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Staff hearing officer approves open‑yard modification for addition at 1428 Harborview Drive
Summary
The staff hearing officer approved an application to add a 289 sq ft addition and 220 sq ft deck at 1428 Harborview Drive, granting an open‑yard modification because the irregular lot shape prevents the 20x20 minimum dimensions; approval is subject to conditions and a 10‑day appeal period.
Tess Harris, staff hearing officer for the City of Santa Barbara, approved an open‑yard modification Nov. 12 to allow a 289‑square‑foot addition and a 220‑square‑foot rear deck at 1428 Harborview Drive.
The project, on a 5,454‑square‑foot lot with a single‑story residence and detached one‑car garage, will retain the required 1,250 square feet of usable open yard but reduce the required 20‑by‑20‑foot minimum dimension because of the lot’s irregular configuration. Assistant Planner Jillian Fennessy told the hearing that staff supports the modification if a condition requires 850 square feet of open yard in the rear and 400 square feet in the front to be clearly dimensioned on building‑permit plans.
“The lot is irregularly shaped,” Fennessy said, and “because the project still offers 1,250 square feet of usable open yard area, staff supports the requested modification.”
Architect Mike Brown, representing the owners, said the lot’s configuration dates to a 1923 lot split and that the project uses an existing foundation footprint; he characterized the change as modest and consistent with neighborhood patterns. “We don’t think this is detrimental to the public,” Brown said.
Harris said she visited the site and noted a prior 1999 approval for a similar modification, adding that the project qualifies for a categorical exemption under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as an “existing facilities” project under Section 15.301. “While it does not meet the exact 20‑by‑20 dimensions, the actual space is still there,” Harris said before approving the modification with staff’s recommended condition. Her decision can be appealed to the Planning Commission within 10 calendar days.
The approval allows the owner to proceed to building permit submittal, where the required open‑yard areas must be dimensioned and shown on plans as a condition of permit issuance.
