16 - Laserfiche WebLink

be at that pool as well. He voiced his support for the Cummings' request for some privacy and agreed with them that the balcony does sort of add to the concern. Mr. Merrill stated that he lives in a two-story house that has a balcony on the front, but this was a planned balcony from the beginning. He indicated that he has had additions put to the backyard, but they are single-story and a great format for that style of house, which is very similar to the applicants' house. Julene Henning stated that the applicant's house is not in great condition and thinks what the applicant is doing is fantastic. She noted, however that every two-story house, either the Heritage or the Monterey that has a balcony has it on the front. She noted that the bushes the applicant planted will not get high enough for privacy from a balcony on the second floor. She stated that this is not the right thing to do and will not be right to the people next door. Don Henning stated that he and his wife moved to the area and watched their house being built, and it was always set on the idea of what was good for the community and what was good for the individual people on both sides. He noted that this water shortage is going to lengthen the time it will take for trees to grow and provide a privacy screen. He mentioned that the applicant remarked that she wanted to sit on her back yard deck and see the mountains, but building a fence or a screen would block off the very thing she wants. He indicated that he understands how it is with sick children, but could not see what difference there would be with having cold air from the second-story balcony versus a backyard on the first-story. He agreed with the earlier comments regarding setting a precedent, indicating that they were fortunate because they face onto Valley Avenue, but there are those others who may want to put a deck on their backyard as well. He noted that this precedent would cause people to lose control of their privacy, and it is not a good idea for the community. Steven Meyers stated that like what most of the people have said, he has no objections to the plan itself but to the back balcony. He agreed that there is no real guarantee that one's neighbor will be there for life. He indicated that pools are a focal point for the neighborhood, and on any given day, there can be up to ten children ranging from pre-school age to 4th Grade playing together, and on a Friday evening, there would probably be up to 12 children. He noted that it would be a place where people are going to gather, and their privacy would be infringed upon by the ability of someone to sit on a second-floor balcony next door and basically have direct and unfettered access and view into the neighbor's backyard and to these children playing. He reiterated that one cannot control one's long-term neighbors, so privacy is definitely an issue and concern for the neighbors. Bill Foley stated that his concern is not only privacy but that it is out of character for the whole development. He stated that he has seen new construction within the development which had an additional space either on the second story or first story, but all facing the front, and those facing the rear are windows, not balconies. He noted that the balconies on the homes in the area were constructed originally, but this would be EXCERPT: PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES, May 27, 2015 Page 6 of 14