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Council affirms revisions at 950 Baja, orders privacy glazing and removal of small void area
Summary
Council reviewed the appeal of a new house and attached ADU at 950 Baja Street; neighbors raised privacy and massing concerns around two 'void' storage spaces and glazing. Council confirmed DRB conditions requiring opaque/frosted glazing near neighboring windows and pressed the applicant to eliminate or reduce the void area.
The council heard an appeal of the design review board approval for a new single‑family home with attached ADU at 950 Baja Street and directed stricter privacy protections while concluding the DRB's overall decision was supportable.
Appellant Paige Lila (940 Baja) told council the structure sits as close as 4 feet to her property where prior plans showed 5 feet, and raised particular concern about two non-living "void" areas at the rear that she said increase the perceived bulk. "If there are windows, they should be fixed and with frosted glass," she said, asking for clearer restaking to show dimensions.
Applicant representative Steve Kuwartani and architect explained revisions made since the council's earlier remand: the building was pulled back, the garage relocated, glazing reduced, and roof and element heights lowered by approximately 1–2 feet in places. They said the DRB imposed conditions including lowering a small storage/void area from 6 feet to 3 feet in height; the applicant offered to eliminate the storage space if needed. "We'll take it out," the applicant said on the record when pressed.
Council and staff discussed fire access and landscaping constraints; staff confirmed that DRB conditions require opaque glazing for glazed openings located within specified distances of neighboring windows. Council adopted/confirmed a condition that glazed openings within 10 feet of neighboring structures and less than 6 feet from existing neighboring glazed openings must use opaque/frosted glazing and asked staff to ensure the small void area is removed or reduced in the revised permits. The council recorded a voice vote and the measure passed.
