20 ATTACHMENT 05 - Laserfiche WebLink

equipments, as opposed to living next to a park where one would see play structures and hear kids screaming and dogs barking. She noted that people who have never lived in a country often have romantic ideals about living in the country with open space, wild life, animals, peacefulness, privacy, etc. which they want to enjoy, but they do not want to deal with the real things connected with having a farm such as unsightly objects, dirt, dust, manure odors, animals making noises, etc. Ms. Rocha brought up the fact that the neighbors recently removed trees and bushes and installed anew gate and anopen-view fence that overlooks the end of Diamond Court. She stated that she did not know if an open-view fence was allowed by the City of Pleasanton for that location. She expressed safety concerns about the type and method of construction of the fence as being at the end of the court, a drunk driver may run right through it and hit her fence and injure her animals; furthermore, it also opened up and exposed the rear part of her property to people driving into Diamond Court. Ms. Rocha noted that staff had mentioned that some residents on Diamond Court had complained about the water tank. She noted that the ranch existed before Diamond Court was developed and that it already had a tank, which these residents never notice or objected to until the old fence was removed. She stated that she would like to see the property owners at 455 Sycamore Road replace the fence with one that is approved by the City of Pleasanton and plant trees and bushes to screen those residents from looking into her property. She noted, finally, that her privacy, safety, and quiet enjoyment have all been violated and that it appears she cannot dig a hole or walk around in a swimsuit in her own backyard without getting a complaint from her neighbor or asking their permission. She noted that they suggested she move her water tank farther down; however, if she could satisfy them, she asked if she would be able to satisfy all the other neighbors as well. She questioned when everyone would stop complaining and try to coexist and requested the Commission to grant the conditional use permit for her tank as conditioned by Exhibit B of the staff report. Commissioner Fox asked Ms. Rocha why she did not put the tank where the existing one used to be. Ms. Rocha replied that the location of the old tank was in the middle of the field and was a distance from the well-head and the pump. She added that the well specialists had told her that it would be more efficient to place the tank close to the well-head and the pump. Commissioner Fox asked Ms. Rocha is she checked with her neighbors before deciding to move the tank. Ms. Rocha replied that she did not know that relocating the tank would cause a problem since there was an existing tank there before. She noted that she did not even know that she needed a permit until she received the notice of the complaint. Commissioner Fox inquired from which part of the property the existing tank was set back 35 feet. Ms. Rocha replied that it was from the rear part of the fence. She then referred to the slide on the screen and pointed out the locations of the old and new tanks and of the well and the equipment. She noted that it took a lot of stress to pump water from the location of the old tank to the well-head, which was the reason the motor and pump broke down and had to be replaced. In response to Commissioner Fox's inquiry if the water pump make noise, Ms. Decker replied that there is some noise associated with the pump. She indicated that she was not certain if the pump was above ground or within the chamber; Ms. Rocha replied that it there was a EXCERPTS: PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, April 9, 2008 Page 5 of 15