Tiburon council sends home expansion back for design review

The view from 699 Hawthorne Drive looks across the roofline of 700 Hawthorne Drive toward Richardson Bay and Sausalito. Ryan Lee, one of three neighbors who appealed, said the proposed addition would cut into the sight line from his great room. The Town Council on Aug. 5 sent the project back to the Design Review Board, which had approved it in April on conditions that included removing the red-leafed photinia shrub at center right. (Ryan Lee via town of Tiburon)

The Tiburon Town Council has sent a Hawthorne Terrace couple’s home expansion back to the Design Review Board, ordering a closer look at whether the project can be built lower to spare neighbors’ views.

The council voted 3-1 on Aug. 5 to return the proposed 794-square-foot expansion at 700 Hawthorne Drive to the board, instructing it to scrutinize alternatives to the height increase and to gather better visual evidence of how neighbors would be affected.

The move came after the council heard separate appeals from three neighbors: Kamran Shirazi of 3 Rock Hill Road, Ryan Lee of 699 Hawthorne Drive and Neda Shafaghi of 705 Hawthorne Drive. They sought to overturn the design board’s approval of the plans submitted by homeowners Eric Tiret and Caely Cusick.

Councilmember Holli Thier cast the opposing vote, saying she felt neighbor sentiment was substantial enough to fully grant the neighbors’ appeals and overturn the project approval. Councilmember Jack Ryan recused himself because he owns property within 500 feet of Cusick and Tiret’s home.

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