Board supports Palisades second‑story addition and waives some FAR supplemental requirements

The board reviewed a concept for a small second‑story addition at 201 Palisades Drive that would raise the total conditioned area to about 103% of the code FAR threshold and therefore requires a planning commission FAR modification (coastal zone). Case planner Jillian Fennessy explained the applicant requested waivers for supplemental FAR materials — story poles, panoramic photo simulations, the 20‑closest home FAR survey and a neighborhood workshop — and provided a partial street silhouette. Designer Gerald Powell and drafter Sarah Block said the addition is minor in scale and argued it is compatible with neighboring homes; they also noted previously requested pre‑application changes had been incorporated.

Board members largely agreed the bulk and scale were modest and compatible with nearby properties and requested cohesive exterior materials and updated, consistent drawings: window/door proportions and material transitions were singled out for refinement. Given the project context and existing neighborhood examples the board voted to continue the item to the planning commission with supportive comments and to waive the requested supplemental FAR requirements, including story poles and panoramic photo simulations, as allowed for the coastal FAR modification. The motion passed by roll call.