Board approves 933 Hillcroft house with conditions after neighbors raise access, drainage and geotech concerns

After extensive public comment, the Glendale Design Review Board on May 28 approved the design for a two‑story, approximately 3,970‑square‑foot single‑family home at 933 Hillcroft Road, subject to conditions addressing façade articulation, color palette, drainage coordination and finished floor elevation consistency.

Senior planner Oke Toledo summarized the project and staff recommendations: the home would be carved into a vacant hillside lot in the Rossmoyne neighborhood with an attached plan for a future accessory dwelling unit (ADU) built into the slope. The proposal includes roughly 2,055 cubic yards of grading, a detached 700‑square‑foot three‑car garage and an overall building height of approximately 32 feet in compliance with zoning requirements. Staff recommended approval with conditions to better articulate the west facade, revise the color palette away from stark white to warmer neutrals, and restudy the entry detail to integrate it with the overall design.

Lead designer Mona Meloian and the owner (who identified himself as Arathrossian) described the design response to the difficult topography and said the project will improve site maintenance and drainage compared with an overgrown vacant lot. "The drainage issue will be addressed by our hydrology report, which we will provide at building plan check," Meloian said.

Neighborhood comment was extensive. Residents who live on Hillcroft Road raised repeated concerns about narrow street width and emergency access, the difficulty of accommodating large construction vehicles, potential erosion and airborne particulates from extensive grading, and the reliability of the geotechnical report included in the packet. Several speakers urged an independent geotechnical or environmental review before grading permits are issued; one commenter said the geotechnical engineer who prepared the submitted soil report is currently on probation and asked the city to require a second review.

The applicant said the civil engineer will design subdrains beneath retaining walls and direct stormwater to the street using best‑management practices rather than cross‑lot drainage; the team indicated they would provide a hydrology/drainage study at building plan check. The applicant also said the cited soils engineer could be replaced and that a separate soils report could be obtained if the board or staff required it.

During deliberations, board members emphasized the need for the applicant to coordinate civil and architectural sets so finished floor elevations are consistent, to prepare a thorough drainage plan addressing both east and west property lines, and to revise the exterior color palette toward warmer, earth‑tone hues. Board members also discussed the garage roof material and asked the applicant to consider a green (live) roof or, alternatively, a metal roof to avoid creating an accessible rooftop that could later be converted to a viewing or gathering area.

The board moved and approved the project with conditions (including the added conditions described above and staff’s remaining recommendations) by roll call; the motion carried 4‑0.

What’s next: The applicant must coordinate with the civil engineer and staff to supply a hydrology/drainage study at building plan check, provide coordinated civil/architectural plans that match finished floor elevations, and revise the color palette and entry details per staff direction. Neighbors were advised to follow up with planning and other city departments on traffic/ construction management and emergency access during construction.