Tiburon design board approves Irving Court addition, orders 20% cut to exterior can lighting

The Tiburon Design Review Board voted unanimously May 7 to approve a limited rear‑setback variance for a single‑story addition at 472 Irving Court, granting the homeowner room to expand a two‑bedroom, roughly 1,000‑square‑foot house into a four‑bedroom home while adding a condition to reduce exterior can lighting by 20%.

Courtney Jacobson, the homeowner, said the project is intended to create a modest primary suite, two additional bedrooms and an office while preserving neighborhood character. “We purchased this home earlier this year to be our long‑term family home,” Jacobson told the board, adding the design concentrates massing toward the rear of the lot and keeps the front appearance largely unchanged.

The applicants asked for a rear setback variance of about 56 square feet to enable a single‑story rear addition. Their architect, Cynthia Owings, said the lot’s pie‑shaped geometry and the home’s off‑center placement constrained expansion options and that preserving existing exterior walls and key structure allowed the project to be classified as a remodel.

An uphill neighbor, David Shallik of 44 Lower North Terrace, raised concerns during public comment about the number of exterior fixtures and proposed skylights, saying the lighting plan felt “heavy” and noting he had submitted a written comment to staff. “I think the amount of exterior lighting is heavy and the lighting plan as well as the amount of skylights,” Shallik said.

Board members acknowledged the neighbor’s concern but also heard the applicants’ rationale: the team said many skylights are placed to daylight interior spaces that otherwise lack windows (bathroom, hallway, inset bedrooms) and that the skylights would be bronzed or tinted in accordance with town requirements. One board member observed that the plans show roughly 18 skylights and about 28 recessed cans and suggested a targeted reduction in cans rather than an outright prohibition.

After discussion, the board added a condition of approval reducing exterior can lighting by 20% and discussed requiring night‑time shades or similar measures so skylights do not produce undue nighttime glare. The motion to adopt the draft resolution approving the project, with the lighting reduction and a note that the project is categorically exempt from SEA, passed with no opposing votes; the roll call recorded Chair Chong, Vice Chair Rosnner and Board member Horscher present and voting in favor.

The staff briefing earlier in the meeting also alerted the board that the Town Council had received an informational item on a separate ministerially approved subdivision at 1801 Tiburon Boulevard that will likely not come before the design review board.

The approved resolution and the lighting condition will be reflected in the building‑permit review; the project team and staff indicated they will continue to work with uphill neighbors on glazing tint and nighttime shading to limit light bleed.