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San Carlos commission approves split of 1660 Laurel Street parcel; owners keep historic 'Hobby House'
Summary
The Planning & Transportation Commission unanimously approved a tentative map to divide 1660 Laurel Street into two 5,000 ft² parcels, with staff noting the building known as the Hobby House (Dr. George Hine building) is eligible for individual historic listing and the map is exempt under CEQA §15315.
The San Carlos Planning and Transportation Commission on June 2 unanimously approved a tentative map to subdivide the 0.23-acre property at 1660 Laurel Street (APN 051-373-080) into two 5,000-square-foot parcels.
Senior Planner Ralph Robinson told the commission the site is in the MU-N40 zoning district and contains a two-story building known locally as the Hobby House (formerly the Dr. George Hine building). Robinson said a Historic Resource Evaluation prepared for the applicant and a peer review by the city's consultant (MIG, Inc.) both concluded the primary building is eligible for individual listing, while the later rear additions, parking and detached garage are not. Robinson also said the tentative map is eligible for a CEQA exemption for minor land divisions under §15315.
"Both the consultants HRE and our peer review concurred with the city's historical resource inventory that this building is eligible for that individual listing," Robinson said.
The property owner, who identified himself as David, told the commission he plans to divide and may sell half the parcel while keeping the Hobby House. "I'm not a developer, but I would like to sell half of it and be able to keep ... the Hobby House," he said, adding he has no immediate redevelopment plans.
Commissioners pressed staff on several details before the vote, asking whether historic designation is owner-driven and whether utilities and parking would be affected by the subdivision. Staff said formal historic designation generally requires an owner application and the city's inventory only identifies eligible resources. On utilities, staff said separate new utility services would be installed for each parcel and that work would occur outside the building footprint. Regarding parking, staff noted the site is within the radius covered by AB 2097 and is therefore eligible for statutory parking exemptions based on proximity to transit.
Commissioners emphasized retaining sightlines and landscaping to preserve the building's architectural character should future development occur on the new parcel. "I support this project with the caveat that I hope...the planning people do get the landscaping put on that side of the building so that we preserve the lines for this because it's a gorgeous building," Commissioner Castanada said.
The motion to approve the tentative map passed on a unanimous roll-call vote (Anand, Bundy, Castanada, Vice Chair Garvey, Chair Clemens: all "yes"). Staff noted the commission's decision is final unless appealed to the City Council within 10 days; the appeal deadline is 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 12, 2025.
Next steps: the tentative map file and conditions of approval will be processed by staff; any future development on either parcel would be reviewed under applicable development standards and could trigger additional historic-review or CEQA analysis if new alterations to the eligible building are proposed.
