CITY COUNCIL: Appeal of Planning Commission's Decision to Deny Design Study Application for Aluminum Clad Windows on a Residence

Meeting Date: 2 March 2010
Prepared by: Marc Wiener, Assistant Planner

City Council
Agenda Item Summary

Name: Consideration of an appeal of the Planning Commission’s decision to deny a Design Study application for aluminum clad windows on a residence at Camino Real 2 SW of Ocean Avenue. The appellant is Claudio Ortiz Design Group, on behalf of owner Scott Negri.

Description: The appellant is requesting that the Council overturn the Planning Commission’s decision to deny the aluminum clad windows.

Overall Cost:
City Funds: N/A
Grant Funds: N/A

Staff Recommendation: Review the window sample and determine if the windows are or are not appropriate.

Important Considerations: Design Guideline 9.11 states, “materials other than authentic, unclad wood are appropriate only when it can be demonstrated that the proposed material is more appropriate to the architecture.” A four-member committee was formed to review the City’s policy on residential window applications. The committee is scheduled to present its recommendations to the Planning Commission in April.

Decision Record: The Planning Commission denied the proposal for aluminum clad windows by a vote of 4-1 on 13 January 2010.

Reviewed by:

__________________________ _____________________
Rich Guillen, City Administrator Date

CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA
STAFF REPORT
TO: MAYOR McCLOUD AND COUNCIL MEMBERS
THROUGH: RICH GUILLEN, CITY ADMINISTRATOR
FROM: MARC WIENER, ASSISTANT PLANNER
DATE: 2 MARCH 2010
SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF AN APPEAL OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION’S DECISION TO DENY A DESIGN STUDY APPLICATION FOR ALUMINUM CLAD WOOD WINDOWS ON A RESIDENCE AT CAMINO REAL 2 SW OF OCEAN AVENUE. THE APPELLANT IS CLAUDIO ORTIZ DESIGN GROUP, ON BEHALF OF OWNER SCOTT NEGRI.

SUMMARY RECOMMENDATION
Review the window sample and determine if the windows are or are not appropriate.

BACKGROUND
This site is located on the west side of Camino Real between Ocean and 7th avenues and is developed with a two-story residence. Staff approved a Track One Design Study application on 6 February 2009 for exterior alterations to the existing residence. The approval included the use of unclad wood windows throughout the project. The applicant subsequently submitted an application for aluminum clad wood windows, which was denied by the Planning Commission.

In the past, Carmel-by-the-Sea has strongly encouraged using unclad wood windows on residential projects. In recent years, however, aluminum windows have been approved several times by the Design Review Board, Planning Commission and City Council, as applicants have proposed clad windows for maintenance and cost purposes. Approval of wood clad windows was primarily based on window quality and the architectural style of the home.

The Planning Commission recently expressed concern about whether use of wood clad windows meets the intent of the Design Guidelines. A four-member committee was formed and has been meeting to review the City’s policy on residential window applications. The committee is scheduled to present its recommendations to the Planning Commission in April.

EVALUATION
Basis for Appeal: The appellant’s reasons for appealing the Planning Commission’s decision are:

• Guidelines provide the opportunity to use aluminum clad windows.

• Clad windows should be given the same consideration as metal roofing.

• The Planning Commission has been inconsistent in the approval of aluminum clad windows.

Windows: Regarding window materials, Design Guideline 9.11 states, “materials other than authentic, unclad wood are appropriate only when it can be demonstrated that the proposed material is more appropriate to the architecture.” Guideline 9.6 states, “some new materials may be considered only if they convey a scale and texture similar to that of traditional materials.”

The Guidelines encourage the use of unclad wood windows. Aluminum clad wood windows, however, present an appearance that is similar to a wood window when viewed at a distance, which is the basis for most approvals. The Council should determine if the proposed windows are or are not appropriate for this residence.

Summary of PC Review: The Planning Commission denied the application for aluminum clad windows by a 4-1 vote at the hearing on 13 January 2010. The primary basis for the denial is that aluminum clad windows are not consistent with the Design Guidelines.

RECOMMENDATION
Review the window sample and determine if the windows are or are not appropriate.