Board approves 14 Southridge East remodel and expansion with planting condition after neighbor objections

The Tiburon Design Review Board on June 5 approved a remodel, exterior refresh and a 357‑square‑foot net increase in living area at 14 Southridge East, granting three variances for lot coverage, a minor house setback intrusion, and a reduced deck setback. The approval included a condition that two large evergreen plantings be installed to soften a north elevation and screen the adjacent neighbor.

Project architect Scott Couture told the board the work is “primarily an interior remodel, an exterior resurfacing, replacing windows, some siding and roofing” and described an upper‑level addition of about 278 square feet (79 square feet on the lower level) for a combined additional area of 357 square feet. Couture said the project reduces total deck area from about 800 square feet to roughly 552 square feet by removing one deck and increasing another, and that the lot coverage variance request is 1.7 percent above the allowed standard (rising to 26 percent under the applicant's analysis).

Several neighbors spoke in opposition. Alexander Mortazavi (12 Southridge East) said the plan would expose bathroom and master shower windows and “it cannot be done with a detriment to their neighbors.” David Eason (16 Southridge East) said he was not opposed to renovation generally but argued the proposed addition near his kitchen and living area would “significantly impact our views of San Francisco” and said blocking a neighbor’s view for a few square feet did not meet the hardship standard for variances. Rick Mortazavi (speaking by Zoom) said the project was “massive” compared with the neighborhood pattern and said the family had declined several suggested modifications.

The applicant provided photo montages and said the plan had been revised from earlier schemes after additional field review; Couture said the addition had been pulled back in response to concerns and that some vegetation removals (including a declining pitosporum) were proposed for fire‑safety reasons. Board members debated view and privacy impacts, notably the enclosure of a small bedroom/roof area and the raised living‑room ceiling. Several board members said they wanted a softer appearance on the north elevation adjacent to 12 Southridge East. As a result, the board approved the draft resolution with a condition requiring two 24‑inch box evergreen trees (minimum) near the area where the pitosporum would be removed; the board specified the trees should be of species that mature in the 15–20 foot range and meet local wildfire‑urban interface (WUI) clearance rules.

The motion to adopt the draft resolution and find the project categorically exempt from CEQA carried with all board members present voting in favor.