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Commission approves two residential design reviews; Vancouver project must switch wood‑grain aluminum to natural wood
Summary
Burlingame’s commission approved two single‑house major design reviews: 1431 Lagona Ave (new single‑family house with detached garage/ADU) and 1150 Vancouver Ave (new two‑story house with attached garage). The Vancouver approval included a condition requiring a natural wood cladding to replace proposed wood‑grain aluminum.
The Burlingame Planning Commission on May 26 approved two major design‑review applications for single‑family infill projects at 1431 Lagona Avenue and 1150 Vancouver Avenue, subject to standard conditions and a material change for the Vancouver project.
1431 Lagona Ave: Staff said the lot—zoned R‑1 and located in a special flood hazard area—proposes demolition of an existing house and detached garage and construction of a new two‑story single‑unit dwelling with a detached garage and a 400‑ft accessory dwelling unit (ADU). Staff noted the finished floor must be elevated to base flood elevation plus one foot to meet FEMA and building code requirements. The applicant, identified as Colin, said he had revised plans to address prior commission comments. Neighbors raised privacy concerns about ADU windows; the applicant agreed to frosting and other mitigations. Commissioners praised revised renderings and voted to approve the major design review and the special permit for the garage location; the motion passed on a roll call.
1150 Vancouver Ave: Staff summarized revisions to plans submitted after an earlier hearing and recommended approval with 15 conditions. Applicant representative Jason G. reviewed material choices, updated mechanical venting, foundation vents and interior layout clarifications. Several commissioners and members of the public expressed concern over a proposed wood‑grain aluminum siding—saying the aesthetic could appear out of character and cheap at street level, especially across from a school. Jason said the product was durable and fire‑resistant and said he was open to alternatives; the commission briefly reopened the public hearing and the applicant agreed to replace the wood‑grain aluminum cladding if the commission required it. Commissioners adopted a motion to approve the project with a condition that the primary cladding be a natural wood product to be verified by staff during permit review; the motion passed by roll call.
What it means: Both approvals are design‑level and include conditions that staff will verify during building permit review. The Vancouver vote illustrates a common planning commission balance: commissioners can require changes to materials and detailing to fit neighborhood context, even when larger project form and density follow code.
