Title
PLN18-0331 - Certificate of Approval - 1447 ½ Eighth Street - Applicant: James Snider. Public hearing to consider a Certificate of Approval to allow a 447 square foot single story addition at the rear of an existing 497 square foot detached single family house which will require demolition of more than 30% of the structure’s current value, as determined by the Building Official. The property is not listed on the City’s Historic Building Study List. The project site is located in the R-5 (General Residential) Zoning District.
Body
BACKGROUND
On July 24, 2018 the applicant submitted a Design Review application for a 447 square foot addition at 1447 ½ Eighth Street, which is a 497 square foot single story detached single family home at the rear of a lot that has one other detached single family home at the front of the property, which has the address of 1447 Eighth Street. Per City records 1447 ½ Eighth Street was built in 1914. Per Alameda Municipal Code Section 13-21.7, the demolition of 30% or more of the value of an existing structure built before 1942 requires a Certificate of Approval by the Historical Advisory Board. Based on the preliminary demolition plans the Building Official determined the project will result in the removal of more than 30% of the structure’s current value, there requiring a Certificate of Approval from the Historical Advisory Board (HAB).
ANALYSIS
Site History
The residence located at the front of the property, 1447 Eighth Street, was built in approximately 1906 by an unknown builder for Marie F. Renner. This primary residence is a one story Colonial Revival cottage that has been altered over the years. Most notably a portion of the crawl space under house was excavated and converted into a one car garage with a street facing garage door.
In 1914 the smaller 497 square foot single family residence, 1447 ½ Eighth Street, was built at the rear of the property by J.R. Leavers, also for Marie F. Renner. Research of City records and historical resources publications did not reveal any information suggesting either J.R. Leavers or Marie F. Renner being important persons to the history of the City of Alameda nor having made contributions to the cultural heritage of local or regional history. 1447 ½ Eighth Street is also a one story cottage with a front facing gable, with a 2:1 slope, and wood shingle sidings. Since its construction there have been two small additions to the rear that had shed roofs. Some of the original windows have been replaced over the years, the original wood shingles have been replaced in patches over the years, and in general are in disrepair across the entirety of the building, see Exhibit 2.
Proposed Project
The applicant is proposing to demolish of the back half of 1447 ½ Eighth Street to build a new addition that will add a second bedroom, remodeled bathroom and dining room, and will increase the size of the existing bedroom, living room, and kitchen. The proposed addition will widen the back of the building by three feet (3’) and will extend the back wall eight feet (8’) towards the rear property line. The applicant is also proposing a small deck at the back of the addition. The proposed addition and deck meet the development standards for the R-5 Zoning District. Due to the poor conditions of the wood shingle siding, the applicant is proposes installing new wood shingles along the entire house. The height of the ridge of the roof will increase from eighteen feet and six inches (18’6”) to twenty feet (20’), this is due to widening the house while maintaining the same roof pitch.
FINDINGS
The subject residence is not listed on the Historic Building Study List and is not considered a historic resource, however, the building was constructed prior to 1942 and requires approval of a Certificate of Approval. Staff recommends the following findings in support of the Certificate of Approval, which are criteria used to evaluate whether a property can qualify as a historic resource under State law.
1. The structure to be demolished does not embody distinctive characteristics of a type, period, region, or method of construction, nor does it represent the work of an important creative individual. The existing structure does not possess high artistic value and does not reflect the work of a master. Many other Colonial Revival cottages exist in Alameda that exhibit greater architectural character and are better examples of bungalows popular during the early 1900s.
2. There are no events associated with this property that make a significant contribution to the history or cultural heritage of local or regional history. Review of City records and historical resources publications has not provided any additional information that suggests that this structure has historical and cultural merit.
3. The property is not associated with persons important to local, state or national history. Staff was unable to find any records that define the property as containing historical and cultural merit in association with the lives of important individuals. Review of City records, historical resources publications, and a search for other available records, it is unlikely this property had any important historical association.
4. The property does not yield any information important in prehistory or history. While the property was developed in the early 1900s, it is not likely to yield more information about prehistory or history of the local community than what is already known.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The project is Categorically Exempt from additional environmental review pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, Section 15301(e) - Existing Facilities, which allows for additions of less than 10,000 square feet when the project site is adequately served by public services and facilities to allow for maximum development permissible in the General Plan and the project site is not located within an environmentally sensitive area. The proposed project is 447 square feet in size, is adequately served by existing public services and facilities, and is not located within an environmentally sensitive area.
PUBLIC NOTICE
This agenda item was advertised in the Alameda Sun and public notices were distributed to property owners within 300 feet of the project site as required by the AMC. No comments were received by staff at the time this report was written.
RECOMMENDATION
Find the proposed project exempt from CEQA and adopt the attached Resolution approving the Certificate of Approval to demolish more than 30% of the current value of a structure built prior to 1942 to facilitate a one-story addition.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED BY:
David Sablan, AICP
Planner II
Exhibits:
1. Project Plans
2. Site Photos
3. Draft Resolution