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Staff Hearing Officer approves as-built front-stair setback modification at 2620 Samarkand Drive, contingent on design review
Summary
The Staff Hearing Officer approved a front setback modification to permit as-built entry stairs at 2620 Samarkand Drive that encroach about 7 feet into the 20-foot front setback. Approval is contingent on Single Family Design Board project design and final approval; the decision is appealable to the Planning Commission.
The Santa Barbara Staff Hearing Officer approved a front setback modification on Feb. 19, 2025, to recognize as-built entry stairs at 2620 Samarkand Drive that encroach into the required 20-foot front setback. Staff reported the stairs extend approximately 7 feet into the setback and that the modification would not change living area, garage space or total floor area.
Case planner Will Russell told the hearing the change occurred during construction of a previously approved remodel and that the current proposal requests a front setback modification to allow the as-built configuration. Russell said staff supported the modification because the encroachment is modest, "will not block views, sunlight or airflow," and is compatible with the neighborhood pattern.
Project architect John Beacham said the built condition differs from the originally approved design primarily in stair alignment and described a possible technical solution if a landing-height requirement were enforced. He said the alteration resulted from field changes during construction and noted the team could raise a front planter a few inches to meet a 10-inch landing-height requirement should the board require it.
The Staff Hearing Officer said the record supported approval of the modification but clarified that the Single Family Design Board must review the as-built condition as part of project design and final approval. The hearing record states the modification was approved at the Staff Hearing Officer level but that final permitting is contingent on the Single Family Design Board's final action; the decision is appealable to the Planning Commission within 10 calendar days.
The staff report identified the property as a two-story single-unit residence in an RS-7.5 zone with 2,862 square feet of structure and a 440-square-foot two-car garage. The encroaching stairs were built about 7 feet into the front setback; staff characterized the stairs as modest and proportionate to the home. The approval is subject to the findings and conditions in the staff report and any adjustments required by the Single Family Design Board review.
