Murray Lane estate wins 4-0 nod for big addition, new ADU — with the historic consultant kept on site

At 9 Murray Lane, owners Aaron and Erin Kahn proposed adding roughly 1,767 square feet to the first story of a residence on the City's Historic Resources Inventory, along with a new two-car garage, a new 899-square-foot detached ADU at the rear of the lot, and a small addition to an existing detached workshop. The plans also call for rebuilding a historic porch and removing a deteriorated cottage and some trees to give the fire department access. Polsky Perlstein Architects is the applicant; the file is Project No. PLN25-027.

Staff asked the board to take testimony and forward a recommendation of approval to the Planning Commission, leaning on historic consultant Jerry Holland's finding that the work complies with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation. The architect told the board that the oldest fabric — "the old Murray house" — survives in the easterly portion of the building, and that Holland asked them to rebuild a porch in the style of that era even though the original is long gone.

The debate was less about size than about follow-through. One board member flagged Holland's conditions requiring the consultant to meet with the architect and construction crew before demolition and to observe construction at regular intervals, and said those steps really matter. Another member noted the property carries an A rating on the inventory and called the Murray name important to Larkspur's history. The owner said the family of five was shocked at the building's condition when they walked it, and that aging parents plan to move into the ADU eventually.

The board voted 4-0 to recommend approval, stipulating that the historic consultant's conditions A through D be followed. The recommendation now goes to the Planning Commission.

Fire-damaged Loma Vista house gets a hipped roof and a 3-0 blessing

At 8 Loma Vista Avenue — referred to on the recording as Alma Vista — the owner proposed rebuilding the rear portion of a historic residence damaged by a structure fire. The work includes a new rear staircase, converting a flat roof to a hipped roof, and enclosing about 30 square feet behind the garage. Environmental Resource Group, Inc. is the applicant for owner Alyson Douglas; Project No. PLN25-043.

“I have no objections. I appreciate you restoring it actually.”— a Heritage Preservation Board member, voting to approve

Historic consultant Jerry Holland found the project consistent with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards, and staff recommended forwarding approval to the Zoning Administrator. Board members agreed the changes read as compatible from the street, with one noting that a fire had destroyed the rear and something had to be done to make up for it.

The only member of the public to speak, James Holmes, said he had no objection and offered background on the building's architect, whom he believed had designed a bank building in Sausalito and specialized in commercial architecture for financial institutions.

The board approved 3-0. Chair Callain recused herself because she lives nearby and one member was absent, so the board first had to pick a chair pro tem — Carol Goldberg — before it could conduct business.