Design Review Commission approves two single‑story homes on Phillips Road ridgeline with conditions

The Lafayette Design Review Commission on March 24 approved two related hillside development/design review applications and accompanying grading permits for Parcel A (3500 Phillips Road) and Parcel B, both created by an earlier SB 9 subdivision. The approvals are recorded in DRC Resolutions 2025‑05 (Parcel A) and 2025‑06 (Parcel B), both adopted unanimously with conditions.

Staff presenter Arleigh (staff planner) explained that the two vacant parcels are located on a Class II ridgeline in the R6 zoning district in the east end of town. Parcel A measures about 20,207 square feet (0.46 acre); Parcel B is about 17,590 square feet (0.40 acre). Each parcel is proposed to host a single‑story residence of about 4,940 square feet total (4,199 sq ft living area with a 741 sq ft three‑car garage), with four bedrooms. Parcel A’s maximum measured height was reported as 18 feet 7 inches (19 feet 7 inches using ridge measurement); Parcel B’s maximum reported height was 19 feet 3 inches (20 feet 3 inches to ridge). Both homes use a low, butterfly metal roof, earth‑tone rainscreen siding, extensive glazing to wooded slopes and a diagram of terraces and decks to step into the topography.

Grading and drainage differ between the parcels. For Parcel A staff reported 175 cubic yards of cut and 100 cubic yards of fill outside of building footprints, plus an additional ~1,250 cubic yards of cut within the building footprint to lower the buildings into the ridge. Parcel A’s impervious surface numbers in the staff presentation were approximately 5,492 square feet for the house and 2,206 square feet for the driveway (about 7,700 square feet total). Parcel B’s staff slides reported about 700 cubic yards of cut outside the building footprint, no outside fill, and an additional 250 cubic yards of cut within the building footprint. Both projects require design review findings for projects over 17 feet in height and grading permits because grading exceeds 50 cubic yards.

Staff said the parcels were created ministerially under SB 9 (a 2023 subdivision), and that the planning commission had previously made findings for siting and massing; the design review commission was reviewing the phase‑2 HDP/design and the grading/tree permits. Staff noted no public comments were received in the formal noticing period and recommended the commission find both projects exempt from CEQA and approve subject to conditions.

Commissioners and staff discussed several issues in public review: the proximity of the homes to the ridgeline (Class II ridgeline exceptions were reviewed by planning commission), parking and driveway arrangements (each single‑family home meets the requirement for two parking spaces; some driveway areas are easements and will constrain on‑site guest parking), mechanical and rooftop systems and screening, and landscaping/screening to preserve privacy of downhill homes. Commissioners asked for clearer landscape sections showing sightlines, additional planting buffering where needed, and attention to mechanical equipment placement and screening. Several commissioners praised the low profile and material palette but asked staff and the applicant to ensure landscape buffering and drainage details are robust.

Two technical items were raised and added to conditions: Central Sanitary requires the shared central driveway over a sewer main to be impervious where the main extends beneath the drive, which led the applicant to propose asphalt for the central shared section even though permeable pavers are proposed elsewhere; and the city engineer suggested an off‑site flow‑through planter located on 3300 Phillips Road to collect runoff from a portion of the driveway. Staff asked for an easement or maintenance agreement allowing the two new parcels access to that flow‑through planter on 3300, and added that as a condition. Commissioners also accepted an explicit condition that the applicant may adjust the landscape plan during construction with staff review and approval to improve privacy screening and buffering.

Applicants (Jeff Stone, owner; architect Charles Davos; partner Brian Griggs) described the design intent to minimize ridgeline visibility by keeping units single‑story, stepping the plans into the hillside and using restrained earth‑tone materials. The applicants confirmed prior outreach to immediate neighbors and said two neighbors visited about screening preferences; they also said utility and fire review meetings influenced the driveway and sewer design.

Both resolutions were adopted unanimously. Conditions require final engineering approval, a maintenance/easement for the off‑site flow‑through planter on 3300 Phillips Road, submission of construction‑grade landscape and screening plans with diagrammatic sightline sections, and other standard grading and tree‑protection conditions. The commission recorded the approvals and will track permit issuance through the Planning & Building Department.