A proposal to build a two-story accessory dwelling unit in the La Jolla Farms neighborhood drew concerns from neighbors and the La Jolla Development Permit Review Committee during the DPR’s May 20 meeting online. Thus, the project team will return at a future meeting — possibly with revised plans.
The development would build a 735-square-foot two-story detached ADU on a site with an existing one-story house at 9450 La Jolla Shores Drive. Despite the address, the property is in La Jolla Farms.
The project originally included a balcony, according to the applicant team, but that has been withdrawn and will be replaced with skylights and a second story.
But neighbor Paola Cessi said the proposed second story would create a “watchtower” appearance that would affect surrounding houses. She called it “a major invasion of privacy for six lots” and “is not in keeping with the neighborhood character.” Other neighbors echoed the worries about privacy.
Cessi further argued that the goals of adequate livable space, maintaining community character and having views to the outside would be achieved with a one-story project.
“This is a very narrow and tall building, much taller than the other buildings around, and will overlook into the backyards of six lots” and some bedrooms, she said.
La Jolla Shores Association board member Cindy Goodman said the construction would “set a precedent … that is not OK. … I think you will be looking at a bunch of two-story ADUs if this goes through.”
DPR member John Shannon suggested the applicant team work with the immediate neighbors on the second-story issue.
“I like to see … neighbors work together to come to some sort of agreement,” he said. “It’s never good to look the other way when you take the trash cans out because you have polluted the relationship with your neighbors.”
In light of such concerns, the applicant team and homeowners agreed to revisit the plans and assess whether the project could be revised to one story. The project will return at a future meeting for further discussion and possibly a vote.
Other DPR news
Copa de Oro: The DPR Committee voted to a project to build a new 5,361-square-foot house on a vacant lot with the tentative address of 1510 Copa de Oro Drive and issued the opinion that a sidewalk fronting the property should not be required.
During a previous hearing, applicant Brian Will — who as DPR chairman recused himself from the committee’s discussion and vote — said the city of San Diego is requesting installation of a sidewalk, curb and gutter as part of the project, though there are no other sidewalks in the immediate area.
During his presentation May 20, Will said “A sidewalk would require a retaining wall or steep grading at the frontage of our lot and will dead-end at the uphill end of our lot and the downhill side of our lot. … The only [established] sidewalk on Copa de Oro is the sidewalk along Rutgers Road that turns up the length of the first lot [on the street].”
Will said a project under construction nearby put in a sidewalk immediately in front of it that he called “a sidewalk that goes to nowhere.”
“This is just one of those oddball things where, instead of [funding the construction of sidewalks] with tax dollars, it’s done with the houses that request coastal development permits,” Will said.
San Diego city spokesman Richard Berg previously told the La Jolla Light that while similar sidewalk requests have been coming up recently, the city policy they stem from isn’t new.
“If the project requires compliance with current public improvement regulations, the installation of a city-standard sidewalk is typically required where one is missing,” Berg said. “In neighborhoods without existing sidewalks, site development, redevelopment and subdivision activities are an opportunity to obtain portions of the pedestrian infrastructure needed to comply with city and [Americans with Disabilities Act] regulations, as well as the General Plan and Community Plan documents, where applicable.”
But DPR trustee Brian Williams said images of the existing sidewalks on Copa de Oro demonstrate “how out of character that request is” and called it “foolish.”
The board voted 4-0 to the project proposed by Will, with abstentions by him and trustee Angeles Leira, who had technical issues with Zoom.
Next meeting: The La Jolla Development Permit Review Committee will next meet (pending items to review) at 4 p.m. Tuesday, June 10, online. The agenda will be posted 72 hours in advance at lajollaa.org. ♦
