San Rafael planning commission recommends council approve new house at 287 Mountain View with hillside exceptions

The San Rafael Planning Commission on Jan. 28 voted unanimously to recommend that the City Council approve a major environmental and design review and a hillside exception for a new single-family home at 287 Mountain View Avenue.

The project proposes a 2,437-square-foot residence with a two-car garage on a vacant, irregularly shaped hillside lot in the Dominican Black Canyon neighborhood. The applicant requests a reduction of the R-20 front setback from 20 feet to 10 feet, a reduced garage setback that would reduce required off-street guest parking from two spaces to one because the street is less than 26 feet wide, and modest projections into the reduced setback for an uncovered exterior stair (about three to four feet).

Planning staff presented the application and the draft resolution recommending approval to the commission, noting the project meets most objective zoning standards but requires exceptions under San Rafael Municipal Code. “We have not received any direct comments for this…