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Planning commission approves 53-square-foot exception for 677 Oak Lane
Summary
The Sonoma Planning Commission unanimously approved an exception to allow a 53-square-foot second-floor addition at 677 Oak Lane, citing limited neighborhood impacts and staff findings in the resolution.
The Sonoma Planning Commission unanimously approved an exception to allow a 53-square-foot expansion to an existing single‑family residence at 677 Oak Lane.
The exception, considered at the commission's regular meeting, covers a 53-square-foot second‑floor extension to the primary bathroom wall of an existing house that staff said already exceeds floor‑area‑ratio (FAR) limits for the parcel. Staff recommended approval after finding the addition would be largely hidden beneath the existing roofline and would not be visible from public right‑of‑way or adjacent properties.
Diane (planning staff) told the commission the parcel is about 7,000 square feet and that the lot is roughly 500 square feet smaller than the minimum required by the code (7,500 square feet). She said the existing house is “approximately 2,610 square feet” and that the project would further increase an existing FAR the staff described as already near its maximum. The staff report and the resolution in the agenda packet set out the findings needed for the commission to grant the exception; staff recommended approval.
Robert Baumann, the architect for the project, spoke in support of the request. “I thought the staff report covered everything perfectly, and, I think that this project is a perfect example of, why the, idea of an exception exists in the municipal code,” Baumann said, adding that the change is small and unlikely to affect neighbors.
The commission opened and then closed public comment; staff noted the city had received one written comment that morning that did not address the addition but raised concerns about an existing fence and hedge height on the property.
A motion to adopt the resolution approving the exception passed unanimously. Roll call votes recorded: Commissioner Nugent — Aye; Commissioner O'Neil — Yes; Commissioner Willers — Yes; Commissioner Wyrick — Yes; Vice Chair Dunbach — Yes; Chair Cher Barnett — Aye.
The approval covers only the exception entitlement (design review limited to the exception); other building permits or work would proceed under separate approvals as required by the municipal code.
