The Seaside Traffic Advisory Committee on May 21 recommended that the City Council approve a second driveway approach at 1486 Santa Clara Avenue, provided the owner modifies an existing fence so the traffic-safety visibility triangle complies with municipal code. The committee’s recommendation will be forwarded to council for consideration, likely on June 6.

Staff presented the application (dated March 21, 2024) and told the committee the lot has approximately 90 feet of street frontage and that Seaside Municipal Code limits most single-family parcels to one driveway unless they meet frontage or zoning thresholds. Staff noted the code generally allows two driveways only on parcels with 200 feet of frontage or in certain zones; on that basis staff recommended denying the application because the property does not meet the minimum frontage requirement and because approving the curb cut would remove one on-street parking stall.

Committee members pressed staff on visibility and safety implications and were told visibility-triangle rules apply at driveway–street intersections and are intended to limit obstructions such as fences and trees. A planner-member explained the project had already been approved by the Planning Commission contingent on obtaining the required driveway approvals, and that the owners intend to convert a garage to an accessory dwelling unit and construct a two-car garage where the new approach would serve it.

The applicant told the committee the property owner intends to reorient the home entry, build a two-car garage with living space above and a detached ADU, and that a neighboring property with similar frontage has two driveways. The applicant said the existing curb cut is used informally for vehicle access but is not a paved driveway under city code.

After deliberation a committee member moved to recommend council approval of the second driveway provided the fence is modified to meet visibility-triangle requirements; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. Staff said the committee’s recommendation will be added to the June 6 City Council agenda.

The motion includes a condition to ensure the visibility triangle is not obstructed; staff and committee members noted that such a condition has been used in prior approvals when needed to address sight-line concerns. The committee’s vote does not change the Planning Commission’s prior action; it forwards a recommendation to council for final determination.