Commission continues 3009 California Street discretionary review after privacy, light-well and massing concerns

The Planning Commission continued the discretionary review for a proposed rear addition and upper-floor expansion at 3009 California Street after extended public testimony and commissioner questions about massing, light wells, and mechanical venting.

Neighbors, represented by Matthew Klein and others, argued that adding a fourth floor and narrowing a light well adjacent to existing bedroom windows would reduce daylight, increase shadowing and channel bathroom and laundry exhaust next to a neighbor's primary bedroom. Staff and the residential design team responded that revisions had already been made to provide setbacks and that the Department had found the revised plans to be code compliant, but commissioners and several members of the public requested additional clarifications and rework.

Commissioners asked the applicant to provide a complete revised package including: 3D massing and elevations that show the project in context (fenestration and window openings on adjacent buildings clearly marked), explicit material and color notes, plumbing/venting routing showing that bathroom and laundry exhausts vent up rather than into side light-wells, and a clearer demonstration of how proposed setbacks reconcile with adjoining properties. Several commissioners also suggested the owner consider creating a two-unit solution (adding a legal subsidiary unit) as a public benefit given the large size of the proposal on an RH2 lot.

The Commission continued the item to April 13 with the above directions; the motion to continue carried unanimously.