HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-08-20 DRC Agenda AUGUST 20, 2019 - 7:00 P.M.
DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE AGENDA
RAINS ROOM
CITY HALL
10500 CIVIC CENTER DRIVE
A. CALL TO ORDER
Roll Call: Ray Wimberly
Tony M. Guglielmo
Elisa Cox
Mike Smith
Alternates: Lou Munoz
Francisco Oaxaca
B. PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS
This is the time and place for the general public to address the Committee on any item listed
on the agenda. State law prohibits the Committee from addressing any issue not previously
included on the Agenda. The Committee may receive testimony and set the matter for a
subsequent meeting.
Comments are to be limited to five minutes per individual or less, as deemed necessary by
the Staff Coordinator, depending upon the number of individuals members of the audience.
This is a professional businessmeeting and courtesy and decorum are expected. Please
refrain from any debate between audience and speaker, making loud noises or engaging in
any activity which might be disruptive to the decorum of the meeting.
C. PROJECT REVIEW ITEMS
The following items will be presented by the applicant and/or their representatives. Each
presentation and resulting period of Committee comment is limited to 20 minutes. Following
each presentation,the Committee will address major issues and make recommendations with
respect to the project proposal. The Design Review Committee acts as an advisory Committee
to the Planning Commission. Their recommendations will be forwarded to the Planning
Commission as applicable. The following items do not legally require any public testimony,
although the Committee may open the meeting for public input.
C1. HILLSIDE DESIGN REVIEW DRC2018-01014—RAMY IBRAHIM -Site plan and architectural
review of a 4,040 square foot single-family residence with an attached 435 square foot garage
on a 10,411 square foot lot within the Low(L) Residential District and within the Hillside Overlay
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AUGUST 20, 2019 - 7:00 P.m.
DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE AGENDA
RAINS ROOM
CITY HALL
10500 CIVIC CENTER DRIVE
District at 7563 Alta Cuesta - APN: 0207-044-29. This item is exempt from the requirements
of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the City's CEQA guidelines under
CEQA Section 15303 — New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures. which permits
the construction of a single-family residence in a residential zone.
D. ADJOURNMENT
The Design Review Committee has adopted Administrative Regulations that set an 11:00 p.m.
adjoumment time. If items go beyond that time, they shalt be heard only with the consent of the Committee.
1, Elizabeth Thornhill, Executive Assistant, of the City of Rancho Cucamonga, or my designee,
hereby certify that a true, accurate copy of the foregoing agenda was posted on
Thursday, August 15, 2019 at least seventy-two (72) hours prior to the meeting per
Government Code 54954.2 at 10500 Civic Center Drive, Rancho Cucamonga, CA.
If you need special assistance or accommodations to participate in this meeting,
please contact the Planning Department at (909) 477-2750. Notification of 48 hours
prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure
accessibility. Listening devices are available for the hearing impaired.
Page 2 of 2
DESIGN REVIEW COMMENTS
7:00 p.m. Mena Abdul-Ahad August 20, 2019
HILLSIDE DESIGN REVIEW DRC2018-01014 — RAMY IBRAHIM - Site plan and architectural
review of a 4,040 square foot single-family residence with an attached 435 square foot garage
on a 10,411 square foot lot within the Low (L) Residential District and within the Hillside Overlay
District at 7563 Alta Cuesta - APN: 0207-044-29. This item is exempt from the requirements of
the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the City's CEQA guidelines under CEQA
Section 15303 — New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures, which permits the
construction of a single-family residence in a residential zone.
Site Characteristics: The 10,411 square foot vacant project site is located on the east side of
Alta Cuesta Drive and north of Camino Norte, within the Low (L) Residential District and the
Hillside Overlay District. The property dimensions are approximately 114 feet along the north
property line, 106 feet along the east property line, 95 feet along the west property line, and 94
feet along the south property line. The downslope lot has an elevation of approximately 1,460
feet as measured at the curb face along the east property line and an elevation of approximately
1,455 feet as measured along the west property line, for a maximum grade change of
approximately 5 feet from the west to east property lines. The site is covered in short grasses
and is bordered by single-family residences to the north, south, east, and west. The existing
Land Use, General Plan and Zoning Designations for the project site and adjacent properties
are as follows:
Land Use General Plan Zoning
Low (L) Residential District
Site Vacant Land Low Residential Hillside Overlay District
Low (L) Residential District
Low Residential
North Single-Family Residence Hillside Overlay District
South Single-Family Residence Very Low Low (L) Residential District
Residential Hillside Overlay District
Single-Family Residence Very Low Low (L) Residential District
East Residential Hillside Overlay District
Very Low Low (L) Residential District
West Single-Family Residence Residential Hillside Overlay District
Project Overview: The applicant is requesting to construct a 4,040 square foot two-story, single-
family residence on the project site. The proposed grading includes up to 7 feet of fill which
necessitates that the project be reviewed and approved by the Planning Commission per
Section 17.122.020.G.1.1. The additional cut and fill are necessary due to the steepness of the
lot.
Architecture: The proposed residence has a modern style design theme, which includes a
standing seam metal roof, steel siding element on the west elevation, stucco finish, vinyl
windows, and aluminum balcony railing. The residence was designed to be compliant with the
Hillside Design Guidelines (Section 17.122.020.D.2), including minimizing view obstructions.
The building mass is broken up through the use of multiple wall plane changes and the
incorporation of exterior decks along the south, east, west elevation.
DRC COMMENTS
HILLSIDE DESIGN REVIEW DRC2018-01013- RAMY IBRAHIM
August 20, 2019
Page 2
The proposed 4,040 square foot residence consists of a 2,544 square foot first floor, which
includes the main living area, garage, and two bedrooms and a 2,031 square foot second floor
which consists of the family loft area. The second floor includes decks along the south, east,
and west elevations. The size of the 4,040 square foot residence is in keeping with homes
constructed near Alta Cuesta,which range in size from 2,400 square feet to 4,896 square feet.
A two-car garage is located underneath the northwestern portion of the second story of the
residence, with the garage door facing west and accessed by a driveway with up to 2 percent
grade. Hillside Development Standard 17.122.020.C.1.d. states that driveways with grades up
to 20 percent are permitted when they are aligned with the natural contours of the lot and are
necessary to achieve site design goals.
Low Residential District Code Compliance: The project complies with the requirements of the
Low (L) Residential District. In steeper terrain (20 percent slope and greater), front yard
setbacks may be reduced to a minimum of 20 feet from back of curb or back of sidewalk,
whichever is more restrictive, in order to minimize rear yard grading. The development
requirements are as follows:
Development Requirements Proposed
Front Yard 20' +1-5' 25'
Interior Side Yards 5'1 10, 10' 123'
Rear Yard 20' 26'-11
—Lot Coverage 40% max 24%
30' limit within the Hillside 24'-10"
Building Height Overlay
Hillside Overlay Code Compliance: The project complies with the intent of the Hillside Overlay
District, which seeks to facilitate appropriate development of hillside areas. The site is a
downslope lot with an elevation change of approximately 5 feet from the west to east property
lines.
Retaining Walls:The maximum permitted retaining wall height is 4 feet within the Hillside
Overlay District,with stepped retaining walls permitted to have a maximum height of 3 feet with
a minimum 3 foot separation between the stepped walls.The applicant is proposing 4 foot
maximum retaining walls around the concrete patio to the east and west of the subject site. No
retaining walls are proposed in excess of 4 feet and a minimum 3-foot separation is proposed
between the stepped retaining wall.
Perimeter Walls and Fencing: The applicant proposes 5 foot high perimeter walls along the
north, south and east property lines. The north property line already has a perimeter wall in
place. The proposed perimeter walls are in keeping with Hillside Design Guideline Sections
17.122.020.E., having walls that integrate the materials and colors used of the residence. The
front yard will have a 30-inch accent wall.
DRC COMMENTS
HILLSIDE DESIGN REVIEW DRC2018-01013- RAMY IBRAHIM
August 20, 2019
Page 3
Grading: The proposed grading design limits earthwork to 480 cubic yards of import, which is
necessary to construct the foundation of the residence. The foundation of the residence is
stepped with the existing grade, with the upper pad at an elevation of 1,450 feet, in
conformance with Hillside Design Section 17.122.020.D.1.a., to terrace the building to follow the
slope.
Building Envelope Analysis: Hillside Design Section 17.122.020.D.1.C. requires that residences
in the Hillside Overlay District be designed to fit within a 30-foot high building envelope. The
applicant has provided north-south and east-west cross-sections with building envelopes
demonstrating compliance with the 30-foot height requirement.
View Analysis: In conformance with Hillside Design Section 17.122.020.D.2., the residence has
increased side yard setbacks to avoid the appearance of overbuilding or crowding the lot and to
minimize view obstructions.
Landscape: The proposed landscaping will be designed to comply with Hillside Development
Section 17.122.020.F., including the use of drought-tolerant landscaping to protect slopes from
erosion and planting shrubs to soften the views of the downslope elevations. The project is not
within the High Fire Hazard Zone or within a wildland-urban interface area. A landscape plan
was not provided at this time but will be reviewed prior to moving the project forward to the
Planning Commission.
Staff Comments
Staff is in support of the architectural, site and grading design for the proposed 4,040 square
foot residence. The project conforms with the Development Code and the Hillside Design
Standards and Guidelines, including providing a grading design that balances the requirement
to reduce cut and fill to the greatest extent possible and to reduce the height of the structure to
limit view obstructions as seen from the residences to the north. The residence is well-designed
and carries the design theme to all elevations, including providing wall plane articulation. The
residence is stepped with the existing grade which further reduces the overall bulk as seen from
Alte Cuesta. Earthwork is limited to 480 cubic yards of import and grading is limited to the area
necessary to construct the residence, driveway and concrete patio area to the south of the
residence. The proposed design does not require Variances or Minor Exceptions.
Maior Issues: None
Secondary Issues: None
Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends that the Committee review the project and provide
comments as warranted. If the Committee finds the project acceptable, staff recommends that it
be forwarded to the Planning Commission for review and action.
Staff Planner: Mena Abdul-Ahad, Assistant Planner
Staff Coordinator: Mike Smith, Principal Planner