Commission continues contested second‑driveway and variance request at 800 Corte Madera Avenue to May 27

The Corte Madera Planning Commission on April 8 continued a decision on a design review and variance application (PL24‑0048 / PL25‑0016) for a proposed second driveway at 800 Corte Madera Avenue to the commission's May 27 meeting after extended public comment and commissioner questions.

Martha (staff planner) told commissioners the application proposes a northern driveway intended to enhance emergency egress and fire‑department access and would include retaining walls up to about 12 feet 5 inches, grading, drainage, lighting and a gated entry. "The primary purpose of the proposed driveway is to enhance emergency egress and to improve access for the fire department," Martha said.

Staff reported the 11.38‑acre property is zoned R‑1‑C (open residential) and sits within the hillside land capacity overlay and the Wildland‑Urban Interface. The site is steep (average slope ~52 percent) and adjacent to open space. The project would add about 2,300 square feet of impervious surface (increasing lot coverage to roughly 4 percent) because areas of fill exceeding 3 feet count toward lot coverage under the town's design review rules. The grading plan shows approximately 370 cubic yards of cut…