Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves specific-use permit for accessory dwelling at 436–438 E. Wright Blvd., with conditions
Summary
After a public hearing and neighborhood objections, Universal City Council voted to grant a specific-use permit for an accessory dwelling unit at 436–438 East Wright Boulevard, subject to size, fence removal and off‑street parking conditions.
Universal City Council voted to grant a specific-use permit allowing an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) at 436–438 East Wright Boulevard following a public hearing and council discussion about neighborhood impacts.
The council’s approval, as amended, restricts the ADU’s gross floor area to no more than 768 square feet, requires removal of the fence between the main house and the accessory structure, and requires provision of an additional off-street parking accommodation (a driveway flare or other off-street space) prior to issuance of a building permit. The council also required that the unity-of-title agreement be recorded with the county before the building permit may be issued.
Neighbors who spoke during the public hearing said they objected to prior tenant behavior at the property, reported trash and parking problems, and worried that converting the site to two separate dwelling units would increase traffic and reduce neighborhood livability. Several neighbors said they had not met the property owner and questioned the owner’s plans. One neighbor said the property had been listed for sale and had seen multiple tenants before the current owner decided to keep and renovate it.
The applicant, Jose Alejandro Barrera, told the council he intends to occupy the main house after the work is finished and that a brother (a family member) will occupy the ADU. Barrera said he would move trailers or construction equipment off the street and would address the trash concerns raised by neighbors. Staff said the property currently consists of two zoning lots; the proposed use relies on a recorded unity-of-title agreement that allows construction across the former lot line.
Planning staff explained that the site plan shows demolition of an existing shed and construction of an 864-square-foot ADU; council members and staff discussed a minor reduction so the ADU would meet the one-third-of-gross-floor-area benchmark in the zoning code. The applicant indicated a willingness to reduce the ADU by the 96 square feet necessary to meet that ratio; the council’s approved condition sets the ADU limit at 768 square feet.
During discussion council members emphasized that code enforcement will respond to continued complaints about trash, parked trailers and other neighborhood maintenance issues. Staff said some enforcement steps require resident complaints or formal reports so neighbors should continue to notify code enforcement when violations occur.
The council read and adopted the motion as amended by recorded vote; the ordinance requires recording of the unity-of-title agreement before issuance of the building permit and the applicant must satisfy the three conditions the council added.
The council’s action affects an Old Town Residential (ROT) zoning lot and was taken after a planning-and-zoning recommendation for approval.
A return appearance for permit issuance and building inspections will follow the recorded requirements described in the council motion.
Votes at a glance - Specific-use permit PC620SU (436–438 E. Wright Blvd.): Approved (motion as amended). Vote tally: recorded as approved by the council (specific roll-call tallies not transcribed in the public record excerpt).
