Planning commission approves Key Route Boulevard rear addition to repair fire damage and legalize an unpermitted space

The Albany City Planning and Zoning Commission on June 25, 2025, approved use permit and design review application PA25‑021820 to demolish a fire‑damaged rear deck and an unpermitted laundry room and construct a 314‑square‑foot first‑floor rear addition at a home on Key Route Boulevard.

Mira Hahn, an associate planner with the City of Albany, presented the application. She said the subject lot abuts the Ohlone Bike Trail and that the existing house—constructed in 1925—sustained recent fire damage. Staff described the project as replacing the damaged deck with a smaller 115‑square‑foot rear deck and stairs and incorporating an existing unpermitted 67.3‑square‑foot laundry room into the new addition to regularize floor area.

Because the home has a nonconforming 2‑foot‑1‑inch right (north) side‑yard setback and a 3‑foot minimum side‑yard requirement applies, the project required a use permit to horizontally extend the nonconforming setback. Staff said the resulting single‑story residence would total about 1,340 square feet with four bedrooms and one bathroom and that the project’s FAR would be about 0.45.

Hahn told commissioners that the applicant plans to repaint the house as part of the repairs and that, for cost reasons, fiberglass windows are proposed for street‑facing openings while the remainder would be vinyl. Staff recommended approval subject to standard conditions. There was no public comment or written correspondence submitted on the item during the meeting.

The commission approved the project 3–0; commissioners and staff noted a 14‑day appeal period before the approval becomes final.