Commission Approves New House at 340 Dwight Road with Conditions on Porch and Setbacks

The Burlingame Planning Commission on Aug. 11 approved a permit for demolition and construction of a new two‑story single‑unit dwelling at 340 Dwight Road, including special permits for a rear uncovered balcony and a 10‑foot plate height at the attached garage where 9 feet is normally allowed. The vote on the resolution and conditions passed unanimously.

Staff told the commission the application includes suggested findings and 14 conditions of approval and that the proposal provides one covered parking space in the garage plus an additional driveway space. Designer Maria Barmina said she revised window details (recessed by 2 inches with trim and sills), adjusted porch details and kept the front door location because interior double‑height space limited options.

Commissioners raised the prospect of increasing the front porch depth from 3 feet to 5 feet to improve curb appeal. Commissioners discussed average block setback calculations and whether a variance or a special permit would be required; staff said no variance is required if no portion of the porch extends closer than the block average (reported in the staff table as 18 feet). The applicant said the homeowner would be willing to extend the porch by two feet if doing so keeps all porch elements behind the 18‑foot block average.

The commission’s motion to approve included a condition permitting an altered porch up to the block average setback and to incorporate the porch detail into the final conditions and findings. The commission recorded the roll‑call approval as 6‑0 (yes‑6, no‑0).

Appeal rights were read into the record: planning commission actions are appealable to the City Council within 10 days and must be filed in writing with the required $924 appeal fee.

The action becomes final if not appealed by 5 p.m. on the 10th day after the decision.