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200 Lagunitas Road: owners seek variance for pool placement; ADR discusses lot geometry and limited variance
Summary
Owners of 200 Lagunitas argued the lot has limited buildable area (about 42 percent, ~18,300 sq ft) because of a wide driveway and steep hillside and requested a variance to place a pool in a prominent front‑yard location; ADR members generally signaled support for a limited variance after the applicants removed dining/congregation elements from the setback.
Sarah Nehaus, owner of 200 Lagunitas Road, and landscape designer Dustin Moore presented revised plans and an argument for a variance to the Town of Ross ADR group. Nehaus said the lot’s configuration leaves less than 50 percent of the site technically buildable: the driveway comprises about 12 percent of the lot and a steep hillside represents roughly 46 percent, leaving an estimated 42 percent (about 18,300 square feet) of usable area. The owners said they reduced their original proposal—removing dining and outdoor kitchen terraces—and prioritized pool placement to minimize requests for multiple variances.
Design team members explained the revised plan (a smaller dining patio, relocation of some terraces) and noted that driveway widening requested by the fire department (roughly 4–5 feet in a corner) affects where fencing can sit on the property line. The applicant also proposed a temporary secondary safety fence around the pool while children are young.
ADR members reviewed geometry, neighboring context and precedent, noting adjacent properties with pool houses and arguing the proposed small encroachment into the setback is acceptable in that context. Several ADR members—Steven among them—said the applicants’ revised plan and the removal of congregation space in the setback make a limited variance supportable, while acknowledging the council will make the formal findings. The transcript did not record a formal roll‑call recommendation on the record but staff will forward ADR comments and vote counts to the council.
