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Council approves site development permit and setback variance for steep lot at 18571; asks for hip roof
Summary
Council approved a site development permit, tree removal permit and variances for a new two-story house on a constrained L-shaped lot at 18571 (approximately 4,915 sq ft house), directing the applicant to consider a hip roof to reduce visual impact; the measure passed 4-1.
The council voted to approve a site development permit, a tree removal permit and reduced front/side/rear setbacks for a proposed two-story, roughly 4,915-square-foot house on an unusually shaped and steep lot at 18571 (agenda item 6). Staff recommended approval, and the site and architectural commission's earlier review and public testimony informed the council's deliberation.
The applicant and land-use counsel argued that much of the lot is unbuildable owing to steep slopes and utility easements, leaving only about 9,000 square feet of buildable area and constraining placement of the house. "It is very rare for staff to support a variance application... and this is one of those cases where the property has physical constraints," the applicant's attorney said, summarizing the topography and site constraints cited in the staff report.
Neighbors spoke both for and against aspects of the design. One neighbor described potential loss of privacy and view from a backyard deck if the western side were extended; a design consultant advised that switching from a gable roof to a hip roof would reduce perceived massing. Councilmembers who backed approval included comments urging the applicant to accept a hip roof and other design refinements to reduce impacts. The motion approving the project included direction to the applicant to use a hip roof to soften the addition's visual effect.
The council took a recorded vote after discussion and the motion carried, approving the site development permit, the requested variances and the tree removal permit with the roof-design direction. Staff will return with any required permits and conditions and the applicant was encouraged to work with staff on final design details.
Provenance: topicintro SEG 898, topfinish SEG 2094.
