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Commission grants discretionary review for 573 Diamond Street with reduced upper‑deck after neighbors raise privacy and open‑space concerns
Summary
After neighbors warned that a four‑story addition would diminish mid‑block open space, the commission approved the discretionary review with staff‑recommended modifications that reduce the fourth‑floor roof deck and require additional screening and coordination with adjacent property owners.
The Planning Commission approved a discretionary review Dec. 10 for a proposed vertical addition and rear additions at 573 Diamond Street, adopting staff recommendations to limit the size of the top‑floor deck and to require further coordination on screening to address neighbor privacy concerns.
Staff presented the proposed 445‑square‑foot fourth‑story vertical addition and the associated rear additions, noting exceptional and extraordinary circumstances and recommending a reduction of the fourth‑story deck to no more than 3 feet deep to reduce privacy impacts. Multiple neighbors and a doctor requester described potential loss of light, long‑term shadowing of gardens, and a ‘‘tunnel’’ effect for shorter lots on the block, and asked the commission to require tighter limits on footprint and decks.
The project sponsor presented sections and wireframes showing how the upsloping topography and setbacks make the proposal appear less imposing in real perspective and said they had already reduced portions of the design in collaboration with planning staff. The sponsor agreed to reduce the fourth‑floor deck to three feet and to cooperate on screening for third‑floor decks; the sponsor also said geotechnical reports would be provided during permit review.
Commissioners considered both precedent for pushing back lot footprints and the site‑specific topography. After public comment, Commissioner Moore moved to approve staff recommendations; the motion passed unanimously 7‑0. The approval is conditioned on the reduced fourth‑floor deck depth and additional design refinements to address window/well alignment and rooftop screening.
