Everyone agreed that the design was innovative, and that the applicant reached out to neighbors to try and get support for the project. But in the end, City Council still denied Brett Rice the right to build a small, single family dwelling on his property.
The lot is located at 301 Laverne Ave. in Del Ray. “The best way to describe this street is eclectic,” said Rice's representative, Duncan Blair. “If there is any place to put such a house, this is it.”
The problem is that the lot does not meet current specifications as a “buildable” lot. "If this lot was in Old Town, it would be considered large,” Blair said. “I know you don’t want to hear this, because these are difficult cases, but we just ask you to please listen.”
The lot is 4,200 square feet. Buildable lots are required to be 6,500 square feet.
“The Planning Commission denied this application and the applicant asked for a deferral before bringing it to council,” said Eileen Fogarty, the director of the Planning and Zoning Department. “The applicant has now come back with a new drawing, which is much better than the one before. We are still recommending denial because the lot just isn’t large enough.”
Rice had proposed a 1,300-square-foot house. “I believe that it works very well with the neighboring houses and I have gotten the support of my immediate neighbors,” he said.
Except for that of Sarah Pearson. “I represent myself and some of my neighbors,” she said. “We live at ground zero. Until Mr. Rice bought this lot, we thought it was the side yard of the next house. It just isn’t big enough for any house,” she said.
Councilwoman Joyce Woodson did not agree. “Mr. Rice is correct,” she said. “I think this house fits quite nicely with others in the neighborhood. I am going to recommend that we overturn the Planning Commission and approve construction of this house.”
The vote was split, four to three in favor of upholding Planning and denying Rice’s request. Blair said they would return next year with another proposal.