Piedmont planning commission approves two residential projects; schedules open house on objective design standards

The Piedmont Planning Commission met Feb. 10 and approved two residential projects while receiving staff updates on permit activity and an objective-design-standards subcommittee.

Chair Justin Zucker opened the meeting and the commission received an informational report from planning staff on permit activity for January 2025. Staff reported 29 planning permit applications were submitted in January, including 20 expedited design-review applications, one SB9 application and a mix of director- and commission-level submittals; building-permit intake totaled 98 applications with 86 approvals. "We approved 16" planning applications in January, staff said during the briefing.

The commission then heard an informational briefing from the objective design standards subcommittee, which reviewed draft test-fit properties and plans an open house on Wednesday, Feb. 12, at the community center starting at 6:00 p.m. The subcommittee said the test fits helped identify gaps in standards related to pedestrian safety and parking and urged public input at the open house.

On the consent and regular calendar, the commission unanimously approved the Jan. 13 meeting minutes and later approved two project applications: a variance and design review for a small bathroom addition at 325 Moraga Avenue and a fence and gate design review for 7 Muir Avenue. Both projects were approved with conditions and were found categorically exempt under CEQA (325 Moraga: CEQA Guidelines §15301 Class 1(e); 7 Muir: CEQA Guidelines §15303 Class 3(e)).

Staff closed the meeting with an announcement that the city is recruiting volunteers for public commissions and committees and that two vacancies on the planning commission are expected; interested residents were directed to piedmont.ca.gov.