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Middle La Vista lot (1516) approved after arborist review and design tweaks
Summary
The Design Review Board approved a modest two‑story house at 1516 La Vista Terrace with staff conditions including additional arborist protections, limited lighting, and a natural color palette after staff and the applicant described pile and grade‑beam strategies to protect nearby oaks.
Staff presented 1516 La Vista Terrace as the smallest of the three La Vista lots; it has a steep average slope (~42.6%) and several protected coast live oaks. Staff noted the project uses a pile/grade‑beam foundation with piles roughly 8 feet on center and the nearest oak trunk centerline almost 11 feet from the grade beam.
Architect Alan Maliki and arborist Paul Lewis described on‑site mitigation methods including air‑spading to locate roots, hand excavation in the critical first few feet, and the ability to shift pile locations if major roots are found. "When we rediscover roots, we can adjust pile spacing and add additional piles rather than disturb large roots," Paul Lewis said, summarizing typical protective measures.
Board members supported staff findings that the design follows the hillside guidelines and recommended conditions requiring updated arborist reports, an earth‑tone exterior palette, limited and shielded exterior lighting, and additional landscape screening to protect neighbor privacy. The board recorded a roll call approval; staff will verify arborist and drainage conditions during plan check.
