.

You can say if you want.

You don't have to get a ego.

Thanks.

I don't think I never been on that street before.

That's good.

Is it great?

Great street.

Rather than Chula Vista all the time.

Yeah.

Just make a little detour.

It's beautiful.

If you don't want to make it.

Well, I guess it doesn't go anywhere.

Okay.

That concludes item 7A.

We're now on to item 7B, which is a single family design review at 1140 Academy Avenue.

And again, we'll start with any uh commissioner recusals, uh ex-party communications or other uh reports.

Site visit, site visit.

Uh site visit.

I have nothing to report, uh just the site visit.

Site visit.

Great.

Planner Ruiz, take it away.

Hi again, Commissioners.

This is for 1140 Academy Avenue.

For the proposal, there will be a ground floor edition of 697 square feet, and it should say not garage.

It should say second story edition of 303 square feet for a total of 1,000 square feet.

For the lot summary, it will be for a lot size of 6,050 square feet with a slope of 14.16, which gives a floor area ratio of 0.516.

Their noted max gross floor area will be no more than 3,122 per the lot size and floor area ratio.

The existing home size is 1,707.

The proposed being 3,472.

That is incorrect.

The proposed will be 2,777 with a maximum of 3,122.

For the findings for the design review, uh the design is should be well designed, articulated, and consistent, with public views not being impacted and compliant with the residential design guidelines and criteria.

And you can note and the blue where the areas of the additions will be occurring.

For the front elevations, you can currently see a basic design of a already existing second story that leans to the left side and just general stucco.

And then for the front elevation proposed, it'll be going into a more woodside cladding combined with the uh gray stucca or grayish-blue tinted stucco with a stone veneer on the um bottom.

Similarly for the right elevations, you can see the uh portions of the uh home for the rear at the decks, and now going into more in depth with more window access and then sliding doors, maintaining again a new created deck, as well as having an upper story balcony for that new uh master bedroom again for the left elevation.

Um, it is more uh again just a blank gray wall, um, but then adding more articulation.

Uh you can see that the portions of the existing second store have been pushed back uh for the new addition, as well as adding more of the again smaller windows to uh break up the current space as well as to add the light, and then further right elevation or right elevation propos uh existing and then right elevation proposed.

Similar concept.

For the existing color and materials board, um, they'll be proposing for a light gray stucco with a smooth finish, horizontal fiber cement plaster, and then again noted for the ledge stone for the uh stone veneer at the bottom.

Uh dark gray trims as well as a again more dark gray window and doors with fiberglass.

In conclusion, staff recommends for approval.

Great.

Thank you so much.

Um if the applicant is present, this is an opportunity for that person to uh present.

Good evening.

Hi, um, I'm Stephanie Perry.

I'm the homeowner.

Um, and I'm here with Justin Davidson, who's our architect.

Great.

Um, and I'm representing the whole family.

Um, my husband's um at home with our two kids.

Uh we have a daughter at Ralston and another one at Central.

Um we're working on this remodel to accommodate our growing family and as the kids get older.

So thank you so much.

And also thank you to just Jeremy, who's been incredible and super helpful as I've had many questions along the way.

So thank you.

That's great to hear.

Thank you.

Okay.

Any questions from the commission?

We'll start over here, Commissioner Adam Kevich.

No, no questions.

Thanks.

I have one question, just for my own curiosity.

Where's the entrance to the ADU?

I couldn't figure out how you gain access to it.

I know that's not in front of us, but it'll be at the bottom rear portions, where they will be, I believe, around this sliding door, but I will leave it up to the applicant to provide further introductions for it.

So if you could sorry, that's a bit of formality, but so we can folks on Zoom and so the record is clear.

So regarding the ADU entrance, we're proposing it on the side side of the existing uh house.

I did not have a chance to update that.

I think um Jeremy set there, but it'll be a uh normal swing door and entered around the side side uh setback area.

So I was just curious.

Thank you.

Thank you.

That's it.

I think I'm all good.

Good.

Commissioner Twig, you okay?

No, no questions.

Okay.

No questions.

Okay, and I have no questions either.

So I think we'll uh now open the public hearing.

Um this is an opportunity to comment on item 7B, and we'll start with anyone in chambers who wishes to comment.

I don't see anyone here aside from the applicant and the architect.

So no speakers lips in house.

Right.

Anyone on Zoom uh wishing to comment for this item 7B?

Um no raised hands.

Okay, and I think we've already exhausted the uh the uh C dev well, so and nothing in the last 10 minutes.

Okay, good.

We are up to date, if nothing if not up to date.

All right.

Um so seeing there's no public comment, we can now close the public hearing and turn to Commissioner Deliberations.

Would anyone like to uh start deliberation or propose a motion?

I guess I can just say I think the design looks really pleasant and and nice, and I can make the findings.

Great, thank you.

I could make a motion if no one else has discussion.

Um so I'd like to uh make the findings, move um approve the single family design review at 1140 Academy Avenue application number 2025-0046.

Also, okay.

Um Commissioner Adam Kevich.

Aye, Kramer?

Aye, Chair Coolidge?

Aye, Majeski?

Aye.

Twig.

Aye.

Jadala, aye.

Okay, motion passes six zero for eleven forty Academy Avenue, single family design review.

Wonderful.

Congratulations on the and good luck with the project.

Uh have a great evening.

Thank you, Planet Ruiz, for the presentation.

Uh, and this matter is appealable within 10 calendar days.

So that concludes uh the public hearing portion of our agenda.

Uh and we are left with uh item eight, which is other business and updates.

I'll turn to staff to see if there's anything on that item.

Yes, just a few quick items.

Um next Tuesday, the council's final meeting of the year, December 9th.

Um it's kind of our pomp and circumstance, really kind of a feel-good meeting where you'll have the appointment of vice mayor and the intergovernmental assignments for the calendar 2026.

Lots of uh awards are also given as well.

Um, and that's their only business for the balance of the year.

They'll pick it back up in January.

Um if we're talking about the commission and your next meeting, uh, December 16th.

I believe we were gonna have at least one single family design review for that meeting, Jeremy, who's really got a hold on that seat there.

Um, he'll be presenting that item.

And then uh we actually also are gonna bring the minutes of your November 4th Planning commission meeting to the commission.

It's important for us to get them adopted because it does include the Charles Armstrong item, which was a study session item that was before the commission, and then the council took it up in that same format last Tuesday.

So we are still slated for public hearing, and we're not going to get into it because it's not agendized, but it is still slated for planning commission review of all of their entitlements at your January 6th meeting.

So really hope we could get a solid commission attendance for that meeting.

So other than that, I'll save my like thank yous for a great year for the next meeting, but I could always thank you for how awesome you are and how great it's been to work with you this year.

And I think I'll I'll stop right there.

Happy holidays.

The feeling is mutual, so thank you.

At 7.33.

Wonderful.

Thanks all.