Fairfax planning panel approves most work at 2 Inyo Ave., denies planter approval after neighbors raise safety and setback concerns

The Fairfax Planning Commission on May 15 approved a conditional use permit and associated variances to legalize several existing and under‑construction elements at 2 Inyo Avenue — including a stairway, an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) previously finalized without the correct water entitlement, an approximately 104‑square‑foot addition and a relocated storage shed — but withheld approval for a raised wooden planter that encroaches into the required side‑yard setback.

The decision matters to neighbors around Inyo Avenue, who testified that the planter and a relocated shed could create fire and safety risks, and to the property owner, who told the commission the work was done to improve safety and make the house more functional.

Staff described the project as a combination of legalization and modest additions: code‑compliant access improvements, a hot‑tub pad, an art water feature with a cistern at the lowest part of the backyard, relocation of an unpermitted shed, and a 104‑square‑foot addition intended to create a safer front entry and a larger dining area. Staff said the site is a legally nonconforming lot with slope and width constraints that require a conditional use permit and combined side‑yard…