Planning Commission OKs demolition and variances for 238 Auburn, including 794-sq-ft ADU

The Sierra Madre Planning Commission on March 6 voted unanimously to recommend that the City Council adopt Planning Commission Resolution 2502, approving a discretionary demolition permit and a set of variances for 238 Auburn Avenue that would allow demolition of the existing single-family home and construction of a replacement house with an accessory dwelling unit.

Planning staff told the commission the property at 238 Auburn — a reverse corner lot near Sierra Madre Elementary School — is 9,600 square feet and that the preexisting main house dates to about 1890. "Staff's recommendation is to approve Planning Commission Resolution 2502 granting approval of variance 25‑01 and discretionary demolition permit 25‑01," a planning staff presenter said during the hearing.

Staff said the project requests variances from multiple zoning standards: front- and rear-yard setbacks for the main house, a reduced separation between buildings, and a front setback for a workshop/garage that would sit under the ADU. The proposed ADU would be 794 square feet and the north-side accessory structure (workshop) would sit about 12 feet 5 inches from the front property line. Staff also noted the ADU’s proposed height at the workshop/ADU structure would reach 22 feet 6 inches, exceeding the 16-foot ADU-height standard in the R2 zone but remaining under the 30-foot maximum for primary structures.

The staff presentation…