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DRC conditionally approves tiny‑home infill permit, allows stormwater swales to count toward tree protection area
Summary
The Development Review Committee conditionally approved an infill tiny‑home project after the applicant asked the DRC to allow vegetated stormwater swales to be counted toward the 15% tree protection area, provided maintenance access is preserved and outstanding architectural comments are addressed.
The Development Review Committee conditionally approved a tiny‑home infill site plan after the applicant won agreement to count vegetated stormwater swales toward the site's tree protection area (TPA) so long as maintenance access is retained.
At the meeting, the applicant team said the stacked single units do not trigger a fire‑suppression requirement and requested that the DRC waive the typical interpretation that would keep the 30‑foot TPA clear of the stormwater swales. Applicant representative (Presenter, speaker 11) told the committee the swales are shallow, will be hand‑maintained and could be planted with vegetative material "so that those can be hand maintained." The applicant said counting that area would help reach or exceed the 15% TPA target without large mechanical access needs.
Staff pressed the applicant on access and calculation details. Engineering (Engineer/Applicant representative, speaker 6) explained the site is roughly 18,000 square feet and that small changes to the acreage in the calculation materially affect the percentage. The team agreed to provide updated planting exhibits and a calculation narrative required to document how the swales would be counted toward TPA.
The formal motion — made on the record and seconded by another member — approved the project conditionally, requiring the applicant to address outstanding staff comments, retain access for maintenance and show the additional architectural elements and landscaping on a resubmittal. The committee called the motion and members voiced assent.
The committee asked applicants to submit the construction ERP or phase‑1 ERP documents and to provide renderings and unit labeling on the next submittal. The applicant thanked staff and said the community was supportive.
Next steps: the applicant must submit the clarifying materials (detailed TPA calculations, updated renderings and the construction ERP) before full finalization; staff will confirm the revised exhibit demonstrates compliance with the conditional approval.
