Deephaven planners recommend City Council approve pool and addition at 19160 Azure Road despite hardcover increase

The Deephaven Planning Commission voted 6–0 on May 19 to recommend the City Council approve a conditional use permit for a swimming pool and house addition at 19160 Azure Road, a proposal by homeowners Matt and Sarah Pavek that would raise the site’s hardcover from 24.5% to 35%.

Planning Director Pat Smith presented staff's report and said the applicants proposed two infiltration trenches—one in the northwest corner and one in the southwest corner—to retain the maximum amount of stormwater runoff. Smith stated staff’s calculations show those measures reduce the project’s effective hardcover to 21.96%, below the city’s 25% maximum hardcover limit.

Applicant Matt Pavek told the commission the submitted grading plan uses contour lines at half-foot intervals rather than the two-foot intervals typical for such plans and said he intends to preserve existing trees where possible and plant additional trees; he also said the shed on the property is relatively new and he hopes to keep it. Commissioner Patrick Donlin asked for clarification about the contour intervals and Commissioner Kendall Carlson asked whether runoff would drain to Azure; Smith said the City Engineer is requiring the applicant to provide drainage calculations to demonstrate the curb along Azure can handle the additional volume.

Councilmember Tom Erdmann questioned whether a non-conforming shed could be required to be brought into conformance; Smith said variance and CUP requests allow the commission and council to consider bringing non-conforming improvements into conformance but noted the commission has not required that historically. Chair Mike Petersen said the commission discussed the idea of a cap on hardcover limits but had not adopted one; he asked staff to add consideration of a hardcover cap to the 2027 agenda, and Erdmann suggested staff consider the issue this year if possible.

The chair opened the public hearing and, with no speakers, closed it. Commissioner Kendall Carlson moved to accept staff’s recommendation and findings and to recommend the City Council approve the conditional use permit to increase the hardcover to 35% for the addition and pool at 19160 Azure Road; Commissioner Preston Ahrens seconded the motion, which carried 6–0.

The next step is a City Council review of the commission’s recommendation; staff also will provide the City Engineer’s drainage calculations as part of the council packet. The commission asked staff to report back on the hardcover-cap question for future consideration.