Commission agrees with residents: 2-story homes on private lot would be a detriment

The Planning Commission agreed with residents and the city zoning department Tuesday that a proposed development on a private parking lot in Huntington Harbour would block views, limit coastal access and restrict parking.

The commission voted 4-1 to deny a zoning-change request by the Stanko Family Trust, which wants to allow a developer to build two two-story homes on Davenport Drive near the marina.

The zoning department denied the proposal in April, stating the project does not conform with the city’s general plan for coastal development.

“The use of private land suitable for visitors serving commercial recreation facilities is going to be permanently eliminated as a result of this project,” John Ramirez, a city project planner, said at the April 21 zoning meeting.

Jane James, planning manager for Huntington Beach’s Community Development Department, said the lot has been zoned for low-density residential uses since it was developed in 1962.

That, she said, means the plans for larger homes totaling 12,000 square feet are non-conforming.

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Karen Otis, of Otis Architecture Inc., the architectural firm hired by the Stanko family, which lives in Rolling Hills, appealed the zoning decision to the Planning Commission.

Harbour residents have expressed concerns that the houses would block their views and reduce their home values.

The Coastal Commission, in a letter to the zoning department, expressed concerns about limiting views and public access to the marina.

Otis’s plan would have tried to preserve some parking in the marina, which is owned by the Stanko family.

She also said the family, which charges marina tenants to park, may open parking spots for the public.

Her client wants to sell this area of the marina to a developer, “in an effort to enhance it, rather than make anything worse.”

Joe Stanko, representing the Stanko Family Trust, said the new homes would blend in and not cause parking problems.

“The last thing we want to do is compromise the parking for our marina tenants,” he said, “but we did a study and found we have more than enough parking.”

Mark Prouse, whose family owns a home directly across from the proposed development, said he believes the project would restrict parking, especially during peak times.

He also said the view of the marina would be blocked and “create an obstacle” for people to access the marina.

“It would be the absolute most blocking obstruction from every angle, and I think that is why there is such a significant concern here,” Prouse said.

On Tuesday, Tarrik Shawa, a 12-year-resident, asked those in the audience against the project to raise their hands.

The entire crowd of about two dozen obliged.

“As you can see, there’s a lot of opposition here,” he said.

Bobbi Ashurst, who lives downtown, said she was “disappointed” in Planning Commissioner Mike Hoskinson, who supported the project.

“This is high-density development on a smaller scale,” Ashurst said.

Hoskinson, who works in real estate, said he was sympathetic to the Stanko family’s property rights.

Commissioner Dan Kalmick argued those rights did not outweigh potential negative impacts.

“This is an exercise of property rights for financial gain,” he said. “I just don’t see this working as this is.”

Chairman Ed Pinchiff agreed, expressing concerns about parking and compatibility.

“Perhaps there is a design that could fit, but I don’t think that is an option right now,” he said.

The commission voted 4-1, with Hoskinson dissenting. Commissioners Lyn Semeta and Connie Mandic were absent.

The Stanko family has 10 business days to appeal to the City Council but hasn’t decided whether it will.

“The Planning Commission did their best to weigh all the opinions of the community and the property owner,” Otis said. “Unfortunately, the property owner’s rights seemed to be very limited given the outcome of the meeting.”

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Brittany Woolsey, brittany.woolsey@latimes.com

Twitter: @BrittanyWoolsey

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