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Staff hearing officer approves interior‑setback modification to permit ADU at 405 West Solis Street
Summary
The staff hearing officer approved a minor interior‑setback modification at 405 West Solis Street to legalize two small as‑built additions and allow conversion of a garage to an accessory dwelling unit (ADU); staff said the additions are not visible from the street and the project is exempt from CEQA under Section 15.303.
Tess Harris approved an interior‑setback modification Nov. 12 to allow the permitting of two small as‑built additions and conversion of an accessory structure to an ADU at 405 West Solis Street.
Assistant Planner Aaron Stolberg told the hearing the accessory structure had a prior 2002 permit that rebuilt a garage on the same footprint, leaving it nonconforming to interior setbacks. Two later unpermitted additions — an 8‑square‑foot closet addition and an 8‑square‑foot shed addition — encroach slightly into the ADU setback. Stolberg said the additions match the styling of the existing structures, are not visible from the street, and that the Single‑Family Design Board reviewed the project at the consent level and supported it.
“Because of this and because of the interior setback and…this modification is consistent with the general purposes of the RMH zone,” Stolberg said, recommending approval so the ADU can be permitted.
Harris noted unpermitted changes are undesirable but said the city supports ADU conversions as a priority. She found the project exempt under CEQA Section 15.303 (conversion or new construction of small structures) and approved the interior‑setback modification, concluding the minor encroachment is consistent with neighborhood patterns and poses minimal neighbor impacts. The decision is subject to a 10‑calendar‑day appeal to the Planning Commission.
No public speakers opposed the project at the hearing.
