Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Residential Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning commission grants variance for rear addition at 1107 Pittsfield Lane, citing site constraints
Summary
The commission approved an amendment to a coastal development permit and granted a major variance to allow one covered garage space to remain (instead of the two normally required) for an approx. 224–432 sq ft rear addition at 1107 Pittsfield Lane, finding the design maintains three on‑site parking spaces and will not increase bedroom count.
The Ventura Planning Commission on March 18 approved an amendment to a coastal development permit, major design review and a major variance for a rear addition at 1107 Pittsfield Lane (Project 25‑0795).
Staff explained the property already contained an unpermitted rear addition that had been subject to remedy earlier in 2024; the current amendment enlarges the prior addition and triggers a municipal code requirement for two covered garage spaces because cumulative additions exceed 20% of the original dwelling footprint. Staff recommended approval because adding a second enclosed garage bay would reduce, not increase, total on‑site parking by eliminating existing outdoor spaces. The project was described as a one‑story rear addition (roughly 224–432 sq ft depending on drawing context) that would not create new bedrooms; staff said the dwelling would retain three on‑site parking spaces overall (one enclosed, two outdoors) and would remain within allowed lot coverage.
Commissioners questioned enforceability if a future owner converted interior space to a bedroom or otherwise altered parking; staff said the permit could be conditioned if the commission sought explicit maintenance of the existing parking configuration. Multiple commissioners noted that Peron (Pier) lanes have chronic parking constraints and that homeowners have strong incentives not to remove functional parking on their sites; the commission declined to add an explicit long-term parking‑maintenance condition. The applicant confirmed the added area is intended as a game/sitting room and that no new bedrooms are proposed.
A motion to approve staff’s recommendation passed 7–0. The approval includes the coastal development permit amendment, design review and the major variance allowing the one covered garage space given the unusual site constraints and net retention of three on‑site parking spaces.
