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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTC Digest 2011-10-07TOWN COUNCIL WEEKLY DIGEST Week of October 3 - 7, 2011 Tiburon 1. Letter - Scott Anderson - Hilarita Apartments 2. Yearly Recap - Design Review Submittals - September 2011 3. Monthly Report - Office of Design Review - September 2011 Agendas & Minutes 4. Minutes - Design Review Board - August 18, 2011 5. Action Minutes - Design Review Board - October 6, 2011 6. Meeting Cancellation - Planning Commission - October 12, 2011 Regional o a) None Agendas & Minutes b) None * Council Only 3 . Town of Tiburon - 1505 Tiburon Boulevard - Tiburon, CA 94920 - P. 415.435.7373 F. 415.435.2438 - www.ci.tiburon.ca.us Community Development Department October 3, 2011 James Hardy Jeff Slavitz 121 Ned's Way Mayor Tiburon, CA 94920 • • • • . • • . . Jim Fraser RE: Hilarita Apartments Vice Mayor Dear Mr. Hardy: Richard Collins Councilmember . I am in receipt of your letter dated August 22, 2011 regarding the Hilarita Apartment Alice Fredericks complex. Your letter makes several points dealing with the issue of rehabilitating Councilmember Hilarita units. The general tone is one of dissatisfaction with the current Hilarita • • • • . . the Hilarita-TEA (HTEA) budgeting practices, and the slow E management company mmett O'Donnell , pace of unit rehabilitation by the owners and managers of the project. Councilmember With respect to the Town of Tiburon, your letter also asserts that in order for "the Town to okay the sale, all of the apartments would have to be fully rehabbed". Your letter Margaret A. Curran clearly implies that the Town somehow controlled the sale of the property to HTEA and Town Manager placed certain requirement upon it regarding rehabilitation of units. We can find no support for such assertions in our files. A review of our files indicates as follows: ➢ In 1994, the Tiburon Redevelopment Agency (Agency) authorized a loan (copy of loan agreement attached) to HTEA for purposes of "predevelopment expenses necessary to facilitate purchase of the property..." ➢ The terms of the loan do not include any commitment by HTEA to the Agency to rehabilitate units. ➢ The authority to approve the sale of the property was held by HUD, not by the Town of Tiburon or the Tiburon Redevelopment Agency. ➢ The only document in our possession regarding rehabilitation of units prior to sale was the 1995 Plan of Action prepared by HTEA and submitted to HUD as part of the request for approval of the sale. This Plan of Action appears to make representations to HUD regarding various repairs and unit rehabilitation. We do not know if there is any means of enforcing these representations, but HUD would be the enforcing agency. I am very sorry that you find the rehabilitation budgeting and scheduling of the Hilarita units to be unsatisfactory. But as you are aware, this is a privately-owned project over which the Town of Tiburon exercises only its traditional police power through enforcement of generally-applicable laws and regulations, such as the California Building Code. Should you have concerns of this nature, please contact the Tiburon Building Official, Fred Lustenberger, at 415-435-7371. Very truly yours, Scott Anderson Director of Community Development L , Enclosures: 1) Loan Agreement dated November 4, 1994 ~ ©"C i Cc: Fred Lustenberger Peggy Curran Ann Danforth Scott Anderson August 22, 2011 Community Development Director Town of Tiburon 1505 Tiburon Blvd. - - Tiburon, CA 94920 u AUG ? ? 2011 RE: VIOLATION of TIB. TOWN POLICY - PROPERTY NEGLECT Dear Mr. Anderson: As a long time resident of the Hilarita Apartments and a board member on both the Hila.rita Residents Association Inc. (HRA), and the Hilarita Tiburon Ecumenical Association Inc. (HTEA), I am often asked questions by other residents relating to their concerns about the Hilarita. One consistent concern over the years, deals with the lack of a coherent and transparent policy of rehabbing all 102 of the Hilarita apartments in a consistent, well organized manner. Since 2006 the John Stewart Company (Management Agent for the HTEA) has instituted a policy of only rehabbing units as they are vacated, which means that only two to four apart- ments, on average, will be completely rehabbed each year. Prior to 20061 funds were provided in the annual budget to pay for the rehabbing of apart- ments not being vacated (long term residents) as well as taking care of any newly open units. This has ended, leaving a sizable number of apartments having never been rehabbed since 1975. This neglect is having a serious impact on the sustainability of the Hilarita as low to moderate income housing. In 1995, before the property could change ownership, the Town of Tiburon made it clear to the new owner to be, the HTEA (and to HUD), that for the Town to okay the sale, all of the apartments would have to be fully rehabbed. Mr. Anderson this has never happen. To date, after sixteen years, countless apartments have never been fully rehabbed as required by the Town of Tiburon. I personally know to what I speak. Since 1975, the one bedroom apartment ray wife and I live in, has never been fully rehabbed. In 36 years we have had only one change of carpet, three stoves, two refrigerators, a layer of cheap linoleum placed over the old kitchen floor tiles, a replacement of asbestos's tile in the bathroom, and one new faucet unit in the bathroom vanity. We still have our original bathtub faucet. and drain, we still have our original garbage disposal, our original water heater, our original kitchen cabinets, counters and sink, and bathroom vanity. Our apartment has been painted once - by me. Our story is not unique, there are many other residents here at the Hilarita living in units with similar conditions or worst. What should the Town do about the problem? Well, the Town can simply ignore the problem and hope that we are all dead before the Hilarita becomes unlivable and has to be torn down. Or, the Town can investigate the problem and if the situation is as I have described, compel the owners and their agent to do something about it. Of course, they will argue that they don't have the money. However, the money that they have saved by not maintaining the interiors of the apartments, has gone into one of the most well endowed replacement reserve accounts; in any HUD sponsor apartment complex, of this size, in Northern California. If this situation continues, there will be some apartments at the Hilarita that will never be fully rehabbed for forty or fifty years. Is this what the Town of Tiburon expected when the new owners took over, May 1995? Mr. Anderson, the money is there, but is there - the will? Respectfully Yours: /James Hardy 121 Neds Way Tiburon, CA 94920 (415) 435-4827 DIGEST p O H N U) tC T-- r N N r N N C7 N Q O N O cle) O tN CY) O) 00 M 00 0 r w n 0 z r O U CV O Cl) J Q -k a O w o O N r N r O O co O V I- N W O O f LO N f O) O C D Cl) W ~ d r O O O O ~ O T- W W Z } D O O O O (D O O LO O L U w z O N M T- M LO O 00 T- N V W Q N N N co CO N O J~ LL J < O M O O co 00 O co Q W Q r O co N O CN O co w O N O ~t M M CN O i N I Q N r- O O M r O N i ~ I I w w J Q p Q 0p z ~ il. z z p N H w a w cn W U z a a U x w W W U. F- n w 0. i 26 TOWN OF TIBURON OFFICE OF DESIGN REVIEW MONTHLY REPORT SEPTEMBER 2011, uiuEsr 3. DESIGN REVIEW BOARD APPLICATIONS: NUMBER SUBMITTED 2010 ■ NEW SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCES 0 0 ■ MAJOR ADDITIONS/ALTERATIONS 0 2 ■ MINOR ADDITIONS/ALTERATIONS 1 1 ■ (not eligible for Staff Review) ■ SIGN PERMITS 1 2 ■ TREE PERMITS 5 1 ■ VARIANCE REQUESTS 2 0 ■ FAR EXCEPTIONS REQUESTS 1 0 ■ EXTENSION OF TIME 0 0 STAFF REVIEW APPLICATIONS: Review of minor exterior alterations and additions of less than 500 square feet. 10 6 APPEALS OF DESIGN REVIEW BOARD DECISIONS TO TOWN COUNCIL 0 0 REPORT PREPARED BY: Connie Cashman, Planning Secretary DATE OF REPORT: October 3, 2011 • MINUTES #14 R TIBURON DESIGN REVEW BOARD MEETING OF AUGUST 18, 2011 The meeting was opened at 7:00 p.m. by Chair Kricensky. A. ROLL CALL Present: Chair Kricensky, Vice-Chair Emberson, Boardmembers Chong and Tollini Absent: None Ex-Officio: Planning Manager Watrous and Minutes Clerk Rusting B. PUBLIC COMMENTS - None C. STAFF BRIEFING Planning Manager Watrous announced that the item for 434 Greenwood Beach Road had been withdrawn. D. PUBLIC HEARINGS AND NEW BUSINESS 1. 27 MARAVISTA COURT: File No. 711073; Cheryl Jordan and Karl Ma, Owners; Site Plan and Architectural Review for construction of additions to an existing two-story single-family dwelling. The applicants propose to construct 1,742 square feet of additions to the entry and garage of the existing house and construct a new upper level addition that would include a master bedroom suite, along with three more bedrooms and two more bathrooms. Three skylights would be installed on the new upper level. Assessor's Parcel No. 055-183-20. The applicant is requesting Design Review approval for the construction of additions to an existing two- story single-family dwelling on property located at 27 Maravista Court. The existing entry porch on the main level of the house would be demolished and replaced with a new entry addition containing a stairway and guest bathroom. The existing main level would be reconfigured to replace the bedrooms and office with a new family room, au pair room, sunroom and relocated kitchen. A new upper level would be constructed that would include a master bedroom suite, three more bedrooms, two more bathrooms and a laundry room. A roof deck would extend to the west of the upper level. A portion of the ground floor garage and storage area would be converted into a more structured mud room and storage area, connected to the main floor by the stairway in the new addition. Three new skylights would be installed above the new upper level. The proposed additions would increase the floor area of the house by 1,742 square feet to a total of 3,246 square feet, which is less than the floor area ratio for a lot of this size. The proposed additions would increase the calculated lot coverage on the site by 266 square feet to a total of 1,770 square feet (12.6%), which is less than the 30.0% maximum lot coverage allowed in the R-1 zone. Cheryl Jordan, owner, said that every neighbor whose property touches theirs had signed a letter supporting the project. She said that the original plan included stucco siding, but she said they would like to change that to stucco panels. She distributed photos of stucco panels to the Board and said that this was the only change they would make to the project. TIBURON D.R.B. MINUTES #14 8/18/11 There were no public comments. Boardmember Chong said that he visited the site and commended the applicant for garnering support from the neighbors. He agreed with staff that the stepped back home design would reduce the three-story appearance and he voiced support of the project. Vice-Chair Emberson said that she liked the materials and felt that the project would be a lovely addition to the neighborhood. She agreed with staff that the site is in a transitional area between the neighborhood below and larger homes uphill from the property. Boardmember Tollini said that initially the addition looked like a tall structure, but when viewed in three dimensions, it was not as monolithic. He noted that the front addition extends outward and would be set back far from the street. He thought that this would be one of the nicest improvements he had seen in a long time. Chair Kricensky said that he read the staff report and drove by the site before looking at the plans, and the project was what he would have envisioned. He said that the higher floors feel like they would be built into the hill, which would make it look like a two-story house. He said that the stucco panels would enhance the walls. Boardmember Tollini said that the house would be three stories in form only, and it is really a two-story house design. He made the distinction between this project and a true three-story home which would not be allowed in this neighborhood. Chair Kricensky commended the applicant for gaining support from all of the neighbors. ACTION: It was M/S (Chong/Emberson) that the request for 27 Maravista Court is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act and approved the request, subject to the attached conditions of approval. Vote: 4-0. 2. 434 GREENWOOD BEACH ROAD: File No. 21114; William and Gabrielle Federal, Owners; John Soden, Appellent; Appeal of Staff-level approval of Site Plan and Architectural Review for construction of additions to an existing single-family dwelling, with a Floor Area Exception. The applicants propose to convert a 185 square foot deck into floor area, construct a new deck on the upper level of the rear of the building, add two skylights and construct other exterior alterations to the existing house. Assessor's Parcel No. 039-133-11. - WITHDRAWN E. APPROVAL OF MINUTES #13 OF THE 8/4/11 DESIGN REVIEW BOARD MEETING ACTION: It was M/S (Tollini/Emberson) to approve the minutes of the August 4, 2011 meeting as written. Vote: 4-0. F. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 7:12 p.m. TIBURON D.R.B. MINUTES #14 8/18/11 Y:p 4W 1 TOWN OF TIBURON Action Minutes - Regular Meeting ; Tiburon Town Hall Design Review Board ~ 1505 Tiburon Boulevard October 6, 2011 Tiburon, CA 94920 7:00 P.M. ACTION MINUTES # 15 TIBURON DESIGN REVIEW BOARD CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL At 7:00 PM Present: Chairman Kricensky, Vice Chair Emberson and Boardmember Johnson Absent: Boardmembers Chong and Tollini Ex-Officio: Planning Manager Watrous and Minutes Clerk Rusting PUBLIC HEARINGS AND NEW BUSINESS 1. 460 RIDGE ROAD: File No. 711085; Amalfi West, LLC, Owner; Site Plan and Architectural Review for construction of a new two-story single-family dwelling, with a Floor Area Exception. The applicants propose to demolish more than 50% of an existing two-story dwelling and construct a new dwelling. The house would have a total floor area of 4,840 square feet that would exceed the floor area ratio of 4,479 square feet for a lot of this size by 361 square feet. A series of retaining walls up to 6 feet in height would be constructed on either side of the relocated driveway, along with a series of retaining walls creating a terraced lawn area at the rear of the property. Assessor's Parcel No. 059-082- 04. Continued to 1113111 MINUTES 2. Regular Meeting of August 18, 2011 Approved 3-0 ADJOURNMENT At 8:30 PM Action Minutes # 14 8/4/11 Design Review Board Meeting Page 1 NOTICE OF MEETING CANCELLATION THE REGULAR PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING SCHEDULED FOR WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2011 HAS BEEN CANCELLED. THE NEXT MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION WILL BE THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2011 L SCOTT ANDERSON, SECRETARY