Monterey Planning Commission approves residential elevator as reasonable accommodation at 720 Terry Street

The Monterey Planning Commission on a 4-0 vote approved an architectural review permit and a reasonable accommodation request that will allow a residential elevator to be added to a single-family house at 720 Terry Street.

Senior Associate Planner Chris Schmidt told the commission the project includes a small elevator at the rear of the home to serve all three levels. Schmidt said the elevator has an "approximately a 30-square-foot footprint" and would sit about 3.25 feet from the neighboring lot line; it would meet the city's 25-foot height limit but would exceed the zone's two-story limit, which is why a reasonable accommodation and architectural review were required. "Staff recommends approval of the project," Schmidt said.

The accommodation request invokes the city's reasonable-accommodation process under state and federal fair-housing laws to allow modifications that enable individuals with disabilities to remain in their residences. Schmidt said the owners have documented long-term mobility impairments and that the applicant and architect explored several interior and exterior locations before selecting what staff characterized as the "least impactful" design.

Project architect Eden Suri (transcribed elsewhere in the record as "Eden Esti" in one line) described the addition as being contained under the existing roof gable and overhang so it would read visually as part of the existing roofline. "The addition that we're doing is still under the roof overhang and confined to that line," Suri said.

Commissioner Stoker moved to approve the application with the findings in the staff report; Commissioner Paulie seconded. Stoker noted the approval could serve as an example for enabling residents to stay in their homes by adding mobility accommodations. The commission then voted: Chair Silva, Commissioner Freeman, Commissioner Paulie and Commissioner Stoker all voted yes; the motion carried 4-0.

Staff announced the decision is appealable to the City Council within 10 days; staff said appeal forms and application materials are available online or at the planning office. Planning staff also reported the City Council recently passed second reading of an ordinance dissolving the Architectural Review Committee and transferring its duties to the Planning Commission, which is why this project was heard by the Planning Commission rather than the now-dissolved ARC.

No neighbors spoke for or against the project at the hearing, and staff reported they had received no written comments. The commission closed the public hearing and adjourned with holiday remarks.

What happens next: the approval is effective unless appealed to the City Council within 10 days; if appealed, the City Council will consider the matter at a noticed hearing. The staff report and original resolution will be attached to the file and the project record is available through the City of Monterey Planning Department.