Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Design Review View Impacts topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission approves second‑story addition at 1017 Crestview Drive despite neighbor view and privacy concerns
Summary
The Millbrae Planning Commission on Dec. 2 approved a design review permit for 1017 Crestview Drive (703 sq ft first‑floor addition; 865 sq ft second floor) by a 4‑0 vote. Neighbors voiced objections over potential loss of bay views and privacy; staff found the project meets Millbrae Municipal Code standards and noted existing trees would remain.
The Millbrae Planning Commission voted 4‑0 on Dec. 2 to approve a design review permit for 1017 Crestview Drive, authorizing a 703‑square‑foot first‑floor addition (1,015 square feet when including ceiling heights above 9 feet) and an 865‑square‑foot second‑story addition to an existing single‑story residence in the R1 single‑family zoning district.
Senior planner Nessa Guevara told commissioners the project sits on a 7,000‑square‑foot corner lot in the Meadows neighborhood near Highway 280. Guevara said the proposal meets all development standards for the R1 zone, including setbacks, lot coverage, floor‑area ratio, front‑yard landscaping and the 30‑foot maximum height limit; the project’s proposed height is about 27 feet, 8 inches. She said the existing two‑car garage will remain and that all on‑site trees are proposed to remain per the landscape plan.
The commission heard three public commenters, all nearby residents, who opposed the second‑story portion. John Hughes, a 36‑year resident of 1030 Sycamore Drive, said the addition would block his view toward the San Mateo Bridge and San Francisco Bay and stated, “I totally oppose this.” Christina Roche, of 1024 Sycamore Drive, said she and her husband bought their house for the views and raised privacy concerns tied to proposed upper‑floor windows and to a first‑floor addition that would sit closer to their property. Another neighbor, Fahid Eskandarian of 21 Sycamore, provided photos and estimated he would lose “30%” or more of his bay view.
Applicant architect Alex Zhang and the project team presented design choices intended to reduce impacts; Zhang said the design was shifted on the lot to take advantage of trees that partly screen the upper floor and noted the second‑story ceiling heights are standard 9 feet. Zhang told the commission, “we believe we have done it responsibly while exercising our right in developing to the 2 story.”
Staff also reported two additional opposition letters from property owners at 1029 and 1034 Sycamore. After discussion, including commissioners’ repeated finding that the proposal conforms to code and that view impacts are a recurring but limited concern in hillside neighborhoods, the commission adopted a resolution approving the permit. The action is final pending the city’s 10‑day appeal period; the city clerk handles appeals (650‑259‑2414; etran@ci.millbrae.ca.us).
