Neighbors oppose third‑floor roof deck at 1129 Crestline Drive; board urges outreach and removal of rooftop deck

The Single Family Design Board heard strong neighborhood opposition March 24 to a proposed second‑story remodel and rooftop deck at 1129 Crestline Drive and recommended the applicant remove the rooftop deck and engage the neighborhood before returning to full board.

Will Russell, the case planner, explained the item was before the board for comments only: the project includes a front setback modification for a remodeled garage, a proposed second‑story addition and a roof deck. The applicant’s presenter, who identified himself as Adam Grossons, described the property as an existing nonconforming single‑story home and said the remodel would reconfigure the garage to meet minimum parking standards, create a front‑facing driveway and yield new open‑yard area. The applicant said the proposed second‑story addition would be set back from the front façade and that the design team had studied neighboring second‑story massing.

Neighbors and community representatives spoke at length. Skip Bond (1151 Crestline Drive) told the board the proposal is “much too big for the neighborhood,” said it would block morning and afternoon sun for adjacent properties and described the project as a “great wall.” Multiple neighbors, including Kathleen Wright (1158 Crestline Drive), Kimon Rybnicek (1107 Crestline Drive) and Cynthia Castaneda (1137 Crestline Drive), said the rooftop deck would be unprecedented for the block, would compromise privacy and would increase noise and visible massing. Architect Oswaldo Lopez and neighborhood advocate Angela Carroll also urged the board to require a more detailed neighborhood study and a site visit before approving any rooftop deck.

Project details discussed The applicant stated the application proposes a roughly 833‑square‑foot second‑story addition and a 199‑square‑foot roof deck, producing about 3,041 square feet of development on a 13,503‑square‑foot lot (approximately 73 percent of the guideline floor‑area ratio). During questioning, the applicant confirmed the roof deck studied in comments measured about 9.5 by 14 feet and that the garage adjustment would encroach roughly one foot into the front setback to meet a 20‑by‑20 parking standard.

Board response and motion Board members repeatedly told the applicant the major community concern was the rooftop deck. Members said the second‑story addition, set back from the street, was supportable in principle and that the front setback modification for the garage — intended to create a more usable front yard and move the driveway — could be supported. But the board expressed strong reservations about a third‑story roof deck above the second story.

Chair Sharon Lewis and several board members recommended the applicant remove the rooftop deck and pursue good‑neighbor outreach. The board also requested a site section and elevations that include the neighboring property at 1139 Crestline Drive and more photographic perspectives from down the slope so the visual and privacy effects can be fully assessed. The motion to continue to the staff hearing officer (for the front setback modification) and back to the full board with the stated comments passed on a roll call vote with Chair Sharon Lewis, Vice Chair Sherry, Board member Grafaiti, Board member Mosley and Board member Richards recorded as voting yes.

Next steps Staff advised the applicant to pursue completeness for building and permit submittals; the front setback modification may proceed to the staff hearing officer while the applicant works on responses to the board’s design comments. The board asked the applicant to return with revised materials, a neighborhood outreach log under the good‑neighbor guidelines and the additional site sections and photographic perspectives requested.