Rio Vista planners approve two‑story option for Luminescence duet homes

The Rio Vista Planning Commission on June 12 approved Resolution 2024‑006, allowing Denova Homes to revise Site and Architectural Review Permit 2020‑015 and offer a two‑story Plan 7 option for remaining duet lots in the Luminescence (Liberty Phase 3) subdivision.

Staff consultant Rick Hirsch told the commission the revised design would add a second story (with an optional third bedroom) and two‑car garages to certain duet footprints while still complying with the planned unit development standards. "They comply with the setbacks and the building height — the maximum is 30 feet and they're going up to about 27," Hirsch said, and staff recommended approval. Hirsch also reported the revised plan reduces maximum lot coverage to about 51%. The request affects about 82 remaining lots (41 duet building configurations) in Phase 3, staff said.

Developer representative Trent Sanson said slow sales of single‑story duets motivated the change. "In the past 45 days, we have not had one duet sell," Sanson said, describing market feedback calling for more living space and two‑car garages. He said the new Plan 7 keeps the same building footprints while adding a set‑back second story focused toward alleyways rather than Paseo frontages.

Commission discussion centered on two planning conditions: preventing a single‑story unit on one side of a narrow alley facing a two‑story unit on the other side, and adding architectural articulation to break up long two‑story stucco facades. Chair Tom Donnelly said he wanted "something to kind of break it apart" on the center two‑story massing so it does not read as a monolithic wall. The commission directed staff to incorporate those points into conditions and to allow staff review of detailed architectural treatments at the building permit stage.

The motion, moved by Chair Tom Donnelly and seconded by Commissioner Emmett Holtslander, passed by roll call 6–0. The approval gives the developer flexibility to build either the original single‑story plans or the new two‑story Plan 7 on remaining lots, subject to the articulated conditions. Building permits and standard fire and plan checks will still be required before construction, the commission noted.

Next steps: staff will finalize resolution language to reflect the alley adjacency and articulation conditions; Denova Homes will proceed to building permit review where plan‑check and fire‑department requirements will be enforced.