Commission approves Pointe Dume house with pool; staff adds pesticide ban and construction‑management condition

Planning staff recommended and the commission adopted Planning Commission Resolution No. 25‑47 on May 5 to approve a Coastal Development Permit for a new single‑family residence, pool, pool cabana and on‑site wastewater treatment system at 6672 Zumarez Drive in the Pointe Dume neighborhood.

Renika (staff planner) told commissioners the site is an infill parcel of roughly one acre, sited on slopes that are under the city’s ESHA slope threshold where the development is proposed. She clarified a detail in the staff report: “That area is not a basement because the floor to ceiling height does not exceed 6 feet. So I've requalified that area to be a subfloor mechanical area,” she said, describing adjustments to the plan notation.

After publishing the staff report, Renika said staff identified two conditions to add to the draft resolution: a new Condition No. 30 that prohibits the use of pesticides and certain rodenticides on the property, and a Condition No. 45 that requires submission of a construction management plan before permits are issued, because of substantial concurrent construction on Zumeris Drive.

Neighbors and commenters raised lighting and traffic issues. Ryan, a commenter who identified himself as familiar with the city’s dark‑sky work, asked the commission to clarify condition language on motion‑activated exterior lighting and recommended specifying correlated color temperature (Kelvin) limits so property owners have clear, enforceable conditions until municipal code language is cleaned up. Renika said the project is already required to comply with the city’s dark‑sky ordinance, and commissioners discussed whether more explicit language in the resolution would be helpful.

Several commissioners asked detailed questions about the pool and septic systems because the parcel sits near mapped wetlands and an ASBS (Area of Special Biological Significance). Renika and staff pointed to conditions in the draft approval (conditions 63–67) requiring pool drainage controls, leak detection and other measures; staff explained the on‑site wastewater system includes monitoring that notifies the city if the system fails and does not rely on power to function.

Applicant Lester (presenting for the project) and a consulting architect explained the project includes a one‑story house of just over 4,000 square feet, a detached garage and cabana, and pool equipment; story poles were posted and staff reported one written neighbor comment about reduced setback concerns that staff addressed by noting existing vegetation that provides screening.

Motion and vote: A commissioner moved approval and another seconded. Roll call votes were recorded as yes from Commissioner Kamens, Commissioner Riddick, and Vice Chair Leonard; the motion carried and the resolution was adopted.

Why it matters: the commission approved a substantial new residence with a pool and on‑site wastewater treatment system near environmentally sensitive areas and added two staff‑proposed conditions: a pesticide/rodenticide prohibition and a construction‑management plan requirement prior to permit issuance. Commissioners also flagged dark‑sky compliance and pool/septic safeguards for post‑permit enforcement.

Next steps: the applicant will move to plan check and building permits, subject to the added conditions and the suite of standard conditions (including dark‑sky, drainage and pool monitoring requirements) enumerated in the adopted resolution.