Planning commission approves design review and variances for shared hill elevator at 310–312 Beach Road

The Belvedere Planning Commission voted to grant design-review approval and two variances for a shared hill elevator, stairs and landings serving 310 and 312 Beach Road and recommended that the city council consider a revocable license conditioned on the parks and open space committee’s concerns about public access.

Planning staff told the commission the project proposes an 86-foot elevator track supported by nine concrete piers, an elevator car with a 6-foot-11-inch guardrail height, a new 50-square-foot lower landing and an upper landing that would exceed the city’s 4-foot paving-slab height limit. Staff said past hillside instability and the properties’ topography support findings for a variance: “Staff recommends that the variance findings can be made,” the planner said.

Marika Bergson, representing the Parks, Open Space and Lanes Committee, urged more review of how the plans would affect public passage across the city-owned tide lot, saying, “we were very concerned about the public access because what is shown on the plans is not actually accessible.” The committee had not been notified before the staff report; staff recommended the applicant meet with parks committee representatives before the revocable license goes to city council.

Applicant Mark Conroe, of 310 Beach Road, said the elevator “replaces the stairs were approved a couple years ago” and emphasized the elevator’s upper termination is at the same location as previously approved stairs. Conroe said property access and long-term maintenance will be resolved with reciprocal easement and maintenance agreements recorded on title.

Commissioners praised the project’s reduced visual impact relative to multiple stair runs and noted the new concrete piers will stabilize the slope. Several commissioners said they could make the required findings for design review and variances but recommended the revocable license be conditioned on parks committee satisfaction with continued pedestrian access. The commission approved the design review and variance resolutions and voted to recommend city council approval of the revocable license with that condition.