The Advisory Design Review Group is a volunteer committee that was appointed by the Ross Town Council in 2008. The group is composed of five Ross residents, including residents that have professional design backgrounds in architecture, landscape design or other comparable fields. The committee members serve a two-year term and may serve multiple terms.

The group meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in Ross Town Hall, 31 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, at the corner of Lagunitas Road. Agendas are available at Town Hall and on the Town's website on the Friday prior to each meeting.

Advisory Design Review Group: Email the entire ADR Group >>

ADR Openings

Two of the ADR positions will be open for appointment/reappointment in February 2012. The Council seeks two residents with professional design backgrounds, preferably architects. ADR Members serve two-year terms.

Serving on ADR is a unique opportunity to make a positive contribution to the design and appearance of our community and help neighbors come together on development issues. The ADR Group is composed of five volunteer Ross residents, four with professional design backgrounds in architecture, landscape design or other comparable fields and one non-design professional resident. This group, which is advisory to staff and not a decision-making body, meets once a month at Ross Town Hall to provide homeowners with early community input on development plans. The meetings are currently scheduled for the fourth Tuesday of the month from 6:30-8:30 p.m. In addition to attending the meetings, members must review project plans and visit properties.

If you are interested in serving on the ADR group, please submit an application form (application) to the Town Council by February 2, 2012. The Council will consider applications from current and prospective members at its February 9, 2012 meeting.

For more information please contact Elise Semonian at esemonian@townofross.org or current ADR Chair Mark Fritts mark.fritts@autodesk.com.

For a copy of the Advisory Design Review Group Meeting Agenda on December 13, 2011 in PDF format, click here.

AGENDA

REGULAR MEETING of the ROSS ADVISORY
DESIGN REVIEW GROUP
TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2012

1. 6:30 P.M. Commencement.

2. Approval of Minutes for December 13, 2011.

3. Open Time for Public Expression.

4. Review of Draft Tree/Landscape Plan for Downtown Area and Town Hall Area.
The ADR group will consider a preliminary plan for planting new trees in the downtown area and Town Hall area. The plan includes improvement of the landscaping in the parking lot south of the post office.

5. 74 Baywood Avenue, Charles and Renee Sheppard, A.P.N. 72-131-10, Zoning: R-1:B-5A, Very Low Density (.1 - 1 units per acre), Flood Zone X.
Review of revised plans for a project that would require applications for a demolition permit, design review, hillside lot application, and setback variance. The project proposes a remodel and 2-story addition to the existing 2,412 square foot residence within the required hillside lot west side yard (45 feet required, 0 feet proposed) and east side yard (45 feet required, 25 feet proposed) setback areas. A total of 4,109 square feet of development is proposed.

Effective Lot area	27,843 square feet
Existing Floor Area Ratio	8.7%
Proposed Floor Area Ratio	14.8%	(15% permitted*)
Existing Lot Coverage	10.9%
Proposed Lot Coverage	14.2%	(15% permitted)

*The average slope of the lot is under 30% and the floor area is not reduced under the Hillside Lot Ordinance.

The existing residence is nonconforming in setbacks.

6. Discussion Regarding Variances.
Staff will review the findings that the Town Council must make to approve variances under the Ross Municipal Code and State law.

7. Discussion Regarding Staff Approval of Changes to Council-Approved Projects.
Staff will review current policies for staff approval of changes to Council-approved projects and discuss if modifications should be made to the existing policy.

8. Adjournment.

Plans are available for review during regular office hours in the Town Administration Office.  This meeting is intended to allow applicants to present the project and receive feedback from the public and the Advisory Design Review Group. The meeting is open to the public and you are welcome to attend, ask questions, and offer comments. The meeting will be held at Ross Town Hall located at the corner of Sir Francis Drake Boulevard and Lagunitas Road.

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the Town Manager at (415) 453-1453, extension 107 or (415) 453-1950 (Fax).  Notification at least 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the town to make reasonable accommodation to help insure accessibility to this meeting.