The Santa Monica Planning Commission unanimously approved a three-unit condominium development Wednesday night over objections from a neighboring resident who warned of 18 months of construction disruption.
The project at 1527 17th Street will create new residential units attached to an existing Craftsman-style home that was designated a city landmark in 2018. The development takes advantage of city incentives that allow larger and closer construction in exchange for preserving historic structures.
Bert Hillkus, who lives in a building owned by the same developers proposing the construction, told commissioners the project would create significant hardship for neighboring residents.
"Their living rooms and kitchens face the construction, separated by only about 16 feet and a skinny lawn," Hillkus said, describing the impact on residents. He said the 18-month construction period would bring "significant noise, pollution, and truck traffic" including diesel trucks in the alley, with disruption expected to begin before the city's allowed 8 a.m. start time.
Hillkus also criticized incentives that allow developers to build "much taller and closer to property edges than typically allowed" and asked whether residents might receive compensation for the construction disruption.
Commissioner Jim D. Ries acknowledged the resident's concerns but emphasized the project complies with city code.
"I feel for your pain. Construction is never easy, but as I understand this project, it is completely within the code," Ries said. "We do incentivize the protection of structures of merit, and part of those incentives is to maintain the existing building. In exchange, we get some benefits."
The commissioner explained the city's rationale: "From the city standpoint, we're not only getting new units, but we're also getting a protected landmark building."
City staff recommended approval of the vesting tentative parcel map, which allows an airspace subdivision to create the three-unit residential condominium development. The project is exempt from environmental review under state guidelines for small residential developments in urban areas.
The development will be subject to various city fees totaling more than $270,000, including affordable housing production fees of $242,076, transportation impact fees of $9,376, and parks and recreation fees of $18,178.
This marks the second approval for the project after the original tentative map expired in January 2023. Planning staff noted the property owner had previously Ellis Act evictions in 2019 and 2020, which disqualified it from streamlined administrative approval processes under recent state legislation.
Commissioner Fresco made the motion to approve the map and environmental findings, which passed without dissent.
The Planning Commission's next meeting is scheduled for Oct. 29.