Council approves variances for 410 Saddleback, adds screening condition to address neighbor view impact

The Rolling Hills Estates City Council voted Feb. 10 to approve a site plan, multiple variances and a conditional use permit for construction at 410 Saddleback, adopting Resolution 14‑03 with an added condition to screen the pool house from an adjacent property.

Staff described the project as a discretionary application for a detached 800‑square‑foot garage in the front yard setback, an 800‑square‑foot pool house in the rear yard, a deck exceeding the 12‑inch height limit (the deck was described as 29 inches in the plans) and import of approximately 136 cubic yards of soil. The project was presented to council as a de novo hearing (the council reviews it anew despite prior Planning Commission action); staff reported revisions to the development table that refined disturbed area and pad sizes and noted the project’s CEQA exemption (cited in the staff report).

Neighbors raised concerns about the pool house and garage locations, sight lines and the amount of imported soil. Neighbor Terry Ryder said the pool house abuts his property and asked that it be moved; the applicant’s representative explained siting and size decisions and offered landscaping and screening commitments. The architect and property owner described alternatives — including attaching the garage to meet the 30‑foot setback — but said that would degrade the planned architecture.

After discussion about plan callouts and setback delineations, a councilmember moved to adopt Resolution 14‑03 with additional wording requiring screening on the west side of the pool house facing the neighbor; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote (ayes; no opposed).

The council’s action approves the project subject to the conditions listed in Resolution 14‑03, including the added screening requirement; staff and the applicant will finalize plan detail and any technical corrections noted during the review.