Planning commission continues demolition, multiunit design review for 81 Victoria Lane to Dec. 18

The Sierra Madre City Planning Commission on Dec. 4 voted unanimously to continue consideration of a discretionary demolition permit (DDP25-03) and related design review (DRP25-01) for a property at 81 Victoria Lane to Dec. 18, 2025.

Staff introduced the item as a request to allow demolition of an existing single-family residence built in 1910 and to consider design review for adding dwelling units that would result in three or more units on the site. Staff said the request is being continued because "there is a conflict between our interpretation and the applicant's interpretation" of a state statute and asked the commission to set a date certain to allow time to resolve that question. An applicant representative confirmed availability on Dec. 18.

A commissioner made a motion to continue the item to Dec. 18, 2025; the motion was seconded and carried by unanimous vote. No formal approval or denial was taken; the continuance preserves the commission's ability to consider the permits after staff and the applicant resolve the statutory interpretation issue.

The item was presented as DDP25-03 (discretionary demolition permit) and DRP25-01 (design review). The commission's action was procedural — a continuance to a date certain — not a decision on the merits of demolition or subsequent construction. The commission's next regularly scheduled meeting is Dec. 8, 2025; the item will return Dec. 18, 2025, per the continuance.

Clarifying details recorded in the hearing: the house on the site was described as built in 1910; the applicant indicated Dec. 18 would work for resuming the item; staff cited an unspecified state statute as the source of the interpretive conflict. No final environmental determination, design approvals, or demolitions were authorized at the Dec. 4 meeting.