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