PC 111214 - Laserfiche WebLink

Mr. Toms stated that he would like to find a solution away from the two stories, but he is more concerned that these current designs do not fit the 1970's style neighborhood of single -story homes. He pointed out that many would try to remodel in a manner that maintains the integrity of the particular neighborhood, and this unique Pleasanton jewel of a neighborhood will forever be eliminated from the City's inventory of special neighborhoods and just become another residential street in town, and that is a detriment to the entire community. Mr. Toms asked the Commission to take into consideration that this design does not meld with the rest of the neighborhood per the General Plan, either in scale or look, and take into account that no attempt was made at compromise and accommodation requested by the Commission during the last meeting on this matter. He requested that the Commission deny this application and see if a design can be had that allows the applicant of this property the additional space in their home, which they are entirely entitled to, without compromising the uniformity and style of this particular neighborhood. Forest Sass stated that he has lived in the neighborhood for 27 years, and at the time his wife and he purchased the home, they were promised that Rosepointe would remain all single -story homes. He indicated that he understood there are some split -level homes, what might be thought of as two -story homes, but he and his wife were promised that this community would remain single -story, and if the Commission were to approve this application, he would feel betrayed of that promise. Mr. Sass stated that he does not want to deny the owners the need or desire to expand the size of their home, but his objection is specifically the two -story nature of the home. He indicated that approving this house would be tantamount to "allowing the camel's nose into the tent," and once begun will never stop: there would be other applications for two -story approvals, and he would not like to see that. Mr. Sass stated that roughly 15 years ago, one of the neighbors around the corner on Arlington Drive requested a two- story addition to their house. He indicated that his wife and he and other neighbors objected to it for the very same reasons that he is standing here before the Commission today: that it would be inconsistent with the nature of the Rosepointe development. He noted that they ultimately dropped their request. Mr. Sass closed by stating that he grew up in the south end of Alameda, and the community he lived in was predominantly single -story Craftsmen bungalows built about the 1940's. He indicated that over a span of 50 years, he watched the City of Alameda allow second stories to be built in that neighborhood, and that street where he grew up is now filled with these out of character, large homes that look overbuilt and very ugly. He asked the Commission to please deny the request. Christine Steiner stated that she has lived in Rosepointe since 1967 and that she finds it very, very sad to be here because Mr. Schmitt spent many hours in her family room and living room playing with her kids and hitting balls on her back lawn. She indicated that she really has nothing personal about him because he was part of her family for years; his family moved away, the house was rented for many years, and then he came back. PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, November 12, 2014 Page 12 of 35