Planning Commission · meeting of Tuesday, Oct. 28
A healthy redwood comes down at 100 Piedmont Court, over Audubon objections
At 100 Piedmont Court, property owner Steven Crystal asked the Planning Commission for a heritage tree removal permit for a healthy front-yard redwood measuring 106 inches in circumference. The tree's roots have pushed up the driveway badly enough, Crystal told the commission, that the breakover angle now scrapes vehicles — including a wheelchair-accessible van used by his father-in-law, who has MS — and his wife's Honda Fit bottoms out. An arborist's report concluded that cutting the offending roots would destabilize the tree and lead to failure, leaving removal and stump grinding as the only viable option.
“super reluctantly yes”— Chair Swisser, voting to approve the removal
The required 15-day protest period drew one protest, citing the tree's aesthetic and ecological value and northern spotted owl habitat. Two Marin Audubon speakers appeared by Zoom. Elise Onik said the neighborhood sits in an active northern spotted owl zone, though she acknowledged the owls did not nest there this year — which she attributed to other trees in the neighborhood being cut down. An ecologist confirmed no owls nested at the site this year. Marin Audubon president Barbara Salzman argued that a tree is part of an ecosystem and that, given how many redwoods lift sidewalks and driveways across Marin, some solution short of removal ought to be findable.
Commissioners weren't happy about it, but they didn't see an alternative — one noted that if the roots were cut the tree would eventually fail anyway, so "either way the tree goes away." The vote was 5-0 to approve, with a recommendation, not a binding condition, that the owner plant a replacement tree elsewhere on the property at his discretion. Chair Swisser cast his vote "super reluctantly"; Commissioner Wagstaff's was "very reluctantly, yes." The decision is subject to a 15-day appeal period.
Planning Commission · meeting of Tuesday, Oct. 28
Trimmed by 1,600 square feet, the 80 La Cuesta rebuild wins unanimous approval
At 80 La Cuesta, the commission approved demolition of the existing house and construction of a new three-story 5,572 sq ft residence, including a 532 sq ft basement, 527 sq ft attached garage and a 700 sq ft attached ADU. The package required a variance for a 10'9" front garage setback where 15 feet is required (matching the existing condition), an FAR exception allowing 0.326 where 0.25 is the maximum, and a slope use permit covering 290 cubic yards of cut and 101 cubic yards of fill, with 189 cubic yards hauled off site.
“I was not a fan of the design originally. I think it's a much much improved design now. Still not a fan of flat roofs, but that's just me.”— a Planning Commissioner, voting to approve
The project came back after a June 2025 hearing at which commissioners asked for less bulk. Architect Kevin Hardy of Chambers and Chambers said the redesign cut roughly 1,600 square feet overall and about 1,000 square feet of FAR, eliminated attic and deck space above the garage, added stepbacks and clerestory windows on the east elevation facing the uphill neighbor, and added a shade study. The homeowners told the commission the ADU is planned so a caretaker can eventually live on site: two of their children and the husband have muscular dystrophy, and their daughter is expected to use a wheelchair absent a cure.
Staff recommended approval if the findings could be made. One commissioner who had opposed the earlier scheme said it had come a long way. Chair Swisser said the staff report's 0.36 FAR figure had sent him to the phone to ask why the house was still so large — before learning it was a typo. The commission voted 5-0 to approve, and agreed to allow an applicant-proposed 80 sq ft upper-floor study on top of the approved plans, one commissioner noting it added less than 0.1 to the FAR. A 10-day appeal period applies.
Planning Commission · meeting of Tuesday, Oct. 28
Heatherwood Park pump station rebuild approved, minus the sandbags and the public outlets
Public Works won approval to demolish the sewer and storm drain pump station at 90 Diane Lane in Heatherwood Park and build a new 565 sq ft concrete platform structure with rooftop equipment, including a new generator, on a smaller footprint. The project needed design review, a rear-yard setback variance — 3'2" where 15 feet is required — and a conditional use permit for a public utility building in the R-1 district. Plans include a pittosporum hedge and lily plantings, textured and colored concrete chosen for graffiti resistance, and a pedestrian path relocated away from the structure.
“I'm really glad to see this thing getting done. It's been very entertaining watching it.”— Commissioner Wagstaff, speaking as a resident before recusing himself
Neighbor Nen Arshime of 88 Diane Lane said he was happy with the design improvements but urged the city to be longsighted and add electrical outlets that could be powered by the city-owned emergency generator. Public Works Director Julian Skinner pushed back, saying a storm drain pump station is not a place the city wants people congregating and charging phones during an outage. Michael Lewis of 23 Midway said he'd never seen the previously discussed sandbag station used — it isn't in this project — and suggested tag-proof paint, noting the building gets tagged a lot. A commissioner summed up the evening's theme: landscaping around the building matters.
The vote was 4-0, with Commissioner Wagstaff recusing because he lives in Heatherwood Gardens; he spoke during public comment first, saying he was glad to see the project finally happening. A 10-day appeal period applies.