The architect will continue to work with the city of San Diego on its request for a sidewalk; committee members support preserving the eucalyptus trees.
Plans for a new home at 6135 La Jolla Mesa Drive received La Jolla Development Permit Review committee approval April 15. The project now advances to the La Jolla Community Planning Association for ratification.
The proposal would demolish an existing 3,881 square-foot one-story single dwelling unit with a detached garage and existing pool and hardscape and construct a new 8,266 square-foot two-story single dwelling unit with an attached three-car garage, a new pool, spa and landscape.
The project was first heard April 8, with the structure’s design earning DPR trustees’ praise. Trustees asked applicant representative and architect Tim Martin to return with detailed renderings of what a new curb and gutter would look like, along with how the frontage landscaping would coordinate with the rest of the neighborhood.
The landscaping and curb and gutter designs followed a city of San Diego request to add in curb and gutter, street widening and a sidewalk along the front property line.
Martin is pushing back on the sidewalk request, however, as the property has more than a dozen eucalyptus trees along the frontage that would need to be removed with the establishment of a sidewalk.
“We’ve designed the project around [the trees],” Martin said April 15. “They’re at least 50 years old, and … their life span is usually about 200 years.”
Martin showed new renderings showing incorporation of trees with more landscaping designs and a curb and gutter along the entire property’s frontage, widening the street in one portion that would not harm the trees.
The rest of the landscaping, he said, is “low shrubs and ground cover along the right of way, in front of the wall and surrounding the eucalyptus trees.”
Martin brought photos of surrounding homes to show how the landscaping conforms with the rest of the neighborhood.
“We are not proposing a sidewalk,” he said, as there “aren’t any in the neighborhood. You don’t get to any sidewalks until you get to La Jolla Scenic [Drive] a few blocks away.”
“The compromise that [Martin] has come up with is pleasant,” said DPR trustee John Fremdling in expressing concern the city would not like the new plans, “but it doesn’t address the widening of the street, except for those little sections.”
Martin conceded the city may not approve the new plans but “you have to start somewhere,” adding in further discussions with the city he will try to preserve the eucalyptus trees.
“We have the opportunity to suggest to the city that we approve the project, we acknowledge that there are … issues with respect to curb and gutter and sidewalk,” DPR Chair Brian Will said. “We don’t think a sidewalk is appropriate in that neighborhood or consistent with community character.”
Additionally, he added, “we would like to see the city work with the applicant to preserve the eucalyptus trees, if at all possible.”
A motion summarizing Will’s comments was approved unanimously.
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