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<br />Staff also addressed the lots with slopes of 15 percent or more, which number about half the lots in <br />the development. For those lots, staff will agree to allow a maximum house height of 35 feet. This <br />is the same allowance given to homes in the Oak Tree Farm development. <br /> <br />Some homes are required to have a pier and beam foundation. The applicants would like to have <br />an additional 5 feet of height to accommodate the added height of this type of foundation. Staff <br />noted that the Building Department advised that this type of foundation only requires about 30 inches. <br />Further, a number of other cases in the Foothill Road area have had to use pier and beam <br />foundations and have met the 30 foot height restriction. Staff wishes to be fair to all concerned in <br />this respect. <br /> <br />The applicants would also like to increase the maximum square footage in the fIrst tier of houses. <br />They are currently restricted to 4,500 square feet (not including garage space); the applicants would <br />like to increase the house size to 6,500 square feet. This is not addressed in the West Foothill <br />Overlay District; however, staff believes the larger house size would defeat the intent of the Overlay <br />District. <br /> <br />One resident indicated opposition to these changes. After the report was completed, staff has <br />received several comments from property owners opposed to the applicants' proposed changes. <br /> <br />Staff is unable to support the bulk of the applicants' request. They will support the increased use <br />of stucco and the small increase in house height for lots over 15 percent. <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />Commissioner Wright asked for clarifIcation on the house height calculation. Mr. Iserson clarified <br />that the height is measured from the lowest point where the house intersects with the grade to the <br />highest roof ridge. As to the request of the applicants for an additional 5 feet for the pier <br />foundation, Commissioner Wright inquired if the 30 foot height restriction could be maintained <br />measuring from the lowest point of the lowest finished floor. Staff feels it would be easier to <br />calculate by allowing a 35 foot height that is measured from the ridge to the intersection with grade. <br /> <br />It was noted by Commissioners Dove, Lutz, and McGuirk that they met with the applicant <br /> <br />PUBLIC HEARING WAS OPENED <br /> <br />David Martinez, 2524 Dos Rios Drive, San Ramon, represented this application. He was very much <br />attracted to this development because of its rural hillside character and the visions of Mr. Taeb. <br /> <br />Hamid Taeb, Boulevard Development, P.O. Box 20567, Castro Valley. He has been involved in <br />this project for two years. For the past two years, their attention has been the development of the <br />production homes which are out of view from Foothill Road. There are fourteen custom lots visible <br />to Foothill Road that have been available for the past twelve months. The developer has been asked <br />many questions about the feasibility of building houses in this location. Boulevard Development has <br />offered their services as builders of the custom homes, so they are now involved in this aspect of the <br />project as well. They have found that these concerns are valid; it is difficult to implement some of <br />the guidelines and build a house that is acceptable to the property owners. <br /> <br />PlalUling Commission Minutes <br /> <br />Page 7 <br /> <br />January 8, 1997 <br />