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As such, they cannot support the project. They think it should be turned down in general on the basis of
<br /> excess mass, excess land coverage, and variances required. After reviewing the story poles on site,
<br /> the mass is real. The house is being squeezed into a very small space and close proximity to houses
<br /> next door such that it looks like cluster housing. Of most concern is the FAR; it boils down to a
<br /> technicality. The parcels are totally separate functionally and physically. They operate as individual
<br /> building sites and in taking the smaller lower lot, there is 2800 feet. The big one and small one are
<br /> 9000+ feet. To do the FAR on the subject site by taking the 9000 foot number, it is a total distortion. It is
<br /> 35% versus 58.5% which is unacceptable. If these parcels were subdivided legally, they would not be
<br /> at this meeting because the coverage numbers would be totally unacceptable to the Council. They have
<br /> to make a decision based on calculation of the FAR, and he did not think it was fair to measure it using
<br /> the entire 9,000 feet. He thinks they are also glossing over Beautification policy #17 and design review
<br /> criteria #2 which are provisions in the DSP and this house is in direct violation of both of them.
<br /> Janice Phalen said she supports the improvement of the lot, as it will enhance the greater downtown
<br /> area and will also allow the residents to live, work, shop and dine all within walking distance to the
<br /> downtown. Improvements bring economic vitality, and she asked that the Council support the lot
<br /> improvement. As a commercial broker, the downtown does need more improvements and tenants.
<br /> Steven Williams said he and his wife live about a 5 minute walk from the subject property, said he goes
<br /> on a walk everyday past the home and when the story poles and orange tape was up, he was appalled.
<br /> They seem to be very large; there are many variances, different designs, and some buildings he sees
<br /> in the neighborhood that he would not have wanted to put up. He is pleased there is a Historic
<br /> Preservation Task Force which will bring a measure of standardization to the process of reviewing
<br /> these. He would say there are so many concerns with the property and the City is setting a dangerous
<br /> precedent if it was to approve the project, and he did not support the proposal.
<br /> Debbie Ayres, 4524 Second Street, said this is the narrowest lot on Second Street and is called
<br /> 'Irregular'. 205 Neal cuts into her backyard and her lot even more narrow. They share a common fence
<br /> line. When she moved in, she was unaware of the proposed project. She was warned of two things at
<br /> that time; 1) on the other side of her backyard which is 4546 Second Street, they might be building a
<br /> larger house there which would erect tall walls. She was also warned there would be 300 trick-or-
<br /> treaters, but there were over 500. Also, every day she sits at her front window and watch parades of
<br /> people walking dogs, strollers, etc. She asks herself what is so unique and special about their
<br /> neighborhood. She recently redesigned her backyard and loves it, and what she sees and fees there is
<br /> the downtown skyline, historic trees and rooflines, the sky, and the palm at 205 Neal which she enjoys.
<br /> When they erected the story poles, people saw from the front of the house, but not the back. When they
<br /> reduced the massing and put it on the back, this impacts her. The windows may not look into her
<br /> backyard, but into her bedroom window. People are forgetting that between the house at 205 Neal and
<br /> the fence line is supposed to have 20 feet of distance. There are 15 feet and there needs to be a 4'"
<br /> variance. She thinks this would not only disrupt her privacy, but the home value and the feeling she has
<br /> in her backyard, especially if both sides build big houses. She will feel narrow, boxed in and much like a
<br /> condo or high density house, which is unfair to her. She invited Councilmembers to view the impacts
<br /> from her backyard and not only from the front.
<br /> Joseph Hernan, 4582 Second Street, said his biggest concern is that a project of one specific type
<br /> tends to cause additional projects of that same type. If the City allows overly massed projects to take
<br /> place once, the Council will be hearing more appeals. He was not sure one project could be approved
<br /> of a certain mass and then turn down future projects of the same mass. He felt the Council will be
<br /> aspiring additional overbuilding in the neighborhood, causing additional impacts on the character and
<br /> the feel of it through density, and he strongly encouraged the Council to take this into account.
<br /> Dave Flashberger said he believes the Cunningham's have been through the process, the project has
<br /> already been approved by the Commission, and this is the reason for the Commission to exist. He
<br /> City Council Minutes Page 16 of 26 February 7, 2012
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