The carport contention remains, but La Jolla Development Permit Review trustees saw fit to recommend approval regardless.

Four reviews and one denial later, a project to demolish two homes and build two more in La Jolla received a 3-2 approval for recommendation at the March 17 La Jolla Development Permit Review Committee.

The project at 7404 and 7406 Monte Vista Ave, presented by applicant representative Michael Morton, would build two new 3,752-square-foot homes.

The plans were denied approval in January, due to contention over the designation of a carport, which DPR trustees have said is not a carport according to regulatory codes and therefore must be counted as a garage and included in the square footage measurement, which would be too much for the lot size.

At the March meeting, Morton showed a March 10 email from a city of San Diego planner in the Development Services Department that stated the carport “appears to qualify” for the gross floor area exemption.

“There it is in black and white,” Morton said. “I’m requesting you unanimously approve this project and recommend approval to the [La Jolla Community Planning Association].”

Trustees were not immediately satisfied, however; DPR trustee Glen Rasmussen stated there’s no reason provided by the city for the exemption.

“All you said was that they approved it, but I want to know why,” Rasmussen said.

The city “didn’t get into a lot of reasoning,” Morton said. “They just said it complies.”

Realizing carport definitions have gone through “an evolution,” DPR trustee Angeles Leira said she nevertheless “just cannot swallow” the exemption. 

Having “exhausted” the conversation, DPR trustee John Fremdling moved to recommend the project for approval; Three trustees approved the project with trustees Leira and AJ Remen opposed without further comment.