Summary
The City of San Diego to demolish an existing 3,009 square foot residence and construct a new 11,062 square foot, two-story over basement single-family residence with attached 4-car garage, hardscape, and retaining walls, with existing pool, spa, and seawall.
Why You Should Care
This project raised a serious question about whether developers should be allowed to use the entire area (square footage) of a public beach to justify the allowable size of a massive private beachfront structure.
Outcome
Pro-Coast Vote
Anti-Coast Vote
The Commission voted 7 to 4 to deny the appeal based on a finding of no substantial issue. Commissioners Zimmer and Bochco expressed concerns over the City allowing the inclusion of non-buildable beach area to determine the maximum size of the house, the use of beach policies instead of blufftop policies to determine the setback and the limiting of the lateral access easement to passive recreation.
Organizations Opposed
The appellant claimed property surveys resulted in an erroneous measurement of Romney’s lot size by including approximately 6,000 sq. ft. of the beach and that the scale of the proposed residence was out of character with the surroundings.
Decision Type
CDP Appeal
Staff Recommendation
No substantial issue and denial of appeal.