Project Title:
Variance and Kensington Design Review for Deck
County File:
CDVR25-01041
Applicant:
Owner:
Jamie Groetsch, The Architects Office
Stephen C Lowry Tre
Zoning:
R-6 Single-Family Residential District (R-6), Tree Obstruction of Views Combining District (-TOV), Kensington Combining District (-K)
General Plan:
Residential Medium Density (RM)
Site Address/Location
242 Yale Avenue, Kensington, CA 94708 / APN: 570-071-005
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Status:
Categorical Exemption, CEQA Guidelines Section 15301(e)
Project Planner:
Chloe Partain, Planner I - phone: (925) 655-2857 and email: chloe.partain@dcd.cccounty.us
Staff Recommendation:
Approve (See section II for full recommendation)
I. PROJECT SUMMARY
The applicant requests approval of (1) a Development Plan with a Kensington Design Review to allow the construction of a new, approximately 135-square-foot uncovered deck extending from the rear of the second floor of an existing single-family residence with a gross floor area of 2,693 square feet, where the maximum gross floor area is 2,000 square feet and (2) a Variance Permit to allow a 9'-11" secondary frontage setback (where 15' is the minimum) for the construction of a new, uncovered deck that meets the requirements of Section 26-2.2006 of the County Ordinance Code.
II. RECOMMENDATION
The Department of Conservation and Development, Community Development Division (CDD) staff recommends that the Zoning Administrator:
1. OPEN the public hearing for the Variance and Kensington Design Review (County File #CDVR25-01041), ACCEPT public testimony, and CLOSE the public hearing;
2. DETERMINE that the project is categorically exempt from CEQA;
3. APPROVE County File #CDVR25-01041 based on the attached Findings and Conditions of Approval; and
4. DIRECT staff to file a Notice of Exemption.
III. BACKGROUND
The application was submitted as a Variance application on August 26, 2025. The development results in a gross floor area that exceeds th...
Click here for full text