Lafayette's Planning Commission canceled its Monday, Aug. 3 meeting, postponing public hearings on a proposed hillside home at 1716 Reliez Valley Road and new citywide design standards that residents had been expecting to weigh in on.

The city gave no reason for the cancellation.

The canceled agenda shows both major items have been rescheduled. The Reliez Valley Road project will be heard at the next regular Planning Commission meeting on Monday, Aug. 17. The Objective Design Standards proposal, which would add a new chapter to the Lafayette Municipal Code as part of Housing Element implementation, has been pushed further out to Tuesday, Sept. 8.

What was on the table

As we reported July 30, the commission was set to hold public hearings on both items.

The hillside home project, proposed by owner Thomas Butzbach, would put a 1,993-square-foot, two-story residence on a vacant lot in the Hillside Overlay District. The project requires five separate approvals: a Phase 1 Hillside Development Permit, design review, grading permit, tree permit, and a variance to allow parking in the side yard setback. Plans call for grading 1,268 cubic yards of earth and removing 20 trees. Staff had recommended approval.

The Objective Design Standards amendment (Phase 2) would establish objective criteria for housing development review. If the commission approves the standards, they advance to the City Council.

How to participate

Neither item has been decided. Residents who planned to comment on the Reliez Valley Road project should mark Monday, Aug. 17; those tracking the design standards should note Tuesday, Sept. 8. Both meetings are scheduled for 7 p.m.

Project planner Arly Cassidy can answer questions about either item at (925) 299-3242.

The city is also accepting applications for two vacancies on the Planning Commission. Interested residents can contact City Clerk Joanne Robbins at [email protected] or call (925) 299-3210.