PC 052715 - Laserfiche WebLink

residence and how they would look with the proposed changes, including the second -floor balcony and the landscaping that would block the view to her neighbors. Ms. Kiziloglu stated that the reason she is having the balcony is because she and both of her sons have asthma, and there are times when they are unable to breathe, even with the use of inhalers and nebulizers, because of allergies and asthma attacks. She added that what has helped them in the past is being outside in the cold air, sometimes at 2:00 and 3:00 in the morning, and when these incidents do occur, she would wrap her children in blankets and sit with them in the backyard. She noted that her sons have grown and she is no longer able to carry them outside, and the natural thing to do would be to have a balcony they can walk into easily to get fresh air. She pointed out that she did not want the balcony in front facing the street where people can pass by and see them, but in the back in their own private place. She indicated that she did not want her seven - year -old son to be out in the backyard when he has an asthma attack while she is upstairs sleeping. She stated that the balcony would provide a beautiful view of the mountains and add value to the property and to the neighborhood. Ms. Kiziloglu stated that she believes her neighbors do not like her project and has put her project on hold for so many months. She indicated that she would like to get this moving so she can start her project and get it completed this month. Jamison Cummings, Appellant, stated that his main focus is privacy. He agreed that the house could use an upgrade, and the proposed changes would make it look beautiful. He indicated that he supports the remodel and has never objected to that. He noted that he is actually not fond of the fact that he is going to have to deal with dumpsters, out - houses, parking, construction, and dust for the better part of the year because it involves major structural rebuilding, but he would like to be a good neighbor and is willing to accept that. He indicated that the only compromise he wants to make and will not accept is the rear balcony. Mr. Cummings stated that he went and surveyed about 80 houses, all the two -story houses that are on and around Hummingbird Road and in Pleasanton Valley, and he could not verify a rear - facing balcony on any of the Morrison -built homes. He pointed out that a mulberry tree is a deciduous tree, which becomes a skeleton in the winter time, as shown in a slide presented by staff. He noted that one can see right through that tree, and the privacy views are actually going to be more compromised. He added that the biggest issue with trying to provide organic screening is that organic screening is not like a fence: if a fence falls down, it can be remediated in one day; but if a tree breaks, it cannot be fixed overnight and will have to grow back. He pointed out that the trees grow one to two feet a year, and it would need another ten feet of growth to achieve full privacy screening from the proposed balcony. He stated that he owned a house with 21 Cypress trees and when they are spaced apart, they provide a space in between, through which one can see and which would compromise one's privacy. Mr. Cummings stated that he has a household of three women, his two daughters and his wife, and they enjoy the backyard all the time. He noted that they have a really PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, May 27, 2015 Page 4 of 18