Staff Hearing Officer Tess Harris granted a front‑yard modification to allow one bay of a detached three‑car garage at 231 Red Meadow Road to be used as storage, and approved a categorical CEQA exemption for the work, during the Oct. 1 Staff Hearing Officer meeting.

Kelly Brodersen, a planner with the Community Development Department, told the hearing that a building permit (recorded in the record as permit '20 242507) had been issued in 02/2023 and construction is underway for a 756‑square‑foot detached three‑car garage. Brodersen said the applicant now seeks to convert one bay of that garage to storage; because municipal code generally prohibits detached accessory buildings other than parking or ADUs in the front yard, the conversion triggered a front‑yard modification application. Brodersen said, "the request won't change the size or massing of the approved garage, and the materials will be, virtually the same aesthetically for the neighborhood," and recommended approval.

Harris asked the property owner and staff several questions about setbacks and permitted work. She identified a procedural concern, saying, "I will say the 1 concern I do have is that the project has come in, you know, basically every year with some changes and going from a garage to an ADU and then the the garage to storage... just kind of wanting to raise that as a as a little bit of a concern... not necessarily from a staff standpoint, but just kinda wanting to understand from a property owner standpoint." The property owner replied that the other additions to the dwelling had been previously permitted under a separate remodel permit.

Brodersen confirmed the requested change would not alter the garage's footprint or massing and that constructing a separate storage building outside the front yard would add structures on the lot; staff recommended the application be found consistent with the general purposes of the zoning ordinance. Harris approved the modification and said the decision is appealable to the Planning Commission within 10 calendar days and can be suspended by a Planning Commission member within that same period. The project will next proceed to building review.