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next door such that it looks like cluster housing. Of most concern is the FAR; it boils down to a technicality. The parcels are totally separate functionally and physically. They operate as individual building sites and in taking the smaller lower lot, there is 2800 feet. The big one and small one are 9000+ feet. To do the FAR on the subject site by taking the 9000 foot number, it is a total distortion. It is 35% versus 58.5% which is unacceptable. If these parcels were subdivided legally, they would not be at this meeting because the coverage numbers would be totally unacceptable to the Council. They have to make a decision based on calculation of the FAR, and he did not think it was fair to measure it using the entire 9,000 feet. He thinks they are also glossing over Beautification policy #17 and design review criteria #2 which are provisions in the DSP and this house is in direct violation of both of them. Janice Phalen said she supports the improvement of the lot, as it will enhance the greater downtown area and will also allow the residents to live, work, shop and dine all within walking distance to the downtown. Improvements bring economic vitality, and she asked that the Council support the lot improvement. As a commercial broker, the downtown does need more improvements and tenants. Steven Williams said he and his wife live about a 5 minute walk from the subject property, said he goes on a walk everyday past the home and when the story poles and orange tape was up, he was appalled. They seem to be very large; there are many variances, different designs, and some buildings he sees in the neighborhood that he would not have wanted to put up. He is pleased there is a Historic Preservation Task Force which will bring a measure of standardization to the process of reviewing these. He would say there are so many concerns with the property and the City is setting a dangerous precedent if it was to approve the project, and he did not support the proposal. Debbie Ayres, 4524 Second Street, said this is the narrowest lot on Second Street and is called `Irregular'. 205 Neal cuts into her backyard and her lot even more narrow. They share a common fence line. When she moved in, she was unaware of the proposed project. She was warned of two things at that time; 1) on the other side of her backyard which is 4546 Second Street, they might be building a larger house there which would erect tall walls. She was also warned there would be 300 trick-or- treaters, but there were over 500. Also, every day she sits at her front window and watch parades of people walking dogs, strollers, etc. She asks herself what is so unique and special about their neighborhood. She recently redesigned her backyard and loves it, and what she sees and fees there is the downtown skyline, historic trees and rooflines, the sky, and the palm at 205 Neal which she enjoys. When they erected the story poles, people saw from the front of the house, but not the back. When they reduced the massing and put it on the back, this impacts her. The windows may not look into her backyard, but into her bedroom window. People are forgetting that between the house at 205 Neal and the fence line is supposed to have 20 feet of distance. There are 15 feet and there needs to be a 4th variance. She thinks this would not only disrupt her privacy, but the home value and the feeling she has in her backyard, especially if both sides build big houses. She will feel narrow, boxed in and much like a condo or high density house, which is unfair to her. She invited Councilmembers to view the impacts from her backyard and not only from the front. Joseph Hernan, 4582 Second Street, said his biggest concern is that a project of one specific type tends to cause additional projects of that same type. If the City allows overly massed projects to take place once, the Council will be hearing more appeals. He was not sure one project could be approved of a certain mass and then turn down future projects of the same mass. He felt the Council will be aspiring additional overbuilding in the neighborhood, causing additional impacts on the character and the feel of it through density, and he strongly encouraged the Council to take this into account. Dave Flashberger said he believes the Cunningham's have been through the process, the project has already been approved by the Commission, and this is the reason for the Commission to exist. He questioned property owner rights and asked whether owners are really that dictated to on what they can and cannot do with their own property, and asked the Council to think about this. City Council Minutes Page 16 of 25 February 7, 2012