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Planning commission approves demolition, design review for 1443 Madrona Avenue
Summary
The Saint Helena Planning Commission on June 17 approved a demolition permit and major design review to remove a deteriorated nonconforming house at 1443 Madrona Avenue and replace it with a new two‑story single‑family home, adopting conditions tied to a city‑attorney memo on how covered porches count toward gross floor area.
The Saint Helena Planning Commission on June 17 voted 4–0 to approve a demolition permit and a major design review to remove a nonconforming 5,235‑square‑foot dwelling and rear shed at 1443 Madrona Avenue and construct a new two‑story single‑family home and detached garage.
The action included a CEQA determination that the project is categorically exempt under CEQA Guidelines sections 15303 and 15304, and an amendment to the recommended conditions of approval to reflect a city attorney legal memo dated June 13, 2025 that says covered porches, balconies and patios are not included in gross floor area calculations under the city’s current zoning interpretation. The commission also directed the applicant to update the gross floor‑area calculation for building plan check to a maximum of 3,430 square feet.
Staff planner Larissa Alchin told the commission the 15,960‑square‑foot parcel in the Medium Density Residential (MR) zoning district fronts 84 feet on Madrona Avenue at Spring Mountain Road. The existing primary structure is deteriorated, contains 10 bedrooms and four bathrooms, and staff’s historic‑resource…
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