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Commission unanimously approves 509 Ramona Avenue bathroom addition despite staff privacy recommendation
Summary
The commission voted 5–0 on April 9 to approve a small rear addition at 509 Ramona Avenue that includes large picture windows around a new bathtub. Staff had recommended raising and making portions of the windows translucent, but commissioners approved the design as proposed after applicants said they would use curtains and plant screening.
The City of Albany Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved design review application PA 25005 (509 Ramona Avenue) on April 9, 2025, for a small rear upper‑story addition and lower‑level storage/greenhouse area that includes large picture windows for a bathroom.
Associate planner Mira Hong presented the project, describing the lot as approximately 3,600 square feet with an existing roughly 1,329‑square‑foot, two‑story home with a basement and detached garage. The proposal includes a 30‑square‑foot upper‑story addition to enlarge the master bathroom and a roughly 330‑square‑foot lower‑level addition. The plans show new fiberglass windows, including two large picture windows at the rear; Hong said the proposed bathroom windows are currently designed with sills about 2 feet above finished floor, which would allow a standing or seated person to have a clear view out of the windows.
Hong told the commission staff’s position was that "these windows ... are too open. They do not provide privacy for both current and potentially future residents of the house or even surrounding neighborhoods," and staff recommended the building permit plans be revised to show a minimum 4‑foot sill height, translucent glass up to 6 feet above finished floor, and that the windows be non‑operable unless otherwise approved by the community development director.
Owner‑applicant and architect John Cooley said the design intent was an enclosed bay‑window condition to allow tub users to enjoy the garden view; he noted the applicants planned to provide curtains and a plant shelf to screen views when privacy is desired. Cooley also asked that at least one operable window remain for bathroom ventilation.
Several commissioners said interior uses and occupant choices (curtains, blinds, plants) mitigate privacy concerns and flagged the difficulty of regulating interior habits. Commissioner Waddie said it was appropriate to consider the architectural composition and privacy solutions the applicants offered. After discussion, the commission voted 5–0 to approve the project as proposed. The recorded vote was unanimous and the commission noted the standard 14‑day appeal period.
The approval covers design review only and does not substitute for later building‑permit reviews, which may require additional technical conditions at permit submittal (for example, ventilation and code‑required egress).
