Planning commission reviews multiple hillside protection proposals in Brentwood

The Brentwood Planning Commission on Tuesday reviewed several development requests in hillside-protection (HP) areas, including a driveway extension at 1108 Chelsea Court, a 4,143-square-foot new residence on Lookout Ridge in Heathrow Hills, and additions and accessory-structure work on a Highland Road property in Hillview Estates.

Planning staff told commissioners that BPC-2408-006 for Hillview Estates (1108 Chelsea Court) proposes extending the existing driveway to the rear of the lot to provide easier parking and access to the house. Staff said the lot falls inside the city’s hillside-protection overlay and therefore requires Planning Commission review even for partial-lot work. Commissioners and staff discussed setbacks and existing encroachments; engineering staff confirmed the existing driveway alignment is acceptable provided it does not encroach on a public utility and drainage easement (PUDE).

The commission next reviewed a revised hillside site plan in Heathrow Hills (Lookout Ridge) for a new single-family residence on a 1.37-acre lot. Staff reported the proposed home is approximately 4,143 square feet with a mix of materials including dark-painted board-and-batten siding, light-gray stone and cedar accents, a shingle roof and standing-seam metal elements. A mandatory pre-construction meeting and 16 standard conditions of approval apply, and the building will require a fire-sprinkler system because of its hillside location, staff said.

A separate Hillview Estates filing on Highland Road would remove an existing deck and shed and add a 531-square-foot garage, a 510-square-foot first-floor addition, a new entryway and porch. Staff said the accessory structure shown on the plan will require a separate approval from the Board of Zoning Appeals and that the parcel is about 6.84 acres. Renderings in the packet indicate the work will be largely tucked into the site and not visible from lower elevations.

Commissioners asked questions about visibility from lower elevations, construction access and whether private drives are gated; staff noted existing access points and confirmed the locations of shared private drives where relevant. Staff also said stream buffers were added where streams are present and explained the typical 60-foot average / 30-foot minimum buffer requirement when stream buffers are applicable.

No formal votes on these items were recorded in the transcript; staff said the items would proceed according to the commission’s typical approval process with conditions and required permits.

The commission scheduled its next meeting for Tuesday at 7 p.m., when these and other agenda items will be considered further.