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Ms. Rocha explained that she had two bids for the new tank, and both well specialists recommended placing the tank close to the well-head and pump. She added that she could have placed the tank on either side of the well-head and decided to place it where it would face the garage side of 455 Sycamore Road rather than on the drawing area side. As regards the color of the tank, she noted that she had a few choices and that she chose green because it best blended in with the environment. She described that the old tank was made of wood and tension straps that needed constant maintenance; it had a cover on the top that was the access to the tank. She added that she found the tank unsafe because children could climb up to the top and fall into the tank. She noted that her property and 455 Sycamore Road were originally one property and that the previous owner had subdivided the property and made 455 Sycamore Road aflag-shaped lot, which meant it had no street presence or frontage and had a shared common entry and a long driveway. She continued that with aflag-shaped property, the owner would be surrounded and would have the view of your neighbor's back yard. She noted that she lost some privacy by virtue of her being in front of the flag lot with the long driveway, which is her sideyard, sometimes being utilized as a parking lot, having a view of big RV's, and being a speedway for motorcycles and sports cars. She noted that she used to live in a subdivision with neighbors living practically on top of one another, but they all got along and minded their own business. Ms. Rocha indicated that all the neighbors she has talked to have complimented her on the work she had put into her property; however, she has received nothing but complaints from the neighbor that benefited most from the transformation. She stated that the property was in disrepair with overgrown vegetation, makeshift stables, and storage sheds showing signs of years of neglect. She added that there were two 20-foot by 40-foot accessory structures in the back that were structurally unsafe, as well as mounts of debris and scraps of wood piled high which created a home for rodents and pests. She noted that this was the view that the property owners at 455 Sycamore Road had to look at, but they were screened by the many mature oak trees along their "front yard." She added that she strategically planted 30 sequoia redwood trees as to provide even more screening. She continued that shortly after she had completed the cleanup and landscaping work, the owners of 455 Sycamore Road decided to remove all their trees, which now opened up their view into her backyard. She noted that she had no objection to their action since these were not her trees; however, she thought that before removing the trees, they should have considered what kind of view they would if they removed those trees. She stated that their property sits higher up than her property and that they would be able to see the tank no matter where it was placed on her property. She suggested that the neighbors plant the trees back so they would not have to view her property from their property. She noted that the staff report included photos taken from the interior and exterior of the house at 455 Sycamore Road that claimed that the property owners could see the tank from the front door, the front window, and the front yard. She stated that the front of that house originally faced Diamond Court and not her back yard, but they had decided to reorient the entire layout of their house after they purchased their house in 2005. She then made the correction that the neighbors can see the tank from the side of their house, adding that they did not buy a view property but a home on a flag lot. Ms. Rocha noted that staffs analysis was that the water tank met and exceeded the development standards for the "A" zoning district. She added that people should expect to see in an "A" district certain things that belong in a farm such as a water storage tank, animals, and farm EXCERPTS: PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES, Apri19, 2008 Page 4 of 15