HomeMy WebLinkAboutV 2017-0007; KERWIN RV VARIANCE; Admin Decision LetterFebruary 16, 2018
Mark F. Kerwin
1753 Tamarack Avenue
Carlsbad, CA 92008
H, F-e-i l B
FILE
SUBJECT: V 2017-0007 (DEV2017-0166}-KERWIN RV VARIANCE
{'Cityof
Carlsbad
The City Planner has completed a review of your application for an Administrative Variance, V 2017-0003,
to allow the parking of an approximately 8-foot wide by 26-foot long recreational vehicle (RV) in the
required front yard setback located at 1753 Tamarack Avenue. After careful consideration of the
circumstances surrounding this request, the City Planner has determined that the five findings required
for granting an Administrative Variance can be made and therefore, APPROVES this request based on the
following findings and conditions.
Findings:
1. That parking in, or access to, the side or rear yard will require structural alteration to the existing
residence, or will require the removal of significant or unique landscaping in that requiring the
recreational vehicle (RV) to be within an enclosed structure or in the side/rear yard while
observing all required setbacks (CMC Section 21.44.060 Table E) is not possible as it would
require significant structural alterations to the residence, removal of significant landscaping,
and relocation of a utility cabinet and gas and electrical meters to accommodate the RV in the
side or rear yards. Significant mature landscaping would have to be removed to allow RV access
to the 17-foot-wide east side yard. Structural alterations to the existing residence would be
required to allow the RV to park and be accessed within the 11-foot-wide west side yard.
2. That parking in, or access to, the side or rear yard will require extensive grading in that the side
yards are constrained by a substantial amount of mature landscaping, utility cabinet and
meters, and a downslope extending from the west property line. These existing conditions
would require an extensive amount of vegetation removal, relocation of utilities, and extensive
grading and a potential retaining wall to accommodate and support the RV in a side yard.
3. That parking of the recreational vehicle in the front yard will not interfere with visibility to or from
Tamarack Avenue in that:
a. The subject property and adjacent lots are located on an outside curve of Tamarack Avenue,
which does not create inherent sight distance issues along the street.
b. There is a five-foot-wide sidewalk, an eight-foot-wide on-street parking lane, and a five-
foot-wide bike lane totaling 18 feet of distance between the end of the driveway and the
nearest vehicular travel lane (eastbound) on Tamarack Avenue.
Community & Economic Development
Planning Division I 1635 Faraday Avenue Carlsbad, CA 92008-7314 I 760-602-4600 I 760-602-8560 f I www.carlsbadca.gov
V 2017-0007 (DEV2017-0166) -KERWIN RV VARIANCE
February 16, 2018
Pa e 2
c. The subject properw.'s. driveway ~-i!il feet long and can easily accommodate the 26-foot
long RV without enGrQa~hinftf rtjo~isidewalk and public right-of-way, so the RV will not
interfere with visibiU,ty.f!iQTTitW jlong&amarack Avenue.
d. City traffic records show that over a ten-year span, ten traffic accidents were reported on
Tamarack Avei:tue between the intersections of Park Drive and Skyline Road. None of the
accidents were directly linked to the RV impacting visibility.
e. As conditioned, the RV will not interfere with visibility to Tamarack Avenue from passenger
vehicles exiting from the subject property's driveway. As conditioned, the RV will not
interfere with visibility to Tamarack Avenue from the driveway of the adjacent property to
the west as a result of the 18-foot distance from the end of the driveway to the nearest
vehicular travel lane on Tamarack Avenue and the increased distance between the RV and
the adjacent property's driveway. Additionally, there is sufficient distance and substantial
landscape between the subject property's driveway and the driveway of the adjacent
property to the east so as not to interfere with visibility to Tamarack Avenue.
4. That the recreational vehicle in the front yard will not interfere with traffic on the street or
sidewalk, or encroach into the street and utility right-of-way in that the driveway of the residence
is approximately 29 feet deep from the face of the garage to the back of sidewalk, which is an
adequate depth to park a 26-foot long RV. Therefore, the RV will not encroach into the public
right-of-way, thus allowing for street and sidewalk traffic to proceed unobstructed.
5. That the City Planner has determined that the project belongs to a class of projects that the State
Secretary for Resources has found do not have a significant impact on the environment, and it is
therefore categorically exempt from the requirement for the preparation of environmental
documents pursuant to Section 15061(b}(3} of the state CEQA Guidelines because it can be seen
with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant
effect on the environment. In making this determination, the City Planner has found that the
exceptions listed in Section 15300.2 of the state CEQA Guidelines do not apply to this project.
Conditions:
1. The Recreational Vehicle (RV} shall be parked on the east half of the driveway at 1753 Tamarack
Avenue at all times it is on-site.
2. The RV is not considered a habitable structure when parked on the property and shall not be
used in such a manner.
3. When parked on the property, all "slide-outs," "pop-ups," awnings or similar features shall not
be deployed and shall be kept in the "in" or "down" position in order to minimize the mass of
the RV.
4. Approval is granted for V 2017-0007 as shown on Exhibit "A", dated February 16, 2018, on file in
the Planning Division and incorporated herein by reference. Development shall occur
substantially as shown unless otherwise noted in these conditions.
V 2017-0007 (DEV2017-0166) -KERWIN RV VARIANCE
February ·16, 2018
Page 3
This decision may be appealed by you or any member ofthe public to the Planning Commission within ten
days of receipt of this letter. Appeals must be submitted in writing to the Planning Commission at 1635
Faraday Avenue in Carlsbad, along with a payment of $850.00. The filing of such appeal within such time
limit shall stay the effective date of the order of the City Planner until such time as a final decision on the
appeal is reached. If you have any questions regarding this matter, please feel free to contact Paul Dan
at (760) 602-4614.
Sincerely,
TERI DELCAMP
Principal Planner
TD:PD:sc
c: Don Neu, City Planner
Kyrenne Chua, Project Engineer
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