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Commission approves 1 Spruce Street addition after heated hearing; most adjacent commissioner recused
Summary
After lengthy testimony from neighbors and experts over light, air and historic integrity, the Planning Commission voted not to take discretionary review and approved a horizontal addition at 1 Spruce Street while Commissioner Sugaya recused himself because his firm had previously worked on the property.
The Planning Commission voted to approve a horizontal addition at 1 Spruce Street on Thursday following an extended hearing in which neighbors urged commissioners to take discretionary review for possible historic and light‑and‑air impacts.
Staff presented the project and said the building had been determined to be a historic resource but that the proposed lateral and rear additions met the Secretary of the Interior standards and were categorically exempt from environmental review. Adjacent neighbors — represented by counsel and preservation architects — argued the project would eliminate a character‑defining "step" from one to two stories and would materially harm light and air for the nearest house. "The proposed project completely eliminates that character‑defining feature," counsel for the requester said, urging the commission to require a modified design that would move massing westward.
Owner‑sponsors and their architect maintained the project had been substantially reduced from prior proposals, complied with preservation standards and included a continuous three‑foot setback at the property line to preserve light and air for adjacent property line windows. The owners said they had worked with staff and made numerous concessions.
Commissioner Seguaya recused himself because his firm had authored a report on the historic significance of the house and the Commission accepted the recusal. After deliberation the commission voted not to take discretionary review and to approve the project; the motion to not take DR passed 6‑0 with one recusal.
