Staff hearing officer approves as‑built bay window and French doors at 102 La Plata

Tess Harris, the staff hearing officer, approved front‑setback modifications on April 1, 2026, for 102 La Plata (property fronting Shoreline Drive and La Plata) to permit an as‑built bay window and two sets of French doors, and determined the work is categorically exempt under section 15301.

Assistant planner Aaron Stolberg said the property is in the E3 SD3 zone and identified three encroachments that require front setback modifications: a bay window encroaching approximately 1 foot 1 inch into the La Plata front setback, a set of French doors encroaching about 2 feet 3 inches into Shoreline Drive, and a second set encroaching about 6 feet 9 inches. Stolberg told the hearing that staff supports the modifications because the changes fit the existing permitted design on the property and do not create new impacts for neighbors.

Applicant Jared Goran of Vanguard Planning said the house has unusually large setbacks that make modifications necessary and noted the doors and windows occupy the same openings as earlier fenestration; he described the bay window as too low to function as living space and said the alterations blend with the house’s architecture. Harris asked about permit history; staff estimated the as‑built work has been in place for at least a decade and is being permitted now as part of other work on the property.

Harris found the as‑built additions to be appropriate improvements consistent with the residential zoning intent, made the environmental finding that the project qualifies for an exemption under section 15301, and approved the front‑setback modifications and findings in the staff report. She noted the approval is subject to a 10‑day appeal period and briefly suggested staff consider whether minor window or door changes should be handled administratively in future code updates.