DATE: November 18, 2025
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Steven E. White, Director
Department of Public Works and Planning
SUBJECT: Appeal of Planning Commission's denial of Variance Application No. 4156 and Initial Study No. 8482 (Applicant/Appellant: Colin Kawano)
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Consider appeal of the Planning Commission's denial of Variance Application No. 4156 proposing to allow the creation of a 1.27-acre parcel from an existing 39.38-acre parcel and allow a 10-foot side-yard setback for an existing garage on the 38.11-acre remainder parcel in the AE-20 (Exclusive Agricultural, 20-acre minimum parcel size) Zone District; and
2. If your Board chooses to grant the Appeal and overturn the Planning Commission's denial of Variance Application No. 4156, it would be appropriate to:
a) Adopt the Negative Declaration prepared for the project based on Initial Study No. 8482; and
b) Make the required Findings specified in Section 860.5.060.D for approval of a variance stating the basis for making the four required variance findings; and
c) Approve Variance Application No. 4156, with Conditions of Approval contained within the Staff Report to the Planning Commission.
The subject parcel is located on the north side of E. Caruthers Avenue, approximately 0.25-miles east from the intersection with south De Wolf Avenue, approximately 0.9-miles south of the City of Selma (APN: 385-102-02s) (8420 E. Caruthers Avenue) (Sup. Dist. 4).
REPORT
This item comes before your Board on appeal of the Planning Commission's denial (6 to 2, with one Commissioner absent) at its July 24, 2025, hearing. Department Staff notes that the Zoning Ordinance requires your Board to determine, independent from the decision of the Planning Commission, whether the application should be approved, approved with stated conditions, or denied. A copy of the Planning Commission's action is included as Attachment A. This item pertains to a location in District 4.
ALTERNATIVE A...
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