Branch Design Review (P5902)

The applicant requests Design Review approval to construct a new retaining wall and a new wood walk deck on a property developed with a single-family residence in an unincorporated area of Mill Valley.  The proposed retaining wall would extend 130 linear feet along the rear of the property that abuts Madera Way, a non-County-maintained road. The proposed retaining wall would range in height from a minimum of 10 feet to a maximum height of 14 feet, 6 inches above the surrounding grade. The extent of the retaining wall would have the following setbacks: 64 feet from the western front property line along Brighton Avenue; zero feet from the northern side property line; 41 feet from the southern side property line; and two feet, six inches from the edge of the access easement for Madera Way near the eastern rear property line. 

The proposed 280-square-foot walk deck would be located atop the proposed retaining wall structure, which would include an upper walk and a lower walk connected by stairs. The upper walk would reach a maximum height of two feet above the surrounding grade, and the lower deck would reach a maximum height of two feet above grade. The upper and lower walks would have the following setbacks: 59 feet from the western front property line along Brighton Avenue; zero feet from the northern side property line; 61 feet from the southern side property line; and seven feet, six inches from the edge of the access easement for Madera Way near the eastern rear property line. Various site improvements would also be entailed in the proposed development, including a series of concrete stairs providing access to the decks and residence from Madera Way, as well as a new concrete parking pad accessed from Madera Way.

Design Review approval is required pursuant to Section 22.42.020.C of the Marin County Development Code because the project proposes a retaining wall that does not conform to the standards for retaining walls provided in Section 22.20.052 (Retaining Wall Standards) of the code, and the upper and lower decks that would not conform to the setbacks established by the governing R1-B2 zoning district.

Zoning: R1-B2, residential single-family 
Countywide Plan Designation: SF5, low density residential 
Community Plan (if applicable): Tamalpais