Commission approves five-unit condominium project at 238 S. San Marino with tree-protection and privacy conditions

The San Gabriel Design Review Commission on Aug. 25 approved a five-unit condominium project at 238 South San Marino Avenue, subject to conditions addressing landmark-tree protection, rooftop-deck privacy and final material specifications.

Staff presented planning case PPD23-010 for construction of three new buildings containing five condominium units, replacing an existing single-family house. Each unit will be three stories with private roof decks; unit sizes range from about 1,663 to 1,905 square feet. Vehicular access will be from South San Marino Avenue via a 10-foot-wide driveway apron serving five garages plus two guest spaces. Staff said the project complies with R-3 development standards for floor-area-ratio, height, setbacks and open space.

An arborist report identified seven landmark trees on site; one 35-foot Cochlospermum (labelled tree #6 in the report) is proposed for removal because it conflicts with a proposed driveway and Building 3 garage footprint. A prominent Deodar cedar in the front yard will be preserved in place if the construction follows the arborist’s recommended protection measures: tree-protection fencing within the drip line, on-site monitoring during demolition and grading, using the proposed driveway as a haul route, continuing irrigation, deep-root watering at 30 inches and a 2-inch mulch layer within the drip line. The city landscape architect recommended those measures as conditions.

Applicant project architect Kaizen Chen described changes made after the project’s prior hearing: a redesigned front unit to pull activity away from the cedar’s drip line, additional sections showing pruning limits, simplified exterior materials (replacing a previously proposed fiber-cement rainscreen with a smooth stucco primary finish and limited warm accents) and an updated materials board that aligns with the drawings. Chen said the team is willing to accept reasonable conditions related to tree protection, irrigation monitoring and tree replacement if necessary.

Commission discussion focused on the Deodar cedar’s health and long-term viability given nearby utility lines; several commissioners urged coordination with Southern California Edison when trimming occurs and required on-site licensed-arborist monitoring. Commissioners also requested stronger screening at the rooftop decks—especially on the front unit that faces single-family homes across the street—and suggested moving or reconfiguring rooftop solar panels so they do not encourage users to congregate at the roof edge or create privacy conflicts. The commission asked the applicant to work with the city architect and landscape architect to detail rooftop planters/screens, confirm window-frame color (white vinyl vs. darker bronze option) and provide final plan-check-ready sections addressing tree protection and structural details.

Commissioners approved the project on a 4–0 roll call vote with Vice Chair Salo absent. The approval included conditions that require on-site arborist construction monitoring for preserved landmark trees, an irrigation/deep-water program for the preserved cedar, coordination with the utility on trimming, and that the applicant refine rooftop screening and window-frame color in coordination with city staff prior to plan check.