Item 34 - Public Hearing - Appeal Application No. 2024-01 for Construction of a 23’-4” Tall Accessory Building (2221 N Heliotrope Drive)

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CUP No. 2022-06 — Maharajah House Moon Pavilion (2221 N. Heliotrope Drive) August 26, 2024 Page 8 Park Historic District, which is characterized in part by its variety of landscaping. As stated in the National Register nomination form for the historic district, "Landscaping varies from building to building, but as this is a point of pride within the neighborhood, landscaping is of high caliber. The majority of properties feature shallow lawns, mature shrubs and flower gardens. Perimeter fences, low walls, and hedges are usually present, and some are original to the property." In addition, the pavilion and bamboo would be confined to an area corresponding to a very limited portion of the property's northern frontage, approximately 100 linear feet. Because of the limited physical scale of the changes, the project would be partially visible only from very few public vantage points, further reducing its visual effects to the internal setting of the historic district. General Plan Consistency Finally, the CUP will be consistent with several goals and policies of the General Plan. Land Use Element policy LU-2.8 encourages land uses and development projects that promote the City's image as a cultural regional center. The applicant's proposed structure furthers this policy as it introduces a cultural element from Vietnam, the native country of the current owners. The structure was previously built in Vietnam and built in a traditional Vietnamese design, fabricated by Vietnamese artisans. Specifically, the structure would include prefabricated wood post members, traditional Vietnamese hand - carved wood details, and would include clay roofing tile, all reflective of the Vietnamese cultural architecture. The new structure would also be consistent with existing cultural structures relocated from Vietnam, previously. These structures include a roughly 20- foot-tall wood pavilion with intricately carved details and a tile -clad roof system; a nineteenth-century, traditional residence with an iron wood structural system; and multiple additional smaller structures of a traditional Vietnamese character Policy LU-3.4 advocates for scale and massing of new development to be compatible and harmonious with the surrounding built environment. As designed, the structure would be ancillary and subordinate the main single-family residence. The height of the proposed structure in comparison to the main residence is illustrated on the architectural plan provided in the project staff report. The height of the existing residence is approximately 25 feet while the tallest point of the pavilion (pavilion roof peak) is proposed to be a maximum of 23'-4". Therefore, the structure would be of an appropriate scale and massing. Moreover, the structure is built in a traditional Vietnamese design sharing a similar design, materials, and cultural characteristics as various other structures on the site, including an existing garden house. Thus, the proposed structure would be harmonious with the surrounding built environment. Furthermore, Policy LU-3.5 encourages the preservation and reuse of historical buildings and sites through flexible land use policies, while Policy HP-1.4 of the Historic Preservation Element encourages actively protecting historic and cultural resources. The installation of the proposed structure would not require the removal of any elements of the historic structure and would not result in any physical alterations. As such, the