Manhattan Beach's Planning Commission will decide Thursday whether to let a new home at 620 25th St. sit closer to the street than city code allows.

The commission is scheduled to hear the revised variance request at 3 p.m. Aug. 28 at City Hall, 1400 Highland Ave. The proposal would place a three-car garage and part of the basement 10 feet from the property line, with the rest of the house set back 15 feet. City code requires 20 feet.

Applicant Austin Chavira and architect John Hamilton submitted new plans in July after commissioners unanimously asked them to scale back. The original proposal, heard May 13, sought a 10-foot setback for the entire structure and about 3,134 square feet of floor area. The revision cuts roughly 400 square feet, bringing the home to approximately 2,735 square feet.

Associate Planner Justin Urbanski, the city's case contact, presented the staff report in May. City planning staff recommends approval, Patch reported, citing the lot's unusual trapezoidal shape. At roughly 4,683 square feet, the property is considerably shallower than typical nearby lots. Staff calculated that only about 32.6% of the lot is buildable once setbacks are applied, compared with at least 56% for typical properties in the area.

Staff also noted that every home on the south side of 25th Street between Blanche Road and 23rd Street already sits closer to the street than the 20-foot standard. Existing setbacks on the block range from zero to 15 feet.

Neighbors remain opposed. Robert Alworth, a Manhattan Beach resident since 1957 who lives on 24th Street, wrote in an Aug. 18 public comment that approving variances "weakens the City's ability to deny subsequent such requests" and could turn the neighborhood into "an 'urban canyon' like 21st Street east of Highland."

Melissa and Rod Spiegel, who own the neighboring home at 612 25th St., told commissioners at the May 13 hearing that reducing the setback could affect light, air and privacy. They argued the proposed home's size would be inconsistent with the Tree Section neighborhood.

Staff stressed that variance applications are considered individually and do not establish precedent. Other unusually shaped lots nearby received setback reductions in previous decades, according to the city's meeting agenda.

At the May 13 hearing, Chair Rachel Hackett made the motion to continue the item, seconded by Commissioner Kristin Sistos. All five commissioners voted aye, directing the applicant to explore a reduced request.

The hearing is open to the public. Residents can attend at 3 p.m. Thursday at City Hall or submit written comments to Urbanski through the city's planning division.