REPORT TO PLANNING COMMISSION
SUBJECT
Title
Public Hearing: Action on an Appeal (PLN26-00425) at 2261 Rita Court of a Development Review Officer’s Approval for an Architectural Review (PLN26-00188) for a 517 Square Foot First-Floor and a 1,000 Square Foot Second-Floor Addition to an Existing Single-Story Single-Family Residence on a 6,272 Square Foot Lot. CEQA Status: Exempt from CEQA per Section 15301 (Existing Facilities).
Report
REPORT IN BRIEF
Appellant: Dora Flores
Owner: Nandita Upadhyaya & Kasturi Raghavan
General Plan: Very Low Density Residential
Zoning: Single-Family Residential (R1-6L)
Site Area: 0.14 Acres
Existing Site Conditions: A single-story three-bedroom, one-bathroom ranch-style residence built in 1952
Surrounding Land Uses:
North: R1-6L – Single-Family Residence
East: R1-6L – Single-Family Residence
South: R1-6L – Single-Family Residence
West: R1-6L – Single-Family Residence
BACKGROUND
On April 14, 2026, Nandita Upadhyaya & Katsuri Raghavan, owners of 2261 Rita Court, applied for an Architectural Review approval to add 517 square feet to the first floor and a new 1,000-square-foot second floor to an existing three bedroom, one bathroom single-story residence (the “project”). The project requires Architectural Review approval at a public hearing under Santa Clara City Code (“SCCC”) Section 18.120.020.D, Architectural Review Process – Public Hearing Required. The subject property is located between Los Padres Boulevard and Juanita Drive in a predominantly single-family residential neighborhood. The homeowners seek to update the existing home into a more current living space for their family. The Development Review Officer (“DRO”) approved the project at a publicly noticed Development Review Hearing (“DRH”) on August 19, 2026. The approval is now being appealed to the Planning Commission. Pursuant to SCCC Section 18.144.030.E, the Planning Commission hears appeals de novo and makes an independent determination based on the record before it.
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