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Planning commission approves variance for constrained East 5th Street lot, selects two‑story design
Summary
The National City Planning Commission approved a zone variance and CEQA exemption allowing construction of a single‑family home with an accessory dwelling unit on a substandard lot on East 5th Street, adopting the two‑story design (Exhibit B) after debate over setbacks, parking and neighbor safety concerns.
The National City Planning Commission on March 16 approved a zone variance for a constrained lot on East 5th Street that will allow a new primary residence and attached accessory dwelling unit with reduced lot area, frontage and setbacks.
Staff planner David Welch summarized the continued public hearing and said the lot is approximately 2,500 square feet in an RS‑2 zone that ordinarily requires 5,000 square feet and 50 feet of frontage. Welch told the commission the applicant requested variances for minimum lot area, frontage and setbacks and that staff was recommending the project be found categorically exempt from CEQA under the infill/new construction class. "Without a variance this site would not be able to have any units," Welch said, noting the city’s general plan promotes infill development and small‑lot housing.
Neighbors urged caution. Alexander Fernandez, who identified himself as the adjacent resident, described repeated late‑night disturbances at nearby rental properties and said he feared increased crime and the loss of quiet: "I've already bought a gun… I'll shoot them," Fernandez said, drawing a clear expression of alarm and frustration from the public comment period. Daisy Alcantar, another neighbor, raised concerns about parking, emergency access and the feasibility of fitting two dwellings on the narrow lot. Doyle Morrison, a longtime resident, opposed the CEQA exemption and recommended a smaller scale project to reduce construction impacts and dust.
Applicant representative Flavia Gomez of Offset Design said the owner is exercising state law rights and that the team provided a one‑story design as Exhibit A and a two‑story alternative as Exhibit B. Gomez said the plans include privacy fencing and that the design was revised after prior commission feedback to reduce the extent of requested deviations. "We are complying with the general plan and municipal code," she said.
Commissioners questioned setbacks, emergency access and utility issues. Staff confirmed that some side‑setback relief is enabled by state law for primary units and that the fire and building divisions had reviewed the application and recommended conditions to address safety and construction requirements. Commissioners debated approving the single‑story Exhibit A or the two‑story Exhibit B; initial motions failed on ties or lack of a second. After further discussion the commission voted to approve Exhibit B and adopted Resolution 2026‑02 approving the CEQA exemption (class 3) and the requested variances for lot area, street frontage and setbacks for the property located on East 5th Street between Highland Avenue and I Avenue (case file and APN were read into the record).
The approval requires the applicant to meet conditions from building, engineering and the fire department during permitting; staff noted outstanding site matters — such as coordination with SDG&E over a utility pole on the parcel — must be resolved by the applicant or the project cannot proceed. The decision will be forwarded as a notice of decision to the City Council.
