Belmont Planning Commission Meeting - December 2, 2025
Belmont Planning Commission Meeting - December 2, 2025
This is the regular Planning Commission meeting for the City of Belmont, held on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at 7:01 PM. All six commissioners were present except Commissioner Jadala recused herself for the first item. The meeting included no consent calendar or study session items. Two public hearings were conducted: a single-family design review and tree removal permit at 1502 Escondido Way (approved 5-0) and a single-family design review at 1140 Academy Avenue (approved 6-0). No public comments were received on any agenda item. Staff provided updates on upcoming meetings.
Consent Calendar
- No items listed.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Community Forum: No members of the public spoke.
- Item 7A (1502 Escondido Way): No public comments in chambers or via Zoom.
- Item 7B (1140 Academy Avenue): No public comments in chambers or via Zoom.
Discussion Items
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Item 7A – Single Family Design Review & Tree Removal Permit (1502 Escondido Way): Staff presented a proposal for a 1,077 sq ft ground-floor addition to an existing 1,891 sq ft home on a 13,326 sq ft lot (slope 17.24%), resulting in a total of 2,968 sq ft (maximum allowed: 3,999 sq ft). Four trees (three incense cedars and one deodar cedar) were proposed for removal to accommodate the addition and a new sewer lateral. Staff recommended approval, noting compliance with setbacks and design guidelines. The homeowner/applicant, Gavin, and architect Jesse spoke in favor, highlighting their growing family. During commission deliberation, questions were raised about the city's sidewalk installation policy (a standard condition of approval, with potential exemption through Public Works) and the necessity of removing the tree impeding the sewer lateral. No public opposition was heard. Commissioner Jadala recused herself due to proximity to the property. A motion to approve the design review and tree removal permit passed 5-0.
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Item 7B – Single Family Design Review (1140 Academy Avenue): Staff presented a proposal for a 697 sq ft ground-floor addition and a 303 sq ft second-story addition (total 1,000 sq ft) to an existing 1,707 sq ft home on a 6,050 sq ft lot (slope 14.16%), resulting in a total of 2,777 sq ft (maximum allowed: 3,122 sq ft). Materials include light gray stucco, horizontal fiber cement plank, and stone veneer. The homeowner, Stephanie Perry, expressed gratitude and noted the remodel is for her growing family. A commissioner asked about the ADU entrance location (side of the house). Staff recommended approval. No public comments were received. The commission found the design well-articulated and consistent with guidelines. A motion to approve passed 6-0.
Key Outcomes
- Item 7A approved (5-0-1): Single-family design review and tree removal permit for 1502 Escondido Way (Application 2025-0043). Appeals may be filed within 10 calendar days.
- Item 7B approved (6-0): Single-family design review for 1140 Academy Avenue (Application 2025-0046). Appeals may be filed within 10 calendar days.
- Upcoming Meetings: Staff announced the final City Council meeting of the year on December 9, the next Planning Commission meeting on December 16 (including minutes adoption and a single-family design review), and a public hearing on entitlements for the Charles Armstrong project at the January 6, 2026 meeting.
Meeting Transcript
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.
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